Horses Pulling Back

Horses pulling back
Has your horse ever pulled back when tied or have you seen a horse pulled back when tied? It is a very unsettling sight and sometimes it can be violent depending on how the horse reacts and how they are tied.

​The biggest mistake you can make is to ASSUME your horse is fine after a pullback incident. Your horse may act fine, but I assure you that there has been a certain degree of damage done that may not be apparent to your eyes. Your horse may even ride “ok”. But we must remember that horses are excellent at hiding pain and dysfunction…after all, that is how they survive. Let’s breakdown what can happen during a pullback incident to help you understand just how seriously it can negatively affect your horse’s health.

During a pullback incident, an enormous amount of force is applied directly at the poll (the joint of the occiput/base of skull and the atlas/first cervical vertebrae). This force compressed not only those bones but also the soft tissue underneath. This includes the nuchal ligament. The nuchal ligament runs from the top of the occiput along the neck to the withers. It is critical in transferring motion through the horse’s body and allowing correct posture and use of the entire body. The compressive forces from a pullback injury can compress the nuchal ligament enough that it can cause micro tears and adhesions. It can also damage the bursa the is underneath the connection at the top of the occiput. In addition to the nuchal ligament, there is damage to the surrounding nerves, muscles, and fascia that can occur…and that is only at the poll. In severe cases, nuchal bursitis or fractures can occur.

As the horse is pulling back, they can often fight in a side-to-side motion causing stress on other cervical vertebrae down the neck, into the lumbar, and the SI in the pelvis. I have recently worked with two horses who have had the same pattern in their cranial bones, and both showed soreness in the right side of their SI that was not previously there. One of the horses (pictured) exhibited a flipping of the nuchal ligament that was not there in previous sessions over the past few years. The left side of her cranial bones were all compressed caudally, her left TMJ was reactive and shifted ventrally, and her hyoid was shifted to the right.

The very best thing you can do to help your horse is to try to mitigate any pull back incidents. However, if your horse does pull back. PLEASE have a qualified Craniosacral Practitioner work with your horse as soon as possible. There is no such thing as they are just fine afterwards. There is always dysfunction…even if you can’t see it.