The ewe necked OTTB

[anicolle]

I managed to pick up this horse, 2 days after I put a rescue type appendix (the prettiest, athletic horse) down due to being n/h for HYPP and he was just an extreme head case. I put up with that horse trying to kick, bite, attack you and other horses for way longer than I should of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EomrnXAiS5Q

I don’t have any confo photos at the moment.

He basically travels like that when I ride him, yeah its only been two weeks and its his first time out of a track situation. He’s been nothing but wonderful. He gives a little better in the canter. Likes to open/naw on the bit.

He still travels like a llama, has a disappearing mouth. It will get better right? (of course it will I just need to hear some support)

He also vetted super super clean. Except he has two different sized front legs.

Side note; anyone in the North Bay Area, California knows of a really good chiropractor? Would love someone out for this guy (or haul in) thanks!!!

[Linny]

No advice on a chiro, since I’m in NY, but like many TB’s he looks like he needs to “grow a topline.” Racehorses’ backs are only a place for the jock to sit. Lots of trotting and relaxing and trotting over poles on the ground helps him build the top and shrink the bottom side.

[Scratch_N_Dent]

Someone I know purchased one that had a similar head carriage. A few years later now and you wouldn’t know it was the same horse. Lots of flatting and getting him working from behind and simply supporting with the hand. I would be very careful not to try to pull him into a frame; take your time and do it right. Good luck - he looks fun!

[Scratch_N_Dent]

I know many people who use Dr. Noam Teplitsky and are very happy with his work.

[Linny]

http://s205.photobucket.com/user/Linny999/media/Ap%20to%20Aug_zpscahbxlxb.png.html?filters[user]=48465611&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0

[Linny]

[URL=http://s205.photobucket.co![](/user/Linny999/media/Ap%20to%20Aug_zpscahbxlxb.png.html][IMG]

[Jarrn]

[QUOTE=L![](nny;8674397]
[URL=http://s205.photobucket.com/user/Linny999/media/Ap%20to%20Aug_zpscahbxlxb.png.html][IMG][/QUOTE]

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb31/Linny999/Ap%20to%20Aug_zpscahbxlxb.png

[skipollo]

Sample 1

Sample 2

It gets better. Get out of the ring and walk hills. It makes a world of difference.

[merrygoround]

Hack out, think forward. Working on hills will make him reach down to see where he is going. Same with ground poles followed by low cavaletti. Stay out of his mouth as much as possible, doing much of your transitions from your seat. Expect to use a soft opening rein for turns, backed up by your seat and legs.

The topline I see is not unusual for ottb’s, fresh off the track.

[Linny]

[QUOTE=Jarrn;8674453]
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb31/Linny999/Ap%20to%20Aug_zpscahbxlxb.png[/QUOTE]

Thank you, I’m incapable of posting a link…

[Linny]

For some reason I can’t use the edit function, so I’ll add here regarding ^^^

I’m not fond of my position in the 2nd pic but notice the lack of rein tension and the active LEG, not the hand. This was the mare’s 1st full year of OT training after 3 years as a broodmare and 3 as a racehorse. This year we are working on more contact and adjustability, but even on a loopy rein, she’s very balanced and willing to engage.
In addition to ring work, she spends plenty of time walking around on the farm and trails.

[Scribbler]

A true ewe neck is a conformation flaw, a skeletal issue. The actual neck bone (not the visible topline) connects to the shoulder too low, and there is not enough turnover in the upper end of the neck entering the poll (hammer headed).

But many young, unmuscled horses, especially OTTB, can have underdeveloped necks that look like ewe necks but aren’t, really. And they can carry themselves stiffly with their noses pointed out, in a way that makes them look hammer headed, because they lack balance and muscling.

I find these hard to tell apart, so I am always astounded by how much a young OTTB can improve in a year or two as a riding horse.

I don’t think this horse is seriously ewe necked. He just needs slow, consistent work under saddle, especially in stretching to the bit and learning to carry himself. Right now he has built up muscle on the underside of his neck that looks like he carries himself inverted a lot. Re-condition him to move correctly, and his neck muscling will change a lot. Inverted and behind the bit will probably continue to be his go-to evasion (rather than, for instance, dumping on the forehand and pulling on the bit) so you want to make sure you don’t focus on a “frame” or a vertical face too soon, before he is able to stretch and carry himself. Otherwise you could end up with him learning to duck behind the bit.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I would be spending 10 minutes before each ride quietly lunging this horse in side reins that are not tight, but that encourage him to reach to the bit. It is so good for teaching horses about proper contact without rider mistakes. Worked wonders for my horse. I also echo the hill work. Doing lots of long and low work definitely helps as well. I do it for 5-10 minutes at the end of a few rides a week which slowly improves the topline.

[yellowbritches]

I’ve ridden both under developed, scrawny looking TBs that have the LOOK of a ewe neck as well as truly ewe necked TBs/horses, and you can help them. One little mare I started had short little neck that was pretty upside down…she’s now scoring decently in dressage at the intermediate level of eventing with her YR. My first TB was a conformation nightmare, but with good flat work and fitness, he went very well under saddle and got decent scores, as well.

Lots of hacking with a good, swinging walk, lots of PROPER (HUGE emphasis on PROPER) long and low work to develop his topline, and proper flatwork in general. I am less inclined to say “stay out of his mouth” and more likely to say ride him properly, back to front, into a proper, soft, correct contact.

