Nidal and C8

Nidal, at age 15 still dealing with the results of not having been made straight, today was able to stretch his back, release his withers, turn and bend smoothly left as right. Yesterday there was no go in the matter, even after so many minutes of walking on an extended rein. So I gave it a go, Indian style, troting and cantering, reins released, holding on to a piece of his lower mane. He was not well and reacted with excitement, all the while lifting his front end and poising himself. But he was in full control.



I wonder if anyone has researched the horse's dermatomes. I would not be surprised to find out that the dermatome which is innervated by C8 covers a broad stripe from the horse's lower mane to its front legs. I tested the same thing with Fabian in the out-doors today, holding on to his lower mane while releasing the reins. He got excited and dropped his back, as if this was too strong an impact for him. Yet - he was in full control. After calming down I asked him to go into second gear. His back came up, so did his lower neck. Reins hanging we did a small tour in this 'other' gear, trotting uphill past the house, returning to the stables with delight.