{"id":8230,"date":"2018-12-18T13:18:06","date_gmt":"2018-12-18T12:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/?p=8230"},"modified":"2021-09-02T16:52:10","modified_gmt":"2021-09-02T15:52:10","slug":"neck-muscles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/neck-muscles\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Neck Muscles?  Piece of Cake!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWow, your horse\u2019s neck looks so good!! Mine kind of looks like a giraffe\u2026 I\u2019m having a hard time building muscles\u2026\u201d Yes!! Who hasn\u2019t ever been jealous of the big muscly necks of high level horses or show stallions? Today, I\u2019m giving you the secret to improve your horse\u2019s neck muscles.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/equisense1.typeform.com\/to\/KORD7WKd#source_acquisition=Blog&amp;campaign_acquisition=Muscu_encolure_EN&amp;campaign_comm=TRC_rentree_2021&amp;medium_acquisition=Image\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CARTE-IN-APP-NOUVEAU-TRC-EN.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-31041\" width=\"564\" height=\"335\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CARTE-IN-APP-NOUVEAU-TRC-EN.jpg 1495w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CARTE-IN-APP-NOUVEAU-TRC-EN-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CARTE-IN-APP-NOUVEAU-TRC-EN-1024x609.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CARTE-IN-APP-NOUVEAU-TRC-EN-768x457.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CARTE-IN-APP-NOUVEAU-TRC-EN-454x270.jpg 454w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/CARTE-IN-APP-NOUVEAU-TRC-EN-850x505.jpg 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Click on the image to download the free Top Rider Challenge 2021. Take advantage of a detailed 15-day training program, to train with the discipline of champions!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"toc_container\" class=\"no_bullets\"><p class=\"toc_title\">Table des mati&egrave;res<\/p><ul class=\"toc_list\"><li><a href=\"#Whats-in-my-horses-neck\">What\u2019s in my horse\u2019s neck?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#nbsp\">&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Why-should-you-be-concerned-about-neck-muscles\">Why should you be concerned about neck muscles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#Which-movements-contribute-to-the-neck-muscles\">Which movements contribute to the neck muscles?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#To-conclude\">To conclude<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"Whats-in-my-horses-neck\"><strong>What\u2019s in my horse\u2019s neck?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever wondered why we learn about horse anatomy? It\u2019s really important to have some basic knowledge <\/span><b>in order to work efficiently<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. So let\u2019s dive deeper into the horse\u2019s neck anatomy to see how to improve its musculature &#8211; the right way.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cervical vertebrae are located in the lower part of the neck\u2026<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2026 and not up top as we might think at first! The muscles defining a good looking neck are then located above the cervical spine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1556\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_cheval.png\" alt=\"horse neck\" class=\"wp-image-8231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_cheval.png 1556w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_cheval-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_cheval-768x272.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_cheval-1024x363.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_cheval-604x214.png 604w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_cheval-850x301.png 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1556px) 100vw, 1556px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The neck has a very powerful ligament system: the nuchal ligament.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You remember the <\/span><b>nuchal ligament<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? I already mentioned it in the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/muscles-back__trashed\/\">back muscles article<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-6621 size-full\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1388\" height=\"790\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ligament_dos-1.png\" alt=\"Horse's back ligament system\" class=\"wp-image-6621\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ligament_dos-1.png 1388w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ligament_dos-1-300x171.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ligament_dos-1-768x437.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ligament_dos-1-1024x583.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/ligament_dos-1-474x270.png 474w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1388px) 100vw, 1388px\" \/><figcaption>The horse\u2019s back ligament system according to Denoix (1997)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nuchal ligament is a<\/span><b> powerful and voluminous ligament linking the cervical vertebrae to the first thoracic vertebrae<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the withers) in the shape of a fan.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nuchal ligament has two parts:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>the funicular part<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which links the withers to the top of the skull (it\u2019s right under the mane)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>the lamellar part<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which links the withers to every cervical vertebrae<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nuchal ligament extends into a supraspinous ligament linking the top (processes) of the vertebrae from the top of the withers to the sacrum.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If I\u2019m mentioning this ligament again, it\u2019s because, thanks to the ligament, <\/span><b>the slightest movement of the neck will have a huge impact on the entire body<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Indeed, when the horse lowers its head, it will automatically pull up the entire back. This will form a bridge which will make carrying the rider\u2019s body easier and (but\u2026) this will \u201cdrag the hind legs back\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Neck muscles<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are 2 big muscle groups affecting the neck. The extensors (above the spine) and the flexor (under it). Yes! <\/span><b>The expression \u201cneck extension\u201d is fake, because it\u2019s actually a flexion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1556\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure.png\" alt=\"neck extension\" class=\"wp-image-8234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure.png 1556w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-768x272.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-1024x363.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-604x214.png 604w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-850x301.png 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1556px) 100vw, 1556px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><b>The extension muscles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will then <\/span><b>pull the neck and open then neck-head angle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Contrariwise, the <\/span><b>flexion muscles<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will help the horse <\/span><b>lower its neck and close the angle<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Artboard.png\" alt=\"horse neck muscles\" class=\"wp-image-8237\" width=\"559\" height=\"647\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Artboard.png 870w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Artboard-259x300.png 259w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Artboard-768x890.