The effect of different head and neck positions on the caudal back and hindlimb kinematics in the elite dressage horse at trot.
Authors: Rhodin M, Gómez Alvarez C B, Byström A, Johnston C, van Weeren P R, Roepstorff L, Weishaupt M A
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Dressage training fundamentally alters how a horse moves through its back and hindlimbs, yet the biomechanical effects of different head and neck positions—long debated among practitioners—have lacked rigorous scientific support until now. Rhodin and colleagues used kinetic and kinematic analysis on seven elite dressage horses working at trot on a treadmill across five distinct head and neck positions to quantify these effects. The competition-standard collected trot position produced measurably greater vertical excursion of the thoracic spine (T6), increased sacral flexion, and reduced limb retraction after lift-off compared to loose-rein trot; however, progressively increasing neck flexion beyond this point yielded minimal additional kinematic changes, whilst an extremely elevated neck position paradoxically increased lumbar extension and hindlimb flexion during both swing and stance phases. These findings suggest that whilst head and neck position undoubtedly influences movement quality, the relationship is not linear—greater flexion does not necessarily translate to greater collection—and excessively elevated positions may compromise dorsal spinal stability and increase injury risk during extended training sessions. Practitioners should recognise that effective dressage training depends less on achieving a precise degree of neck bend than on understanding how position influences the entire kinetic chain, particularly regarding the potential costs of extreme positioning to long-term soundness.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Head and neck position significantly alters horse kinematics; riders should understand that the 'correct' dressage position has measurable biomechanical effects on collection
- •Excessive neck elevation, while producing some collection-like effects, causes problematic lumbar extension that may predispose to back injury with long-term use
- •The degree of neck flexion alone is not a reliable indicator of proper collection—focus on the kinematic outcome (back movement, limb mechanics) rather than position alone
Key Findings
- •Collected trot head and neck position increased T6 vertical excursion, sacral flexion, and decreased limb retraction compared to loose reins
- •Extremely elevated neck position increased hindlimb flexion during swing and lumbar back extension during stance
- •Exact degree of neck flexion was not consistently correlated to limb and trunk movements at collected trot
- •Extremely elevated neck position may increase injury risk due to increased back extension during prolonged riding