Supporting Your Horses Cranial Structures & System
If you haven’t had a chance, please check out this page that talks about the craniosacral system, therapy and more.
This blog post goes over Equine Cranial Bones and can provide insight as to why it's important to support them!
Browse below to ponder some ideas that may help support your horses cranial structures to encourage a healthy flow of Cerebral Spinal Fluid and more.
Never underestimate the power of your equipment…
Ensure correct halter fit
Ensure correct bridle fit
Ensure your bit is not causing any discomfort
Try bitless riding
Forego a noseband, if possible
If you do use a noseband, ensure that it isn’t too snug and is positioned in the correct place
Consider using a halter with a padded noseband or headband, or add one like this
Avoid yanking or pulling on your horses halter and bit
And this one goes without saying, never leave a halter on your horse when alone in their stall/pasture - accidents, even fatal ones, happen this way
Observe various activities in your horses life…
How do they eat their food? Do they have a salt lick? Where is it placed?
Is it in a raised bucket or fixed bin? This could cause the horse to be flexed at the poll while eating, which could also cause reduced motion in the jaw and TMJ. Try pulling your chin in towards your chest and chewing, it’s somewhat difficult! Consider using a feeder pan on the ground instead.
Does your horse eat out of a raised or fixed hay net? Do they tend to stand in the same exact place? How are they standing? Does their stall have even footing or is there a slant/slope? Do they repeatedly pull hay out from the same spot of their net for the majority of the meal? Watch how their head and neck is moving!
Consider feeding meals and hay from the ground. It can support your horses body in more ways than one. Not only does feeding from the ground support reduced tension in the poll, TMJ, hyoid, other bones, muscles, but studies show it may help support the horses teeth, weight, digestive, respiratory systems and more due to its more “natural” manner.
While hay nets are wonderful for slow feeding purposes, it’s worth trying them near the ground or even a lowered trough. Better yet, check out a hay pillow - a canvas backed hay net with interchangeable net sizes.
While some horses may require a different setup due to health issues, if possible, we suggest exploring this option and seeing how your horses enjoys it. If you suspect that your horse has issues with it's head/neck/anything else, it's best to contact your vet as soon as possible. Explore craniosacral therapy and other options with your vets approval.
