12/09/2025
๐ ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฌ: ๐๐ก๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐ก & ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅโ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐๐ง
Letโs talk about one of the most overworked and under-understood muscles in the entire horse:
the ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ก๐ข๐จ๐๐๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฌ aka the big strap muscle running from the head/neck down into the shoulder.
Anatomy-wise, it has two major anchor points:
๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ง: the skull (mastoid region) and cervical fascia along the neck
๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: the humerus (upper arm bone) near the shoulder
So yesโฆ this one single muscle literally connects ๐ก๐๐๐ โ ๐ง๐๐๐ค โ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ โ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ก๐๐ง๐ข๐๐ฌ.
This guy has ๐ญ๐ฐ๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฃ๐จ๐๐ฌ:
โก๏ธ ๐๐๐๐๐ก the front limb forward
โก๏ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ the body forward over the limb
Pretty dang important, right?
Hereโs the kicker ๐
When this muscle gets tight, overused, or bracing?
Youโll see things like:
โข shorter stride
โข a โstabbyโ or choppy front end
โข dropped shoulder
โข a horse who feels heavy on the forehand
โข stiffness in the neck
โข resistance to flex or bend
This muscle LOVES to compensate for anything going on in the neck, poll, or opposite hind. So when Iโm working on a horse, Iโm not just rubbing on a neck muscle. Iโm checking a major piece of the whole-body chain.
And when we get it released?
โ๏ธ Shoulder freedom
โ๏ธ Bigger reach
โ๏ธ Softer neck
โ๏ธ Better balance
โ๏ธ A horse that can actually lift through the front end instead of plowing forward
This is why bodywork isnโt about โmaking the neck looseโโฆ
Itโs about giving the whole horse back their movement.
If your horse feels stuck, uneven, braced, or just โnot using themselvesโ this muscle might be one of the loudest storytellers.
Drop a โ if you want me to break down & simplify another key muscle group next week!
(Adding to say yes, I know the overlaying anatomy is spot on for perfect location. But itโs a great visual to see on top of the horse! Thanks Google for helping me find the cool anatomy pic๐)
