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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
   
Location: North Dakota | My horse had a rather traumatic Chiropractor appointment yesterday. He had been to my chiro before (who is awesome) while I was still trying to find the cause of his back pain. He was very chill about the whole experience then. Yesterday, he was terrified. But after each adjustment he'd relax and start licking as chewing immediately, you could tell it felt good, he just wasn't understanding the process. Just as I suspected, he had quite a bit going on with his neck but the biggest thing to me was that he was way out and tense in his poll. My Chirp said the poor guy has probably had headaches fire who knows how long. Now he's had the whole winter off in a huge pasture, and has only been lightly worked this spring. He could have slipped and fallen or gotten into a fight with somebody out in the pasture to cause these issues, but in case it's not a one time thing, is there anything I can do to help relax and loosen his poll? Aside from keeping up with the chiro more regularly, of course. I just started teaching him carrot stretches the other day and we do lots of lateral work and bending and stretching when we ride. I'd be open to therapies like PHT if it makes a difference? I'm not sure. I thought about trying a poll pack, since they're cheap, on his halter and bridle and see if that does anything. Idk I just feel bad for my baby and want to help him. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| We have a mare whose poll is so jacked up, the chiro won't mess with it and when she gets massaged, it is very carefully. We didn't get her until she was 13 or so and the injury is old. Anyway, the only thing that has helped her is the BOT poll cap. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| The Masterson method massage has some good neck and poll work, I'd do PHT or BOT as well. If his teeth haven't been done lately I would get those done asap as well - if he's hooking up somewhere that can contribute quite a bit as well. |
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  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Also warm up long and low.. it could be your blocking him when you ride or a gadget can do it to.. let him stretch his neck down and back.. alot.. massage and accupuncture helps some people also will try to collect a horse and not done properly will mess one up .. just in general |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | OhMax - 2017-05-20 4:41 PM
The Masterson method massage has some good neck and poll work, I'd do PHT or BOT as well. If his teeth haven't been done lately I would get those done asap as well - if he's hooking up somewhere that can contribute quite a bit as well.
He is due for his teeth, I'll be having those done soon. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Bibliafarm - 2017-05-20 8:18 PM
Also warm up long and low.. it could be your blocking him when you ride or a gadget can do it to.. let him stretch his neck down and back.. alot.. massage and accupuncture helps some people also will try to collect a horse and not done properly will mess one up .. just in general
He's never work any sort of artificial aid in his life, be it tie down, martingale, draw reins, etc. so I know that's not it. But I absolutely can't get him to stretch down very well either on the lunge or under saddle. I have great hands (per all my previous trainers) but he just doesn't want to. We aren't going to think about barrel racing until next year though, so we'll focus on b this all year. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | If he won't go low , does he have issues with his withers or shoulders. You can do a warm bath with, green alcohol , Apple cider vinegar, witch hazel,absorbine linament ,1/2cup ,mix in warm water up to 5 gallons. Do a full body bath then turn loose in stall or where you house him. This acts like a full body massage that tingles so you don't want to be any where near him as it takes effect. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 672
| There is a technique that I do after every ride, running my hand up and pulling straight up on the horses ear on each side. They will shake their head and/or lick their right lips after. My chiro showed me this and said it realeases the poll. My horses now come to expect it after every ride and if I don't get it on the first pull they cock their ear and bring their head in like, try again! |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | cow pie - 2017-05-21 7:41 AM If he won't go low , does he have issues with his withers or shoulders. You can do a warm bath with, green alcohol , Apple cider vinegar, witch hazel,absorbine linament ,1/2cup ,mix in warm water up to 5 gallons. Do a full body bath then turn loose in stall or where you house him. This acts like a full body massage that tingles so you don't want to be any where near him as it takes effect.
Not specifically that I'm aware of. He does have back issues and is on maintenance for that. He has really sensitive skin, I wonder if any of those ingredients would irritate him. |
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Expert
Posts: 2678
Location: Mi | My mare use to have alot of poll issues. I started using a PHT poll pack on her. I would turn her out in it for a few hours everyday for along time, now I just use it when I use a halter and I've noticed a huge difference in her poll. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Do you have any one in your area that does craniosacral work? |
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7616
Location: Dubach, LA | I wish I was there. I could help. |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | CanCan - 2017-05-23 12:29 PM
I wish I was there. I could help.
What would you do? curious for my own horse :)) |
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Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7616
Location: Dubach, LA | Turnburnsis - 2017-05-23 9:11 PM CanCan - 2017-05-23 12:29 PM I wish I was there. I could help. What would you do? curious for my own horse : ) )
Pressure points at the base of the ears and a turn and rock motion that stretches/relaxes and allows the atlas and axis to return to position. |
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