by:Tracy Towns B Ed, Equine Studies Student

Introduction

The word ‘dressage’ is derived from a French term meaning training.  Dressage as a sport has now evolved from a training method, to a highly competitive equestrian sport.  It is one of the only 3 equestrian sports in Olympic competition.  The elite dressage horse has been likened to a highly tuned gymnast or ballerina, able to perform movements of strength and balance, yet remain supple and relaxed.

Although only a small percentage of horses have the physical conformation, strength and temperament to succeed in international competition, all horses benefit from a dressage training regime. Training for dressage promotes suppleness, balance and obedience, which are qualities desired in all disciplines of riding.  A dressage horse should also display other important traits such as temperament, trainability and appropriate cardiovascular capability; however, this essay will only address biomechanical skills required and their associated conformation traits.

The elite dressage horse is expected to perform movements which display rhythm and impulsion at 3 paces.  They must demonstrate collection, power and engagement by performing a number of moves pre-determined in a dressage test.  The horse is required to show suspension, cadence and elevations in its movement, whilst also demonstrating relaxation, submission and suppleness.

Most dressage movements are performed from the hind quarters, so it is very important that these are sound and powerful.  Other important conformation points are slope of shoulder and pastern, and ‘uphill’ build, and a long slightly sloping croup.  A horse possessing these conformation traits are likely to find it easier to perform high level dressage movements (with correct training), whilst maintaining soundness over the number of years it takes to achieve this.

The objective of dressage is to produce a strong, well-developed and supple horse that is obedient to the wishes of his rider, and is a safe and comfortable riding horse. 

As the horse progresses through the movements of dressage the physique and ability of the horse is developed in tandem.  As a result of these moves the horse becomes, calm, supple, loose and flexible, but also confident, attentive and keen which only occurs when harmony with the rider has also been achieved.  These qualities are revealed by; the freedom and regularity of the paces, the harmony, lightness and ease of the movements, the lightness of the forehand and the engagement of the hindquarters, originating in lively impulsion, the acceptance of the bridle with submissiveness throughout and without any tenseness or resistance.  The horse will then give the impression that he confidently submits to the control of the rider, and is doing the movements required of him, of his own accord. (Gordon et al, 1982)

Some of the movements of higher dressage are passage, piaffe, pirouette, flying changes and the lateral movements of shoulder-in, travers and half-pass.  These movements require the horse to be able to extend stride length, show moments of suspension and display cadence with the hind legs ‘swinging through’ and engaging well underneath the horse.  (See Figure 1)

Figure 1 – Drawings of Some Higher Dressage Movements

The most important biomechanical skill the horse requires for the above movements is balance, engagement and ability to ‘collect’.  A horse is balanced when it carries its weight sufficiently toward the rear legs that it can easily manage the movements with adequate freedom. Collection shows the horse ‘gathered together’.  It is relative to working and medium paces, strides are shorter (yet powerful), the outline appears shorter with the neck rising unrestrained out of lifted withers, and engagement is more marked.  Engagement shows an increased flexion of the joints of the hind legs and sacrolumbar area, lowering the croup relative to the forehand, with the hind legs supporting a greater proportion of the load.  Engagement is a pre-requisite for impulsion. 

Once a horse is balanced and can demonstrate engagement and collection, it is easier for his strides to show an increased cadence, elasticity and extension which is required to perform gaits at the highest level. It is important that the horse is trained slowly over time to perform the highest level dressage moves, as correct muscle development is critical in its ability to perform correctly.  One of the effects of dressage exercises is to strengthen the rectus abdominus muscle of the horse.  Once this is strong and deep a horse can bascule, engage hindquarters, and achieve collection. (Bennett, 1988)

Figure 2 – An outline of a horse showing ‘collection’ 

A horse with a good conformation is more likely to have naturally good balanced paces than one with major conformation faults.  There are some specific conformational traits that predispose horses to being suited for high level dressage.   The most important of the conformation traits is the soundness and strength of the hind quarter.  This provides the power and impulsion for the horses’ gaits, and is required to carry significant weight load. (Clayton, 2003).  Other desired conformational traits include; angulated shoulder, appropriately angled pastern, straight forelimbs, long and forward sloping femur, and an overall ‘uphill’ posture.

