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I have had experience with a horse that did drop his head and stretch his
neck. Since there was no sign of lameness (per vet) or saddle problem, we
at first thought it was the "good kind" of stretching. When he continued
to do it more and more we finally had the chiropractor vet check him out
and lo and behold his pelvis and hip were out of alignment and he was just
trying to get comfortable when he stretched out. Two adjustments and he
was fine. While he traveled with a nice low headset, he did quit
stretching down to the ground. You might considered having your local
Chiro vet check him out. This horse's misalignment occurred in an area of
the spine that he had banged years before trying to go under the butt bar
in the trailer. It seems that the increase in dressage work aggravated it.
His only visible/"feelable" manifestation was the dropped head.
I am now working with a green arab mare that is learning to drop her head
and stretch in order to help build up her back and encourage lengthening.
This has been a wonderful way to teach her to relax as she gets anxious
when asked to do something new (like leg yield). Soon as she completes the
movement, we reward her with a long rein. She accepts it and immediately
relaxes.
Sally Aungier
and Lella - the once mutton withered mare - who now has withers and even
shoulders! (and is the new poster girl for the Va. State parks trails
brochure that's in production)
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