Poppy Roseanna Morgan

1.0 Introduction

 

The horse has a flexible neck, moving in a variety of planes with a large range of motion (ROM). The ROM is so vast it can hyperextend to such an extent that the chin can touch the chest. In 1992, this position was named “Rollkur” after many successful dressage riders implemented the style for training purposes (Meyer, 1992). It is thought that a higher head carriage encourages engagement of the hindlimb and extension of the forelimb (Waldern et al, 2009), and Rollkur has also been shown to create an increase in dorsoventral back motion, lowering the head and increasing flexion (Gómez Álvarez et al, 2006). However, it is hypothesised that Rollkur could impact on horses’ welfare both psychologically and physiologically. Behavioural observations have shown horses dislike this compared to a free position (Kienapfel, 2011), and it has been proven to cause injury (Heuschmann, 2006) and breathing difficulties (McGreevy, 2010).

 

2.0 Psychological Implications

 

Researchers have investigated the psychological implications of Rollkur, questioning many welfare concerns.

The horse’s line of sight is greatly hindered by Rollkur, only being able to see a few feet ahead of the front hooves (McGreevy, 2004).  This is due to eye location causing a blindspot in front when the head is tucked tightly into the chest (McGreevy, 2004; Hall et al, 2014).  It also disturbs the horse’s balance by eliminating the horse's ability to rotate the pelvis and bring the hind legs through (Ollivier, 1999; Karl, 2006), which is not only unethical, but likely to have psychological implications.

 

It has also been proven that in a coercively obtained Rollkur posture, which the rider attains by lowering and fixing the hands, horses show higher levels of discomfort (Von Borstel et al, 2009).  During Rollkur horses demonstrate more negative behaviours when ridden in Rollkur style rather than normal poll flexion. Indications of distress included ears back, head tossing and tail swishing alongside a higher heart rate; hypothesising that horses disfavour being ridden in a Rollkur style (Von Borstel et al, 2009).. This was supported by recent research which found horses show more positive behaviours when ridden in a long and low style, when compared with a high head and neck position (Olafsen, 2015; Stokke, 2017).

 

Moreover, Sloet Van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan et al (2006) found riding school horses to have higher heart rates and increased levels of lactate concentrations when ridden in Rollkur compared with light rein contact; showing evidence of stress. However, there is no proof symptoms were not due to a higher workload. In some cases, it is suggested that horses are euthanatised for being deemed unsafe after extreme negative behaviours developed with coercively obtained Rollkur (Ödberg, 2006).

 

3.0 Physiological Implications

 

One of the most recognised physiological implications of Rollkur is the blue tongue appearance seen in extreme cases. When a horse is kept in a hyperextended position for a prolonged period, pulmonary ventilation will be severely limited and compromise breathing. When this is excessively prolonged, the horse will suffer oxygen deprivation turning the tongue blue (McGreevy et al, 2010), creating serious welfare concerns.

 

Although Rollkur is thought to induce some long-term spinal defects, a study by Welling (2006) found no vertebral deformity in horses trained with Rollkur over several years. Furthermore, Denoix (2006) found only horses with pre-existing conditions, such as cervical lesions, would be affected by the stress hyperflexion places on intervertebral discs.

 

4.0 Conclusion

 

Overall, it is unquestionable that Rollkur generates some psychological welfare implications, especially when obtained coercively. Physiologically it has not been proven to cause deformities in the spine but does compromise the horse’s ventilation. However, there is not substantial evidence to prove or disprove there are no long lasting physiological effects.

 

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References

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Denoix JM (2006). Functional anatomy and diagnostic imaging of the cervical spine. In: FEI (Ed.), Report of the FEI Veterinary and Dressage Committees’ Workshop— The use of over bending (“Rollkur”) in FEI Competition. Lausanne: FEI Fédération Equestre Internationale, pp. 8.

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Gómez Álvarez CB, Rhodin M, Bobbert MF, Meyer H, Weishaupt MA., Johnston C, Van Weeren PR (2006). The effect of head and neck position on the thoracolumbar kinematics in the unridden horse. Equine Veterinary Journal 38, pp. 445-451.

 

Hall C, Kay R & Yarnell K (2014). Assessing Ridden Horse Behavior: Professional Judgment and Physiological Measures. Journal of Veterinary Behaviour: Clinical Applications and Research, 9 (1), pp. 22- 29.

 

Heuschmann G (2006). Functional anatomy of the horse as it relates to over-bending (“Rollkur”). In: FEI (Ed.), Report of the FEI Veterinary and Dressage Committees’ Workshop—The use of over bending (“Rollkur”) in FEI Competition. Lausanne: FEI Fédération Equestre Internationale, pp. 6.

 

Karl P (2006). Irrwege des Modernen Dressur. Brunsbek: Cadmos Verlag. pp. 24–29.

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Kienapfel K (2011). Und wasmeinen die Pferde dazu? – Ueber das Ausdrucksverhalten von Pferden bei verschiedenen Halsstellungen. Pferdeheilkunde. 37, pp. 372–380.

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McGreevy P (2004). Equine behaviour: a guide for veterinarians and equine scientists. Saunders: London.

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McGreevy PD, Harman A, McLean A & Hawson L (2010). Over- flexing the horse's neck: A modern equestrian obsession? Journal of Veterinary Behaviour. 5 (4), pp. 180-186.

 

Meyer H (1992). Rollkur. St George. 11, pp. 70-73

 

Ödberg F (2006). Schooling principles and welfare—the situation of “Rollkur” in this context. In: FEI (Ed.), Report of the FEI Veterinary and Dressage Committees’ Workshop—The use of over bending (“Rollkur”) in FEI Competition. Lausanne: FEI Fédération Equestre Internationale, pp. 7.

 

Ollivier D (1999). La vérité sur l’équilibre. Paris: Belin, pp. 91–99.

 

Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Blok MB, Begeman L, Kamphuis MCD, Lameris MC, Spierenburg AJ and Lashley MJJO. (2006). Workload and stress in horses: comparison in horses ridden deep and round (‘rollkur’) with a draw rein and horses ridden in a natural frame with only light rein contact. Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 131(5), pp. 114-119

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Stokke BR (2017). Longitudinal stretching, a training method for horses: effect on behaviour, gait quality, mechanical nociceptive threshold, and pain sensitivity. Master degree in Animal Science, Norway: Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

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Waldern NM, Wiestner T, Peinen K, Álvarez CGG, Roepstorff L, Johnston C, Meyer H & Weishaupt MA (2009). Influence of different head-neck positions on 37 vertical ground reaction forces, linear and time parameters in the unridden horse walking and trotting on a treadmill. Equine Veterinary Journal. 41 (3), pp. 268-273.

 

Welling E (2006). Radiological aspects of the cervical region in relation to over-bending (“Rollkur”). In: FEI (Ed.), Report of the FEI Veterinary and Dressage Committees’ Workshop—The use of over bending (“Rollkur”) in FEI Competition. Lausanne: Fédération Equestre Internationale, pp. 7.

 

Von Borstel UU, Duncan IJH, Shoveller AK, Merkies K, Keeling LJ & Millman ST (2009). Impact of riding in a coercively obtained Rollkur posture on welfare and fear of performance horses. Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 116 (2), pp. 228-236.