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Artboard-233x270.png 233w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Artboard-850x985.png 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As for the lateral flexion of the neck (the bend), there are no muscles dedicated to this movement. <\/span><b>The extensor and flexor muscles will contract in a concentric way on one side only and relax on the other side<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span id=\"nbsp\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2><span id=\"Why-should-you-be-concerned-about-neck-muscles\"><b>Why should you be concerned about neck muscles?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>The neck: a crucial pendulum movement<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The neck is <\/span><b>really important for the horse\u2019s locomotion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. As I was saying earlier, the nuchal ligament induces <\/span><b>big repercussions on the entire body when the neck moves<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1556\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_2.png\" alt=\"neck horse\" class=\"wp-image-8240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_2.png 1556w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_2-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_2-768x272.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_2-1024x363.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_2-604x214.png 604w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/encolure_2-850x301.png 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1556px) 100vw, 1556px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance <\/span><b>at canter, the movement of the neck helps the engagement of the hind legs.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Indeed, when the neck rises during the suspension, it allows the nuchal ligament to unwind and helps the engagement of the hind legs right before they touch the ground. The same way, the neck going down helps the push of the hind legs with a compression of the vertebral body <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Denoix, 2013)<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><b>That\u2019s why a rigid neck (caused by a bad musculature or a rigid hand) doesn\u2019t allow the horse to have a nice locomotion.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>The neck muscles go hand in hand with the overall muscles<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Furthermore, the ultimate goal of a lot of riders is to have a horse that is \u201clight\u201d in your hand, a horse which holds itself. This only comes with harmonious foreleg muscles, so the neck but not only the neck! A horse can\u2019t be light or harmonious without a great musculature around the abs (so the back), the glutes and the pectorals.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"color: #f2692a;\"><b>The neck can\u2019t be considered on its own, and building neck muscles can\u2019t be a goal as such without considering the abdominal, the gluteal and the pectoral muscles.&nbsp;<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>&#x1f4da;Read more: <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/strengthen-horse-shoulder-muscles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to build shoulder muscles&nbsp;<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2><span id=\"Which-movements-contribute-to-the-neck-muscles\"><b>Which movements contribute to the neck muscles?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><b>The exercises to build neck muscles have to use the 3 types of contractions. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you remember? I mentioned them in the article about <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/5-exercises-muscle-reinforcement\/\">jumping exercises for muscle reinforcement<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These 3 contraction types are:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>concentric:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when the ends of the muscle get closer together and the muscle inflates. Like the biceps do when you flex &#x1f4aa;.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>eccentric:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when the muscle contracts when it stretches to go against a movement. Like the quadriceps when you do a chair.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>isometric:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> when the muscle contracts without changing its length. Like the adductor when you tighten your thighs while riding.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s take 2 examples of movement which will help you build neck muscles.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>Example #1 &#8211; Neck extension<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yep, this one again! It\u2019s a great exercise but you have to do it carefully.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.prbdressage.com\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"396\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/pierre_beaupere_descente_encolure-e1522237061511-1024x396.jpg\" alt=\"muscles encolure cheval musculation de l'encolure\" class=\"wp-image-2509\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/pierre_beaupere_descente_encolure-e1522237061511-1024x396.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/pierre_beaupere_descente_encolure-e1522237061511-300x116.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/pierre_beaupere_descente_encolure-e1522237061511-768x297.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/pierre_beaupere_descente_encolure-e1522237061511-604x233.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption>Pierre Beaup\u00e8re &#8211; \u00a9Charly Goffinet &#8211; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.prbdressage.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.prbdressage.com\/<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you do a neck extension, the main muscle group which is going to be working will be <\/span><b>the extensor group<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4>\u201cWhat?? The horse lowers its head but the upper muscles are the one working??\u201d<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exactly! Why? Because of<\/span><b> gravity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of course!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the case of the neck extension, it\u2019s <\/span><b>mainly the weight of the head and the neck which is going to allow this extension. The flexor muscles aren\u2019t responsible for it! <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The extensor muscles will go against the movement to manage the height the head has to stabilize at. They will then contract in an <\/span><b>eccentric<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> way, exactly like a drawbridge: to lower the bridge, it\u2019s useless to pull downwards, it\u2019s own weight takes care of that. However it\u2019s important to hold it so it doesn\u2019t suddenly fall with the lengthening of the cords.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the extensor muscles (so the cords holding the descent of the drawbridge) open the head-neck angle. So if the neck extension is done with the head-neck angle closed (horse low and round), it\u2019s<\/span><b> the flexor group<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which will intervene to bend the nape, this time in a <\/span><b>concentric<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> extension.