| If you have ever lifted weights or worked with | | | | So, the larger side will become less flexible, and |
| exercise bands, you know that resistance is what | | | | the smaller side will naturally become the weaker |
| creates larger and stronger muscles. If you are a | | | | side. |
| human weight lifter, you are performing these | | | | When you ask this horse to turn to the right and |
| exercises deliberately with strength in mind. | | | | he cannot, it could be that he has lost flexibility in |
| Hypertrophy is the word used to describe the | | | | the left side of his neck, or the weaker side |
| buildup of muscle size due to resistance. | | | | cannot fire properly. The explanation for this is |
| Resistance is a perfect exercise plan if you intend | | | | that each movement has dual components and |
| to grow larger, stronger muscles. | | | | requires two sets of muscles to accomplish the |
| When a horse is consistently resisting against a | | | | one desired movement. |
| tie-down or the reins, muscle and strength can be | | | | While one set of muscles is contracting |
| gained by accident. You may have seen a horse | | | | (shortening) to flex the neck, the opposing set of |
| in a tie-down that has large knobs of muscle | | | | muscles are releasing (allowing them to lengthen) |
| behind his ears. This is obviously not from | | | | so that the desired movement can occur. The |
| strength training in the weight room. This is from | | | | muscle or muscle group that shortens are called |
| trying to raise his head against the resistance of | | | | the Prime Movers, or Agonist, and the opposing |
| his tie-down. | | | | group or passive muscles are called the |
| When muscles become bulky and strong, they | | | | Antagonists. In the case of the neck, just picture |
| lose their flexibility and become too bulky to | | | | the reins. When one side is pulled to turn the |
| move through their full range of motion. This | | | | neck, the opposite side is loosened causing the |
| problem is not only found in the top of the neck. | | | | neck to turn, and allowing the movement to |
| It can be found any where in the body, but for | | | | occur. |
| the sake of this article, we are dealing only with | | | | Proprioception is the term used to describe the |
| the neck. | | | | body's sense of position. As the body moves |
| Another chronic problem with resistance is from | | | | quickly, the brain, nervous system, and muscles |
| an improper bit, or a heavy handed reiner where | | | | are constantly communicating and allowing this |
| a horse is pulling away and tossing his head | | | | muscle exchange to occur. Every muscle and |
| around whenever he is tacked up. Your horse's | | | | tendon contain certain signal organs that |
| neck can become over-developed for many | | | | communicate with the brain allowing this body's |
| reasons. If you were to grit your teeth, place | | | | sense of position to occur. |
| your hands on your neck to feel how your neck | | | | In the event that the body is balanced and there |
| muscles respond. They will become rigid and non | | | | are no intrinsic factors preventing a smooth |
| flexible. | | | | transition of alternate movements, a healthy |
| Because of the resistance problems mentioned, | | | | horse can have a wonderful and smooth |
| along with a laundry list of others, many horses | | | | performance. Once there is tension or injury in |
| are walking around with very stiff, immobile | | | | one of the components, stiffness, pain, and |
| necks. It is a rider's job to not only remove the | | | | refusal can occur. By yanking or punishing a horse |
| cause, but to find a solution. There is nothing that | | | | that cannot bend his neck, you are assuming that |
| bothers me more than to see a horse refuse to | | | | this is a behavioral issue, which might be an |
| turn, so the rider runs him through the same | | | | incorrect assumption. |
| move over and over to make the horse follow | | | | When you are in your saddle looking down at the |
| directions, or even worse, tie his nose to his | | | | neck and shoulders, you can sometimes visually |
| stirrup to "teach the SOB to do what he's told." I | | | | witness an imbalance in these areas. If your horse |
| don't know your horse, but I'm pretty sure that | | | | is having problems with stiffness, I recommend |
| tying his nose to his stirrup will only lead to more | | | | consulting with your veterinarian, or an |
| resistance, more hypertrophy, and more refusal. | | | | experienced body worker that can feel the |
| This hypertrophy will occur where the resistance | | | | muscles for tension or swelling, and possibly |
| occurs. For example, it is not unusual for the left | | | | rectify the problem without undue force. Quite |
| side of a calf roping horse's neck to be larger and | | | | often, manual therapy, stretching, or a balanced |
| more developed than the right side. When a calf | | | | exercise program can rehabilitate your horse back |
| roping horse is stabilizing against a calf on the | | | | to a healthy, relaxed, non-resistant competitor. |
| right, his left shoulder becomes involved, as well. | | | | |