FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The effect of different head and neck positions on the cauda...
Equine veterinary journal2009; 41(3); 274-279; doi: 10.2746/042516409x394436

The effect of different head and neck positions on the caudal back and hindlimb kinematics in the elite dressage horse at trot.

Abstract: Dressage involves training of the horse with the head and neck placed in a position defined by the rider. The best position for dressage training is currently under debate among riders and trainers, but there are few scientific data available to confirm or disprove the different views. Objective: To evaluate the kinematic effects of different head and neck positions (HNPs) in elite dressage horses ridden at trot. Methods: Seven high-level dressage horses were subjected to kinetic and kinematic measurements when ridden on a treadmill with the head and neck in 5 different positions. Results: Compared to free trot on loose reins the HNP desired for collected trot at dressage competitions increased T6 vertical excursion, increased sacral flexion and decreased limb retraction after lift-off. Further increasing head or head and neck flexion caused few additional changes while an extremely elevated neck position increased hindlimb flexion and lumbar back extension during stance, increased hindlimb flexion during swing and further increased trunk vertical excursion. Conclusions: The movements of the horse are significantly different when ridden on loose reins compared to the position used in collected trot. The exact degree of neck flexion is, however, not consistently correlated to the movements of the horse's limbs and trunk at collected trot. An extremely elevated neck position can produce some effects commonly associated with increased degree of collection, but the increased back extension observed with this position may place the horse at risk of injury if ridden in this position for a prolonged period. Conclusions: Head and neck positions influence significantly the kinematics of the ridden horse. It is important for riders and trainers to be aware of these effects in dressage training.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2009-05-28 PubMed ID: 19469235DOI: 10.2746/042516409x394436Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the impacts of different head and neck positions on the movement dynamics of elite dressage horses during a trot. It discovers that these positions significantly alter the horse’s movements and may have implications on horse performance and safety.

Objective and Methodology

  • The primary objective of the study is to understand the kinematic changes caused by various head and neck positions (HNPs) in high-level dressage horses while trotting.
  • To achieve this, the researchers performed kinetic and kinematic examinations on seven elite dressage horses. These horses were ridden on a treadmill, adopting five different HNPs. This controlled environment allowed accurate measurements across various parameters such as limb retraction, trunk vertical excursion, sacral flexion, and hindlimb flexion.

Results and Findings

  • Compared to a free trot on loose reins, the competition HNP for a collected trot highlighted distinct differences. The collected trot position led to more significant T6 vertical excursion (the horse’s natural up and down movement), increased sacral flexion (flexing at the lower back), and reduced limb retraction after lift-off.
  • Increasing the head or head and neck flexion resulted in only a few additional alterations. Meanwhile, an excessively elevated neck position led to more notable changes, such as increased lumbar back extension during stance, further increased trunk vertical excursion, and higher hindlimb flexion during both swing and stance phases.
  • The degree of neck flexion did not consistently correlate with the movements of the horse’s limbs and trunk during the collected trot.

Conclusions and Implication

  • The researchers concluded that HNPs significantly influence the kinematics of a ridden horse. They underscored that riders and trainers in dressage should be aware of these effects during training.
  • While an excessively elevated neck position might produce effects generally associated with an increased degree of collection, prolonged use of this position may risk back injury to the horse due to the increased extension.
  • The study highlighted the need for further research to understand the optimum level of neck flexion that guarantees performance without compromising the animal’s welfare.

Cite This Article

APA
Rhodin M, Gómez Alvarez CB, Byström A, Johnston C, van Weeren PR, Roepstorff L, Weishaupt MA. (2009). The effect of different head and neck positions on the caudal back and hindlimb kinematics in the elite dressage horse at trot. Equine Vet J, 41(3), 274-279. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x394436

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 3
Pages: 274-279

Researcher Affiliations

Rhodin, M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Gómez Alvarez, C B
    Byström, A
      Johnston, C
        van Weeren, P R
          Roepstorff, L
            Weishaupt, M A

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Biomechanical Phenomena
              • Gait / physiology
              • Head
              • Hindlimb / physiology
              • Horses / physiology
              • Neck

