10/23/2025
⚠️ Why pulling on a horse’s tongue is not relaxing & why it’s actually harmful ⚠️
I know this trend is meant to “help the horse relax,” but here’s what’s actually happening when you do it.
The tongue is a highly innervated muscle - meaning it’s packed with nerve endings.
It’s directly attached to the hyoid apparatus, a tiny, delicate group of bones that suspends the tongue and larynx. The hyoid isn’t designed to withstand external force, it breaks very easily.
When a tongue is pulled, it can strain or even fracture the hyoid.
This causes irreversible damage - once that connection is disrupted, it can’t be undone… only managed.
The hyoid doesn’t just affect the mouth. It’s deeply connected through fascia and muscular chains that link into the jaw, poll, neck, shoulders, sternum and diaphragm. Influencing how the entire body moves, from poll to pelvis.
So when tension is created here, it doesn’t stay local - it ripples through the whole body.
Balance, posture and movement are all affected.
When you pull on the tongue, you’re not “releasing tension” - you’re creating it.
Here’s what’s actually happening when that pull is performed:
1. Overstretching sensitive tissues
2. Stimulating nerves that trigger a stress response - activating the body’s fight, flight or freeze
3. Disrupting how the horse swallows
4. Interfering with breathing
5. Altering digestion
6. Causing micro-trauma or fractures in the hyoid bones
7. Affecting balance, posture and full-body movement
Instead of calming the nervous system, pulling on the tongue actually activates it.
The horse might stand still or drop their head afterward, but that’s not relaxation.
That’s a freeze response.
Their nervous system is overwhelmed, not soothed.
The hyoid also connects to several cranial nerves, including the vagal nerve, which helps regulate heart rate, digestion and true relaxation.
When this area is irritated, it can throw the entire system off - leading to jaw tightness, head tossing, swallowing issues and overall body tension.
True relaxation doesn’t come from force.
It comes from restoring balance, releasing restriction gently and allowing the nervous system to shift into safety on its own.
✨ Respect the body and it will relax for you.
Force it, and it will fight you - even if it looks still/relaxed.
✨ If you’ve ever seen this done or been told it “helps them relax,” share this post to help spread awareness and protect more horses from unnecessary harm.