All of the above traits enable the dressage horse, once the correct muscles are strengthened, to more easily perform the gaits and movements required freely, unrestricted and in balance.

Overall Appearance

The overall appearance of a dressage horse should be that of symmetry and balance.  The body should show proportion in the length of the front end and, length of back, hindquarters and legs.  The horse should show a powerful hind quarters or ‘engine’, able to provide adequate impulsion, and engagement. (Marks, 2000)

It is preferable for a dressage horse to be ‘built uphill’, meaning the withers sit higher than the croup.  This assists the horse in collection or working ‘off the forehand’ and enables it to transfer and carry weight on the hind limbs (see Fig. 2).  An indication of this is the line between the widest point at the base of the horses neck and the actual position of the lumbosacral joint (located about 4” lower than the ‘hollow spot’ in the loins).  The line between these two points should run slightly uphill.  A downhill line infers that the horse will find it difficult to lighten the forehand.  However, a horse that is too ‘uphill’ can suffer strains to rear joints.(Bennett, 1996)

Figure 3.  Linda O’Leary and Gaisborough Donner Bella, displaying movement ‘off the forehand’

Raising the forehand is a biomechanical skill which greatly enhances the ability of the dressage horse.  It is this action which allows the horse to shift its centre of gravity and weight from the forehand to its hind.  This allows the foreleg to move forward with greater freedom.  This occurs as the horse raises its head and neck, contracts serratus ventralis and raises the thorax.  Flexion of the hock then occurs and the subsequent drop in hindquarters moves the centre of gravity back enough to release weight off the forehand. (Pilliner et al, 2002).

A smooth and strongly built topline can also indicate soundness and correct musculature development.

Neck and Back

There are varying opinions regarding the length of neck required for the elite dressage horse.  Assuming that an average length is appropriate, the neck should be well set from the line of shoulder, that is, placed higher than halfway up the shoulder line. The lower part of the S curve should be short, with a long upper curve.  This structure makes it easy for the horse to work on the bit, and to achieve a neck telescoping gesture (Bennett, 1988).

Head and neck position influence back movements, especially at the walk.  The neck in a high position compromises stride length and stride characteristics (Rhodin et al, 2005).  This indicates that a well set neck can assist in the quality of stride of the horse.

The horses’ length of back should be in proportion to its body.  If the back is too short then saddle placement can become difficult and movement restrictive.  If the back is too long, it is more difficult for the horse to shift its centre of gravity to carry weight on its hindquarters, and the rider’s weight sits in an unsupported section of the back. (Schumacher, 1998) This is likely to cause pain and weakness in the back for this type of horse.

The withers of a dressage horse should be high and well set into the back.  The withers act as a fulcrum, which assists in raising the back to carry a rider using the ‘elastic ring’.  This also assists in correct saddle placement, so that the rider sits closer to the horses’ centre of gravity (CG).  This makes it easier for the horse to shift the CG to the hind quarters as required. (Schumacher, 1998)

Forelimb

The front limbs of a dressage horse should ideally be straight to enable straight and unrestricted movement.  Any conformation that shows paddling, or toeing out is undesirable.  The dressage horse does however, work extensively from its hocks, it is more likely to be able to cope with minor structural imperfections of the foreleg than some other disciplines (Bennett, 1989).

A long sloping shoulder, with large angle at elbow, is desirable in the dressage horse.  An upright shoulder predisposes the horse to high knee action, which is not conducive to lengthening and extending the stride as is required in a dressage test.  A long, correctly angled scapula will allow for a longer stride length (Pilliner et al, 2002).

Adduction and abduction movements are required for the horse to move laterally.  These movements are allowed only through the shoulder joint (Denoix and Pailloux, 2001).  To achieve these movements the shoulder joint must be unrestricted by a saddle.

