How do you desensitize the neck during imprinting?

The neck desensitization during imprinting prepares the foal for one of the most frequent points of human contact throughout a horse's life — the neck is where halters and bridles exert pressure, where the rider's rein contact produces lateral bending, where injections are administered, where a twitch may be applied, and where handlers routinely place a hand or arm when working close to the horse. A foal whose neck has been thoroughly desensitized during imprinting accepts all of these contacts with a baseline of calm familiarity that reduces resistance and defensive behavior throughout its life. Begin neck desensitization by rubbing firmly along the entire length of the neck on the side the foal is lying on — from just behind the ear at the poll, along the crest, down the lateral surface of the neck, and to the shoulder. Use the full palm with sufficient pressure to simulate the kind of firm contact the neck will experience from halter pressure, grooming, and handling. Pay particular attention to the jugular groove area on both sides of the neck — this is where venipuncture is performed for blood collection and intravenous injections, and desensitizing this area specifically prepares the horse to stand quietly for veterinary procedures that require the horse to hold still with the neck in an extended position while a needle is inserted. Next, work around the throat latch area — the region where a bridle's throat latch will buckle and where a twitch or restraint hand might be placed. This sensitive area at the junction of the neck and head requires specific attention because horses that have not been desensitized here often show resistance or discomfort when a tight throat latch or any restraint pressure is applied to this region. Finally, rub the area at the base of the neck where it meets the shoulder and chest — the region where the first pressure of a breast collar or driving collar will rest for horses that go on to harness work, and where the forward swing of a rider's leg occasionally makes contact. Thorough desensitization of the neck establishes the familiarity that makes the wide range of handling this area receives throughout the horse's life less likely to produce reactive or defensive behavior.