              Citations

              This article has been cited 22 times.
              1. Egenvall A, Engström H, Byström A. Back motion in unridden horses in walk, trot and canter on a circle. Vet Res Commun 2023 May 2;.
                doi: 10.1007/s11259-023-10132-ypubmed: 37127806google scholar: lookup
              2. Novotna A, Birovas A, Vostra-Vydrova H, Vesela Z, Vostry L. Genetic Parameters of Performance and Conformation Traits of 3-Year-Old Warmblood Sport Horses in the Czech Republic. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 27;12(21).
                doi: 10.3390/ani12212957pubmed: 36359080google scholar: lookup
              3. Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to Horses Competing in British Eventing 90, 100 and Novice One-Day Events and Comparison with Performance. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 25;12(5).
                doi: 10.3390/ani12050590pubmed: 35268159google scholar: lookup
              4. Gehlen H, Puhlmann J, Merle R, Thöne-Reineke C. Evaluating Horse Owner Expertise and Professional Use of Auxiliary Reins during Horse Riding. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 20;11(7).
                doi: 10.3390/ani11072146pubmed: 34359274google scholar: lookup
              5. Hogg RC, Hodgins GA. Symbiosis or Sporting Tool? Competition and the Horse-Rider Relationship in Elite Equestrian Sports. Animals (Basel) 2021 May 10;11(5).
                doi: 10.3390/ani11051352pubmed: 34068606google scholar: lookup
              6. MacKechnie-Guire R, Pfau T. Differential rotational movement and symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level dressage horses when trotting. PLoS One 2021;16(5):e0251144.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251144pubmed: 33956858google scholar: lookup
              7. Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to Elite Dressage Horses Competing in World Cup Grand Prix Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2021 Apr 21;11(5).
                doi: 10.3390/ani11051187pubmed: 33919208google scholar: lookup
              8. MacKechnie-Guire R, Pfau T. Differential Rotational Movement of the Thoracolumbosacral Spine in High-Level Dressage Horses Ridden in a Straight Line, in Sitting Trot and Seated Canter Compared to In-Hand Trot. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 20;11(3).
                doi: 10.3390/ani11030888pubmed: 33804702google scholar: lookup
              9. Ripolles M, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Perdomo-González DI, Azor P, Valera M. Survey of Risk Factors and Genetic Characterization of Ewe Neck in a World Population of Pura Raza Español Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 1;10(10).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10101789pubmed: 33019702google scholar: lookup
              10. Ericson C, Stenfeldt P, Hardeman A, Jacobson I. The Effect of Kinesiotape on Flexion-Extension of the Thoracolumbar Back in Horses at Trot. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 13;10(2).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10020301pubmed: 32069962google scholar: lookup
              11. Hardeman AM, Serra Bragança FM, Swagemakers JH, van Weeren PR, Roepstorff L. Variation in gait parameters used for objective lameness assessment in sound horses at the trot on the straight line and the lunge. Equine Vet J 2019 Nov;51(6):831-839.
                doi: 10.1111/evj.13075pubmed: 30648286google scholar: lookup
              12. Byström A, Roepstorff L, Rhodin M, Serra Bragança F, Engell MT, Hernlund E, Persson-Sjödin E, van Weeren R, Weishaupt MA, Egenvall A. Lateral movement of the saddle relative to the equine spine in rising and sitting trot on a treadmill. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0200534.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200534pubmed: 30020982google scholar: lookup
              13. Veen I, Killian D, Vlaminck L, Vernooij JCM, Back W. The use of a rein tension device to compare different training methods for neck flexion in base-level trained Warmblood horses at the walk. Equine Vet J 2018 Nov;50(6):825-830.
                doi: 10.1111/evj.12831pubmed: 29517811google scholar: lookup
              14. Valentin S, Zsoldos RR. Surface electromyography in animal biomechanics: A systematic review. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2016 Jun;28:167-83.
                doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2015.12.005pubmed: 26763600google scholar: lookup
              15. Caspar GL, Dhand NK, McGreevy PD. Human Preferences for Conformation Attributes and Head-And-Neck Positions in Horses. PLoS One 2015;10(6):e0131880.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131880pubmed: 26126209google scholar: lookup
              16. Björnsdóttir S, Frey R, Kristjansson T, Lundström T. Bit-related lesions in Icelandic competition horses. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Aug 13;56(1):40.
                doi: 10.1186/s13028-014-0040-8pubmed: 25116656google scholar: lookup
              17. Boado A, Pollard D, Lopez-Sanroman FJ, Dyson S. Orthopaedic Injuries in 272 Dressage Horses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 14;15(20).
                doi: 10.3390/ani15202972pubmed: 41153899google scholar: lookup
              18. Martins NA, Fonseca BPA, Silvatti AP, Valente FL, Soares NL, Simonato SP, Rosa LP, Andrade MO, Barcelos KMDC. Head and Neck Positions Affect Equine Kinematic Variables in Marcha Batida Gait-A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 9;15(8).
                doi: 10.3390/ani15081090pubmed: 40281924google scholar: lookup
              19. Biau S, Pycik E, Boichot L, Berg LC, Ruet A. Rein tensions and behaviour with five rein types in international-level vaulting horses. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311919.
                doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311919pubmed: 39418261google scholar: lookup
              20. König von Borstel U, Kienapfel K, McLean A, Wilkins C, McGreevy P. Hyperflexing the horse's neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2024 Oct 2;14(1):22886.
                doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-72766-5pubmed: 39358404google scholar: lookup
              21. Bonilla Lemos Pizzi GL, Holz K, Kowalski ÉA, Fonseca Ribeiro P, Blake R, Ferreira Martins C. 2D Kinematic Analysis of the Esbarrada and Volta Sobre Patas Manoeuvres of Criollo Breed Horses Competing in Freio de Ouro. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 20;14(16).
                doi: 10.3390/ani14162410pubmed: 39199944google scholar: lookup
              22. Maśko M, Sikorska U, Borowska M, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Domino M. The Postural and Body Surface Temperature Response of Leisure Horses to Lunging with Selected Lunging Aids. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 20;14(1).
                doi: 10.3390/ani14010022pubmed: 38200753google scholar: lookup
              Subscribe to our newsletter
              Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.