02/06/2026
When you look at horse blankets through a biomechanical lens like me; the question becomes:
Which design interferes least with the horse’s natural movement, posture, and nervous system?
🐎 Over-the-Head Blankets — Biomechanical Cons
These can look sleek, but they come with hidden costs:
❌ Poll & cervical spine pressure
Pulling a blanket over the head compresses the poll, atlas/axis, and upper cervical fascia.
For horses with:
neck tension
past trauma
TMJ or poll restrictions
this can trigger brace patterns immediately.
❌ Disrupts nervous system regulation
The poll is a major parasympathetic gateway.
Pressure or surprise over the head can flip a horse into sympathetic (fight/flight), even if they “stand still.”
❌ Limits scapular freedom
Many over-the-head designs sit tighter across the chest.
This can restrict:
scapular rotation
stride length
forelimb swing
leading to compensation through the back and SI.
Biomechanical takeaway:
Even calm horses often brace subtly — raised head, hollowed back, shortened step — patterns that add up over time.
I will be returning blankets due to getting the wrong type.. I should have ordered front closure due to issues within my boys' poll from a pullback episode.
What blanket do you use? Have you ever thought about it this way? Comment below 👇👇
