Just looking for some input. Have a horse that wears a cribbing collar (DARE collar) 24/7. I notice that he will get very poll sensitive/sore, to the point he acts head shy. I'm wondering if it is caused from the cribbing collar. Unfortunately, he is a serious cribber so leaving the collar off isn't an option. Does anyone have any suggestions? He gets chiro/massage about every 8 weeks.
Posted 2016-01-15 10:22 AM Subject: RE: Poll Soreness
Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
It might be from the collar? Does your chiro pull-for lack of a better term- their ears to release them and open their body up to feeling? If he can show you how to do it yourself you can keep them feeling good in the poll area longer. I have one horse that is a worrier and always kind of tense and will go out in the poll if you look at him cross eyed. I do this after every ride and he LOVES it. It lengthens the time between our chiro visits a bit. I actually do it after I ride all my horses and they usually stand with their ear cocked towards me after I Un halter them. If I don't quite get it they'll usually cock their head back again like, try again!
Posted 2016-01-15 10:28 AM Subject: RE: Poll Soreness
Member
Posts: 24 Location: Ohio
veintiocho - 2016-01-15 11:22 AM
It might be from the collar? Does your chiro pull-for lack of a better term- their ears to release them and open their body up to feeling? If he can show you how to do it yourself you can keep them feeling good in the poll area longer. I have one horse that is a worrier and always kind of tense and will go out in the poll if you look at him cross eyed. I do this after every ride and he LOVES it. It lengthens the time between our chiro visits a bit. I actually do it after I ride all my horses and they usually stand with their ear cocked towards me after I Un halter them. If I don't quite get it they'll usually cock their head back again like, try again!
No I have never seen her do that. Sounds like that would be something he would benefit from.
Posted 2016-01-15 10:37 AM Subject: RE: Poll Soreness
Elite Veteran
Posts: 669 Location: Central Texas
Have their TMJ checked. If it's out or sore it can definitely affect the poll area and farther back on this neck as well. Especially if he is a cribber. I just mentioned this on another post yesterday when someone posted about their horse overflexing at the poll attempting to evade the bit and becoming stiff. The TMJ can be adjusted and injected. Cribbing and floating using a spectulum can cause TMJ issues. Just an idea.
edited: mine would act like you are going to tear his ear off if you even got near him. He would even freak out sometimes just when I was trying to bit him up. I thought it was because he came from someone who abused the heck out of him. Nope, he didn't want to open his mouth to bit up because he was TMJ sore. Had it injected, totally different horse.
ampratt - 2016-01-15 11:37 AM Have their TMJ checked. If it's out or sore it can definitely affect the poll area and farther back on this neck as well. Especially if he is a cribber. I just mentioned this on another post yesterday when someone posted about their horse overflexing at the poll attempting to evade the bit and becoming stiff. The TMJ can be adjusted and injected. Cribbing and floating using a spectulum can cause TMJ issues. Just an idea. edited: mine would act like you are going to tear his ear off if you even got near him. He would even freak out sometimes just when I was trying to bit him up. I thought it was because he came from someone who abused the heck out of him. Nope, he didn't want to open his mouth to bit up because he was TMJ sore. Had it injected, totally different horse.
agree with above... and also get a padding to put on the collar over Poll.. we use the fleece on our bridle.. it helps some .. we also do accupuncture to help release tension.
Poll Soreness
