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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
 
| I have a horse who is sore in the brachiocephalicus muscle. It runs from the top of the horses poll to the point of shoulder. This particular horse is sore on the right side only. You can feel two knots. One behind the poll on her neck, and one down at the point of the shoulder. If anyone here has experience with this, I would like to hear about where you would start with therapy (and what could I do to keep this from recurring). Chiropractic, massage, PHT, BOT, stretches, liniments, etc? Not sure why she's sore, but it makes me wonder if eating out of a hanging slow feed net could cause soreness? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
 
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | LabRat - 2018-07-05 1:15 PM I have a horse who is sore in the brachiocephalicus muscle. It runs from the top of the horses poll to the point of shoulder. This particular horse is sore on the right side only. You can feel two knots. One behind the poll on her neck, and one down at the point of the shoulder. If anyone here has experience with this, I would like to hear about where you would start with therapy (and what could I do to keep this from recurring). Chiropractic, massage, PHT, BOT, stretches, liniments, etc? Not sure why she's sore, but it makes me wonder if eating out of a hanging slow feed net could cause soreness? I'm with you on her eating out of a slow feed hanging hay bag, I would think this would make her sore, I used one for a few weeks but stoped becaused my one gelding was getting sore threw his neck so started back with my normal hay bags and the soreness went away.. I would put the hay on the ground for awhile to see if she will get better in a week or so. My race horse friends will not use a slow feed hay bag.
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2018-07-05 1:54 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| Thanks, Southtxponygirl :) |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I bought a couple of these bags thinking I would be useing them and payed good money for them since I dont like cheapy stuff, well I cant even give them away around here, no body around here likes them and my race horse friend said that her horses gave her the finger when she tryed them once, she says just throw them away, lol.. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8552
 
Location: sunny california | I only use the slow feed bag to give less palatable grass hay for snacks. so they will have something to nibble on between feedings. it might take two days to eat one flake. those things will frustrate a horse to tearing them apart. their meals are served without a feed bag or with the ones with big holes when on a trip. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| OK, so I'll stop using the slow feed net. Would a PHT sheet or hood help release the tight spot on her shoulder? I think my BOT might get too hot this time of year. |
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 Namesless in BHW
Posts: 10368
Location: At the race track with Ah Dee Ohs | Since she has a couple knots. I would think a massage therapist would be in order. |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Mine gets sore here as well, although I haven’t been able to completely determine why yet. I use masterson method massage techniques to release him and it works quite well. I will say that the point of his shoulder has been less and less sore since we got a new saddle. I am hoping with a little more time the rest of his neck starts to come in line as well. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I agree with a good massage, and I think them eating their hay off the ground would help to stretch those neck muscles... I feed my horses their hay off the ground now adays if possible when the ground is dry, when it rains I will put their hay in the bags to hang them inside to keep the hay dry, plus they get about 6 to 8 hours of pasture time.  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 364
| OhMax - 2018-07-06 9:39 AM
Mine gets sore here as well, although I haven’t been able to completely determine why yet. I use masterson method massage techniques to release him and it works quite well. I will say that the point of his shoulder has been less and less sore since we got a new saddle. I am hoping with a little more time the rest of his neck starts to come in line as well.
Interesting. I looked up the masterson method massage and will be giving this a try. Thank you :) |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| LabRat - 2018-07-06 10:14 AM
OhMax - 2018-07-06 9:39 AM
Mine gets sore here as well, although I haven’t been able to completely determine why yet. I use masterson method massage techniques to release him and it works quite well. I will say that the point of his shoulder has been less and less sore since we got a new saddle. I am hoping with a little more time the rest of his neck starts to come in line as well.
Interesting. I looked up the masterson method massage and will be giving this a try. Thank you : )
It’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it - he’s got a good dvd too.
I need to start checking him at home more, typically it’s part of my warm up/pre run routine. I have something of a suspicion if his neck doesn’t improve along with his shoulder from saddle fit that he’s getting stiff on the trailer ride. He’s a shorty and we have mangers, his head doesn’t look abnormally high when he’s got it over the mangers, but I’m wondering if when it comes down to balancing in the trailer if being able to hold it lower wouldn’t be easier for him. Massage seems to work everything though in short order though. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 104
Location: Southern Michigan | I am certified in Equine Sports Massage Therphy and we specifically learn this muscle, and have several techniques to treat the neck, including knots in this muscle. If you can find a certified equine massage person, I'd highly recommend it. I think you could get great results. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| I agree with doing the Lateral Cervical Flexion technique that Masterson teaches- brachio originates at the first cervical vertebra (atlas) and inserts to the humerus, not the point of shoulder. The muscle lies beneath the scapula. Along with the LCF technique you should do the scapular release technique as well. When you soften the muscle beneath the scapula you can free the shoulder and limb so it can extend, so after the scapula is released, some good front limb stretching exercises will be in order as well.
Here's an article that might help explain: https://www.facebook.com/wholehorseconnection/posts/1851813291708303:0 |
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Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
Location: OH. IO | Â bumping up for hay net thread |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump again |
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