A long humerus is also desirable in the dressage prospect.  This increases the horses ability to move the elbow away from the torso either toward the front or to the side (Bennett, 1988)

Figure 4.  Diagram showing movements of adduction (left) and abduction (right) (Denoix and Pailloux, 2004)

Angle of pastern and hoof

A dressage prospect must have reasonable length and slope to their pasterns, otherwise the suspension and cadence they require in their gait is not possible (Marks, 2000)

The angle of pastern should be similar to the angle of shoulder to reduce stress on the pastern, fetlock and knee joints (Bennett, 1988)

A- normal angulation of hoof and pastern B – short upright pastern predisposing to injuries of the fetlock joint, ringbone of the pastern joint and navicular bursitis C- long up right pastern predisposes to injuries of the fetlock joint and navicular bursa. This type of conformation does not seem to predispose to ringbone as often as does B. Figure 5 – Examples of pastern conformation (Adams, 1974)

Hind Limb

Most dressage horses work extensively from their hind quarters, and most high level movements require the horse to carry most of its weight behind.  Therefore, the hind limb of the dressage athlete must demonstrate strength, soundness, the ability to ‘collect’ or carry weight on its hind limbs.

The ability of the hind quarter to compress and to release energy is critical in correct passage and piaffe.

An ideal dressage athlete should have short loins, be close coupled, with a croup that is long and slightly sloping.  Ideally the lumbosacral joint lies as far forward as possible, which then makes the croup bone long.  This enables more leverage is available to the horse during collection. (Bennett, 1989)

A long forward sloping femur in a horse will help to extend its gaits by the ability to advance hind limbs under its body. (Marlin and Nankervis, 2002)

A strong, well angulated hock is able to flex easily and achieve more collection. (Pilliner, Elmhurst and Davies, 2002)  It must be noted however, that too much angulation will cause undue pressure on the joints in this region. (Bennett, 1989).

Clayton, 2004, has shown that there are differences between individual horses and the ability of the hock joint to absorb concussion and generate propulsion.  Obviously, more research is needed to be done to compare different hock conformation undergoing different levels of training.

A relatively new concept of Diagonal Advanced Placement or DAP (Holmstrom, 1980?), refers to a specific movement quality whereby the horses’ hind hoof contacts the ground milliseconds before the front hoof in the trot.  Dr Clayton (2005), suggest that these horses have their withers and shoulders elevated relative to the haunches.  This would suggest that these are the more ‘uphill’ horses.  Some suggest that this is an ideal measure of a naturally well gaited dressage horse.

Conclusion

The elite dressage horse is indeed a great athlete demonstrating strength, balance and power.  The most important skill for the horse to obtain is that of engagement and collection which is required to be able to perform the difficult high level dressage movements.

Most horses are capable of performing to preliminary or novice levels of competition; few have the conformation, strength and temperament to compete within the highest levels.

Specific conformation traits make it easier for the dressage horse to perform its task, and take it to high levels whilst maintaining soundness.  The most important of these conformation traits are in the horses’ hind quarters, as for the majority of movement the horse needs to carry its weight on its hind.

Reference and Bibliography

Adams, OR, 1974, Lameness in Horses, 3^rd edn, Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia

Atkins T, 1998, Conformation of the Dressage Horse, notes from Schumacher YR clinic, sourced from www.dressageunltd.com/USDF/yr98/confor.htm

Bennett, D 1996, Principles of Conformation Analysis, Vol I, II and III, Fleet Street Publishing, Gaithersburg, MD.

Clayton, H, 2004, Studying the Hock, Hoofcare and Lameness, Issue No. 78

Clayton, H, 2003, Biomechanics of Dressage Performance, USDF Convention, convention notes sourced from www.germandressage.com/conventionnotes2003/biomechanics.html

Denoix, J & Pailloux, J, 2001, Physical Therapy and Massage for the Horse, 2^nd edn, Manson Publishing, London.

Evans, JW, Borton, A, Hintz, H & Van VLeck, LD, 1990, The Horse, 2^nd Edn, Freeman, San Francisco, California

Marks, D, 2000, Conformation and Soundness, AAEP Proceedings, Vol 4H

Marlin D & Nankervis, K 2002, Equine Exercise Physiology, Blackwell Science, Melbourne

Pilliner, S, Elmhurst, S & Davies, Z 2002, The Horse in Motion, Blackwell Science, Melbourne

Rhodin M, Johnston C, Roethlisberger Holm, Wennerstrand J, and Drevemo S, 2005, The influence of head and neck position on kinematics of the back in riding horses at the walk and trot, Equine Veterinary Journal, 37,7-11

Smythe RH, Goody PC, 1975, The Horse Structure and Movement, 2^nd edn, JA Allen & Company Limited, London

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