A hand rests on the poll of a bridled horse while the horse relaxes and lowers its head.

Relaxing your neck & jaw: Exercises to do at Home

Health
Reading time: 5 minutes

In this article, I show you a short, gentle at-home routine that you can use to specifically support your horse’s head and neck area. You’ll get step-by-step instructions and helpful tips on how to recognize true relaxation.

Table of Contents

🎥 Video tip: How to soften your horse’s poll and jaw

‍‍In our ClipMyHorse.TV Academy, you’ll find an exclusive premium video on this topic that explains the routine in a comprehensive and expert way and offers valuable tips. The Academy gives you access to professionally produced, practical expertise—ideal for anyone looking to deepen their training knowledge in a targeted way.

A horse therapist rests her hand on the poll of a bridled horse as the horse relaxes and lowers its head.

A loose poll and a relaxed jaw often have a direct effect on contact, bend, and the overall feel of movement. Especially after dental treatment, this area can be sensitive—but even with issues like headshaking or general tension in the head and neck area, calm, gentle support is worthwhile.

Important note on performing the exercises:‍

‍Do all exercises slowly, carefully, and with feel. The aim is to relax the muscles. The exercises shown are not a substitute for professional physiotherapy treatment. If the horse becomes unwilling or appears sensitive or painful during the massage, a physiotherapist should be consulted.

❗ Please consult a veterinarian if the following signs occur:
• Clear avoidance, inability to stand still, or defensive behaviour (ears pinned back, biting, kicking)
• Strong reaction to very light pressure (e.g. “collapsing”, going “down on the knees”)
• Suspected pain or if the situation escalates

Exercises: Step-by-step explained

Relaxing the poll

Goal: Relieve the poll area, initiate letting go, and encourage relaxation/chewing.

How to do it:

Step-by-step instructions:
1. Check the halter: If necessary, slide the halter slightly back.
2. Hand on the poll: Place your hand calmly on top of the poll and wait.
3. Desired response: The horse lowers its head voluntarily.
4. Add massage: If the horse remains calm, gently massage with your fingertips to the right and left of the mane crest using very light pressure.
5. Work slowly: Small, calm movements.
Positive signs: The neck lowers, chewing begins, the horse appears overall softer and calmer.
Warning sign (stop): If the horse jerks its head upward or shows resistance → stop and have it professionally assessed.

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Relaxing the poll in horses: a hand releases the neck muscles at the base of the neck behind the ear.

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The horse lowers its head – a gentle poll exercise at the halter to relax the poll and jaw.

Gently mobilizing the mane crest and nuchal ligament

Goal: Support relaxation along the upper neck line.

How to do it:

Step-by-step instructions:
1. Prerequisite: The head remains relaxed and lowered.
2. Gently move the mane crest or surrounding tissue with minimal motion—only as far as the horse stays calm.
3. If the horse becomes restless or throws its head up: take a break.
Hand on the poll between the ears, horse with head lowered.
Stroking the upper neck: the horse with a lowered neck while hands stroke the neck muscles to loosen them.

Stroking along the upper neck muscles

Goal: Release the muscles on the right/left and relieve the poll area.

How to do it:

Step-by-step instructions:
1. If the head remains lowered, slowly stroke the muscles on the right and left of the upper neck.
2. Work with light pressure until the tissue under your fingers begins to feel softer.
Important: Never pull the head down using the halter.
Stroking the neck muscles along the upper neck – gentle massage techniques for greater relaxation.

Gently stroking the ears

Goal: Calming/relaxation (very finely dosed).

How to do it:

Step-by-step instructions:
1. Only proceed if your horse accepts being touched on the ear.
2. Gently hold the ear and apply a minimal outward movement to the right/left – no pressure, no pulling.
Positive signs: Chewing, a soft expression, calm breathing.
Gently stroking the ears: calm strokes over the horse’s ear for soothing and relaxation.

Stroking the jaw muscle at the jowl

Goal: Relax the jaw area, encourage chewing, and soothe pressure points.

How to do it:

Step-by-step instructions:
1. Locate the muscle area below the jaw joint at the jowl.
2. Stroke calmly or work with light pressure.
3. At sensitive spots: briefly apply minimal pressure, then release again – without pressing into the tissue.
Warning: Many nerves run through the head area – always work carefully and never too firmly.

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Stroking the jaw muscle at the jowl – a gentle massage on the horse’s head encourages chewing and relaxation.

Very gently mobilizing the jaw joint

Goal: Very light mobilization of the jaw joint.

How to do it:

Step-by-step instructions:
1. Place both hands on the right and left sides of the jaw joint.
2. Move very slowly and carefully with minimal motion to the right and left.
3. Only go as far as the horse remains relaxed – no quick movements.
Mobilizing the horse’s temporomandibular joint: the therapist supports the head and moves the jaw joint very gently.

Conclusion

With a few gentle techniques, you can meaningfully support your horse’s poll and jaw in everyday life. The key is to work calmly, use very little pressure, observe the response—and if there are signs of resistance or pain, it’s better to have it professionally assessed early on.

Author
Marie Kleiter DISCOVER CMH.TV

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Horse health