Try this move for the neck fascia.
The horse's neck is a complex area of anatomy that enables the horse to reach down to eat from the ground, lift his head up to see approaching danger and balance the rest of his body while moving. Since horses need their necks to balance, this area plays a key role in the locomotion of the ridden horse. Because of our obsession with headset, we are prone to trying to fix the neck into a certain position. This might look good on the outside, but it creates tension, tightness and dysfunction. But tense necks don't happen only when we re forcing the horse into a frame. Tension in the neck can occur when we have poll tightness, TMJ issues, dental issues, thoracic sling dysfunction, hoof imbalances, just to name a few common causes. My point is, tension and stiffness in the neck is very, very common.
In tense, unevenly developed necks we can often spot lines running from the top of the neck to the bottom. These are fascial lines that indicate that some areas of the neck are overworked and the fascia had to step up and create adhesions and thickenings to help out with the load. This is a great short-term solution, but in the long run it's these adhesions and thickenings that are actually reducing neck mobility.
Luckily, fasica is very plastic which means it responds well to bodywork techniques. Today I want to share a realtively simple, but very effective technique for addressing the fascial adhesions in the neck.
As with any bodywork technique, safety comes first, so make sure to choose a calm and safe environment and have a helper hold the horse. Stand by the horse's shoulder and locate the cranial (towards the head) edge of the scapula. Pick up a fold of skin just in front of the scapula and start rolling it upwards, towards the poll, in one continuous motion. Where the motion becomes more difficult and you seem to »run out of skin« is where there is some tension in the fascia. Your goal is to eventually reach the poll, but it's ok if it doesn't happen on your first go. Every time you do it you are releasing tight fascia and you should be able to go higher each time. I suggest you do the move three times on each side of the neck. The horse's cooperation is crucial, so make sure he is ok with it. Most horses enjoy it a lot and will be happy to cooperate. If your horse doesn't like it and tries to move away, it might be a sign you need to try an approach that's even gentler. You can try this exercise instead.
Grab hold of a fold of skin in front of the scapula and roll it upwards in one continuous movement.
While this move is generally safe to do with any horse, if you have any doubts or concerns, don't hesitate to consult your veterinarian beforehand.
If you have any questions regarding this technique, feel free to shoot me a message.