The Masseter and Temporal muscles: These are the main two muscle involved in chewing. When the masseter contracts on both sides it closes the mouth. Contracting on one side at a time it moves the jaw to the side creating the side to side chewing motion. You can see the masseter muscle moving on your horse’s “cheek” when he is chewing. The Temporal muscle closes the mouth. It brings the mandible (lower jaw) up to meet the maxilla (which doesn’t move). This muscle works with the masseter in the chewing process. Have a look a look at both sides of your horses face to see if these muscles are equal in size. Suspect trouble in the masseter or temporal areas if: - Your horse may not like you touching this area - If your horse is chewing on one side of its mouth only (watch your horse!) - If your horse has trouble opening its mouth on one side - Your horse grinds his teeth - Plays a role in TMJ issues - Have difficulty eating - Your horse is headshy - Leans on the bit or have problems with the contact Issues in this area could be caused by a number of things, but it is a good idea to start with having your horse’s teeth checked and floated by a qualified equine dentist! The masseter and temporal are also linked to the health of the very important TMJ (temporalmandibular joint)... but more about that at a later date! Can massage help? Yes! Massage can help relieve pain and tension in these areas. We have all had tension headaches and almost automatically started rubbing our temples (temporal muscle!) to get some relief... Unfortunately for your horse, he does not have fingers to rub his head. So, if you suspect your horse might have a headache, why not give your local, friendly equine bodyworker a call!
Posted on: Wed, 11 Sep 2013 15:41:08 +0000
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