[Wonders12]

Some people will hate this, but I like to lunge in a neck stretcher when a horse needs to build his topline and use his back properly. I don’t use it for extended periods, but rather as a tool to teach the horse what I’m looking for. I appreciate that the neck stretcher gives an immediate reward every time the horse chooses to stretch down. A perfect rider can do this under saddle too, but I’m not a perfect rider. I also find some horses are more willing to reach down without a rider until they develop those muscles.

The neck stretcher, poles then cavelletti, and walking up hills are the tools I’ve used for horses like this.

All of that being said, I wouldn’t start this horse on the neck stretcher right now. I’d get some good relaxing rides on him, and then introduce that as a guide once he’s ready.

[JenEM]

That’s not uncommon, it’s just a tracky way of them carrying themselves. Your new guy just needs to relearn the muscle memory of how to carry himself, and build up those muscles. And that’s a slow process that takes time and consistent work. Ditto the hacking out, going forward, and teaching the horse about long & low. He’s probably never been lunged, or in sidereins, so I’d introduce that very slowly (both are things he needs to know anyway!), but I found balancing/sliding sidereins to be most helpful in helping my mare figure it out on her own. She’s 14 now and still gets lunged in them occasionally.

Mine is built a bit high-headed, and it is her default head position anyway (she’s definitely the Watch Mare in a herd!), but this is how she looked a few weeks into retraining coming off a winter layup after coming off the track:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/200/445589826_97881684ba_z.jpg

And this is almost six years later, at a dressage show. Sorry, I think the only good shots of her on the flat I have are either dressage or sidesaddle!
https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/306/19760236153_40dd96b903_b.jpg

The biggest thing you can do is encourage forward from the hind end at this point. Once the push is coming from there, THEN he can figure out how much easier it is to go with his head/neck where they should be.

[Ponyplusaninch]

[QUOTE=Wonders12;8675400]
Some people will hate this, but I like to lunge in a neck stretcher when a horse needs to build his topline and use his back properly. I don’t use it for extended periods, but rather as a tool to teach the horse what I’m looking for. I appreciate that the neck stretcher gives an immediate reward every time the horse chooses to stretch down. A perfect rider can do this under saddle too, but I’m not a perfect rider. I also find some horses are more willing to reach down without a rider until they develop those muscles.

The neck stretcher, poles then cavelletti, and walking up hills are the tools I’ve used for horses like this.

All of that being said, I wouldn’t start this horse on the neck stretcher right now. I’d get some good relaxing rides on him, and then introduce that as a guide once he’s ready.[/QUOTE]

I don’t mind a neck stretcher with the right horse and rider, but OP, if you haven’t used one before, don’t do it on your own.

I love poles and baby cavelletti. Don’t be afraid to add leg, even if he’s hot. Actually if he’s hot, should add more leg, but that’s another story. Forward momentum will help encourage him to stretch forward.

I’ll also suggest getting a book on stretching horses and work on stretches that will help him engage his neck and back on the ground. Stretches in horses serve the same purpose in humans: to loosen and relax the muscles, promote good alignment, and to heighten body awareness. I like to do them with young horses (younger the better so they get used it) because it’s a great routine to start the day and helps them be relaxed going into the ride.

[anicolle]

Tried side reins!! Really didn’t make any sort of difference. I do have a chambon. That’s actually what I used on my old OTTB (when he wasn’t old) to get him to properly use himself. It did wonders.

[anicolle]

[QUOTE=Pony+ an inch;8675466]
I don’t mind a neck stretcher with the right horse and rider, but OP, if you haven’t used one before, don’t do it on your own.

I love poles and baby cavelletti. Don’t be afraid to add leg, even if he’s hot. Actually if he’s hot, should add more leg, but that’s another story. Forward momentum will help encourage him to stretch forward.

I’ll also suggest getting a book on stretching horses and work on stretches that will help him engage his neck and back on the ground. Stretches in horses serve the same purpose in humans: to loosen and relax the muscles, promote good alignment, and to heighten body awareness. I like to do them with young horses (younger the better so they get used it) because it’s a great routine to start the day and helps them be relaxed going into the ride.[/QUOTE]

I love the neck stretcher for my older horse. Wouldn’t put one on this guy.

I do carrot stretches with him, simple pressing on the belly, scratching his behind to lift his back.

He’s not hot, gets a little quick but not super sentiive to my leg. He’s a bit of a dud. That’ even what his trainer said. Whenever I come out to the barn, he neighes and demands to be ridden (was very upset when he only got turned out today and his ‘brother’ was ridden. Kept making grumpy faces"

He’s super lax to deal with, a bit of a cow sometimes. Won’t cross tie but he ground ties.

Let’s me tack walk him all over the property. Really looking forward to doing some trail rides on him.

I have poles/cavelletis/standards/etc etc.

Was really looking for some encouragement for the I should say the horses neck that is ewe muscled.

This isn’t the first horse I’ve ever had don’t worry did lots of lower level eventing, lower level AA stuff. Lots of working student stuff with a few amazing trainers.

This is my first “on my own” ammy green horse.

[OldLadyYoungOTTB]

I love this post because I just bought an OTTB in March and he has a head carriage similar to many of your “before” pics. But, I’ve already noticed some progress. Thanks for the encouragement (even though it was to the OP I’m also taking it :lol: ). The exercises are really helpful, too!