02/16/2026
Muscle Monday✨
🐴Splenius
Function 💪
The splenius runs along the top of the neck and helps lift and extend the head and neck.
It also assists with lateral flexion, meaning it helps your horse bend and turn through the poll and neck.
This muscle is heavily involved in collection, headset, and overall carriage.
Importance 🔑
-A healthy splenius supports proper topline development.
-It stabilizes the cervical spine and works with the nuchal ligament to maintain balance.
-In performance horses, it plays a big role in soft flexion, smooth transitions, and relaxed contact.
When It’s Tight 🚨
•Resistance at the poll
•Difficulty bending one direction
•Head tossing or bracing
•Shortened stride in front
•Hollowing through the neck and back
•Compensation into the shoulder and even the TL junction
🚨A tight splenius can make a horse look “stiff” in the bridle when really the restriction is muscular.
How to Stretch 🧘♀️
Carrot stretches bringing the nose gently toward the girth area
Encourage long and low work to promote lengthening through the topline
Slow controlled lateral flexion at the poll
Gentle manual stretching by guiding the head down and slightly to the side without forcing
Always stretch within comfort. The goal is release, not resistance.❤️🩹
