Ewe neck - any tips?

[felldale]

My new filly, Maddy, has a terrible ewe neck at the moment. She is very underweight (50cm on the weightape ) and her neck is completely upside down. Lat winter at her previous home she had all her hay fed in a field shelter from a VERY high hayrack and I don't think that has helped at all. She has a longer neck than my other ponies and at times she carries it like a giraffe!

Does anyone have any tips at all? I know her neck will improve with weight but I need to get rid of the bulging muscle underneath and teach her to carry her head in a completely different way. She is three years old and has not been bitted yet.

Anyone?

[rose]

Hello There

I can well imagine your concern regarding your youngster's underweight condition . She is lucky to have found you.

Patience is my suggestion.

It sounds like she is going to need some time to recover not only her weight but also to create some good working muscle all round, not only in her neck. It is important that you view your pony as a whole horse, without focusing on the neck. With weight loss or a lack of nutrition, the neck is often one of the first areas to show it.

This will take time with some steady foreaging of Dr. Green (grass).

Your pony does not need you to teach it how to hold its' neck properly. she already knows how to do do that and, as you have said, the condition it is in is man made/influenced.

In the main, nature will do most of what you are seeking by her grazing from the ground and enjoying some good exersise with her field mates.

Bitting at this stage, if not necessary, may be best avoided. From what you said she is no condition to be asked to cope with too much stimulus requiring a well-founded musculature, and associated ligament and tendon health.

I would also avoid using any gadgetry as it is unlikely to help as, again it is an interference and people are seldom experienced enough to be able to evaluate the effects of a gadget on the whole horse, which of course is then being signaled to from the 'man made/desire' influence again in relation to movement and response.

Some really good grooming will stimulate the blood supply to her skin and muscles. Also a wonderful hands-on therapy is the Tellington- Jones Team Touch Technique. Books are available at www.amazon.co.uk and there is the TTeam web site. This technique opens up the neural pathways and benefits both horse and carer.

In-hand walking on a light and reasonable length of lead so that she walks with her head at the correct level of comfort.
See www.lesliedesmond.com . Here DVD's are a fantastic teaching tool with regards on the ground line work as is her audio book.

I hope this helps.

All this and good regular balanced foot care will contribute to your pony turning into the swan you know is waiting to blossom.

[felldale]

Thanks for your reply and links, Rose. I have been feeding her from the ground as I do with all my ponies and grooming her every day. She came with quite a bit of winter coat which has now all gone and I can see a bit of shine. I have been leading her out on a long rope and encouraging her to lower her head, which she will do as long as she is relaxed. She is out 24/7 with Midnight and Amber and certainly having some fun with them. I know it will take some time and I had no intention of using gadgets (don't use anything on any of my girls) but I had wondered about exercises ie carrot stretches. Will have a look at the Leslie Diamond site and I have a TT book here somewhere. Thanks again!

[akehurstannabel]

Carrot stretches are good for every horse I think and they certainly will not do any harm. If I were you I really wouldn't worry too much. She will improve as she puts on weight and grows. feeding from the floor will definately help. Jo x

[DalesLady]

Feeding from the floor only really does help. One of ours had an upside down neck when we got her, it took ages to get it the right way up, but eventually it got there.