Hyoid Release to Help Release Tension in the Horse's TMJ and Poll

Why Wednesday ⁓ My horse tenses the masseter very often and the vet said he has a tight TMJ and Hyoid. Is there anything I can do with The Masterson Method to help him release tension in that area?

Answer: Yes, one simple technique you could try is the Hyoid Release technique. This is a subtle movement technique in which we do not move anything ourselves, we simply apply a light, steady touch and let the horse create the movement.

By resting the thumb gently on the roof of the mouth, or placing a finger softly under the tongue on the bars of the lower jaw, we stimulate the horse to move the tongue in and out. This natural movement helps loosen the hyoid apparatus and supports release through interconnected areas including:

🔸The tongue and jaw
🔸The TMJ
🔸The poll
🔸The upper cervical vertebrae
🔸Muscles connecting to the sternum and forelimb

As the horse relaxes into this, the tongue and jaw movement becomes softer and more coordinated, indicating tension is releasing. It usually takes only 10–20 seconds, and can be done from both sides to access slightly different movement patterns.

👉 Share this video with anyone who may find it useful! And if you’d like to go deeper, join a hands-on Weekend Course to learn Masterson Method® techniques to improve mobility, release tension, and deepen your bond with your horse.

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