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1556\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-copy.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-copy.png 1556w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-copy-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-copy-768x272.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-copy-1024x363.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-copy-604x214.png 604w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/extension_encolure-copy-850x301.png 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1556px) 100vw, 1556px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4>There is no good or bad neck height.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Be careful, neck extension doesn\u2019t necessarily mean nose to the ground!<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The nape slightly under the height of the withers is a good compromise and allows to hold a good engagement of the hind legs. Even so, there is no bad or good neck height. It all depends on the horse and its abilities. Listen to your horse!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4><b>Neck extension, proceed with caution&nbsp;<\/b><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other impacts of neck extension are numerous, notably <\/span><b>the development of pectorals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (inducing the \u201cwithers pull up\u201d) and the <\/span><b>work of the abdominals<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2026 And it\u2019s an exercise than can be pretty <\/span><b>difficult and even painful for horses with physical issues\/conditions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It can even be <\/span><b>contraindicated for horses with bone or tendon problems on the forelegs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> because of the overload it induces. Too much tension in the nuchal ligament may also cause injuries on the vertebral spines and too much compression on the vertebrae over one another. It\u2019s important to not force it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2074\" height=\"634\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/conseils.png\" alt=\"neck extension tendinitis\" class=\"wp-image-8246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/conseils.png 2074w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/conseils-300x92.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/conseils-768x235.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/conseils-1024x313.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/conseils-604x185.png 604w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/conseils-850x260.png 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2074px) 100vw, 2074px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>Example #2 &#8211; Bended work<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I explained earlier, <\/span><b>the neck doesn\u2019t have any muscles specifically dedicated to lateral flexion<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Lateral flexion is actually induced by a simultaneous contraction of the extensor and flexor muscles on the side of the flexion. Bended work allow you to complete what you started with the neck extension by allowing a concentric work of both muscle groups.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1556\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/incurvation.png\" alt=\"neck muscles\" class=\"wp-image-8249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/incurvation.png 1556w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/incurvation-300x106.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/incurvation-768x272.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/incurvation-1024x363.png 1024w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/incurvation-604x214.png 604w, https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/incurvation-850x301.png 850w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1556px) 100vw, 1556px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lateral flexion work also <\/span><b>makes the back muscles work<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the same way the neck muscles work\/do. The lateral flexion of the body is induced by a concentric contraction of the common mass (the big muscle group in the back, on each side of the spine) and the abdomen muscles.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span id=\"To-conclude\"><b>To conclude<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The neck holds a central place in the horse\u2019s locomotion. <span style=\"color: #bf0d4f;\">Even so, <strong>how beautiful the neck looks shouldn\u2019t be a goal as such but rather a consequence of a well done job.<\/strong><\/span> Its development has to be a part of a global muscle development which, let\u2019s just say, takes some time!!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Thinking that your horse has to have its neck as the highest point to build its neck is a mistake that will only rigidify your horse in a high attitude and will make you enter a vicious circle.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indeed, a horse kept in a high attitude will not be able to use it\u2019s natural pendulum like head movement. The nuchal ligament will be relaxed and the horse\u2019s back will bend. To carry the rider, it will be forced to rigidify its back muscles and will be unable to bend, use its abdominals and engage its hind legs.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>It\u2019s useless to pull up the head of a horse which is already unable to move and engage its legs correctly!<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes, if you want to build neck muscles, you have to start with the basics: managing the gait, the suppleness, relaxation and quality of the contact. These are the first steps in the progression ladder! It\u2019s not a coincidence collecting is the last step &#x1f609;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And all\u2019s well that ends well because the basis of locomotion are the subject of one of our programs, available in the Equisense app!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">See you soon for another article,<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Camille Saute<br>Equisense Co-founder<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h6><strong>Bibliography<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">[Denoix, J.-M. (2014). Biom\u00e9canique et gymnastique du cheval. Paris, France: Vigot.<br>Barone, R. (1976). Anatomie compar\u00e9e des mammif\u00e8res domestiques, Tome I\u202f: Ost\u00e9ologie \u2013 atlas. Paris, France: Vigot.<br>Cover picture \u00a9Nathalie Hupin \u2013 Equisense<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cWow, your horse\u2019s neck looks so good!! Mine kind of looks like a giraffe\u2026 I\u2019m&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/neck-muscles\/\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8252,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[6180],"tags":[6173,31,7212],"yst_prominent_words":[6337,7206,7203,7201,1052,7198,7208,7204,7195,855,7207,7200,784,7202,7209,6588,7210,7197,7194,6307],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8230"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8230"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8230\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31047,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8230\/revisions\/31047"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8252"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8230"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.equisense.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=8230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}