This article was translated using AI.
Key Takeaways:
- Flexion occurs at the poll through minimal rotation of the second cervical vertebra (axis)
- Without correct flexion at the poll, the entire spine cannot bend properly
- Bending is a longitudinal bending of the entire spine, not just the neck
- Too much bending can be just as harmful as too little – the dose makes the poison
- Excessive or incorrect bending leads to osteoarthritis, blockages, and wear of the cervical spine
The Difference Between Flexion and Bending
Many riders use the terms flexion (Stellung) and bending (Biegung) synonymously, but biomechanically they are two different things. Flexion refers to the minimal rotation of the head at the poll, where the horse shows the rider the inner corner of its eye. This flexion occurs exclusively between the first and second cervical vertebrae, specifically in the atlanto-axial joint.
Bending, on the other hand, is a longitudinal bending of the entire spine. Ideally, the horse bends evenly from the poll to the root of the tail around the rider's inner leg. In reality, the bending capacity of the various sections of the spine differs: the cervical spine can bend the most, the thoracic spine is significantly stiffer, and the lumbar spine has slightly more mobility again.
The Role of the Poll: More Than Just Head Carriage
Flexion at the poll is not just a visual matter or a formality of the art of riding. It has fundamental biomechanical significance: only when the poll is correctly flexed can the entire spine bend physiologically. The reason lies in the special anatomy of the second cervical vertebra, the axis.
The axis has a bony crest on its top side with a longitudinal groove in the center. The nuchal ligament runs through this groove. When the axis rotates – i.e., when the horse is flexed at the poll – this crest tilts to the side. As a result, the nuchal ligament is minimally tensioned on that side, triggering a slight rotation throughout the entire cervical spine. This pre-rotation of the cervical spine is the prerequisite for the entire spine to be able to bend.
This is why classical riding masters demand that a horse should always be slightly flexed at the poll even on a straight line – specifically towards the side it will bend next. A horse without poll flexion has a "neutral" spine that cannot bend optimally. It is the flexion that prepares the spine for the upcoming bending.
How Much Bending is Healthy?
The horse's spine is not designed for extreme bending. The individual vertebrae are connected to each other by relatively small joints that allow only limited mobility. The thoracic spine, in particular, with its rib attachments, is very stable and not very mobile. If too much bending is demanded, the vertebral joints are overstrained.
Mobility is greatest in the cervical spine, but even here there are limits. With excessive bending, the vertebral joints on the concave side are compressed, while they are overstretched on the convex side. The joint surfaces rub more strongly against each other, the synovial fluid is squeezed out of the gap, and increased wear occurs. In the long term, this leads to osteoarthritis of the small vertebral joints.
A healthy degree of bending is oriented towards the line on which the horse is traveling. On a circle, the horse should adapt evenly to the circular line – no more and no less. On a volte, correspondingly more bending is necessary than on a large circle. The mistake many riders make is bending too much neck and too little body on tight lines. The neck kinks to the side while the torso remains straight.
The Danger of Over-Bending
Especially in training situations, riders tend to demand too much bending. They think the more bending, the better gymnasticized the horse. The opposite is true. Too much bending over a long period of time massively damages the cervical spine.
If a young horse is worked mainly on tight circles and small voltes for months, changes develop in the cervical vertebrae. The joint surfaces are worn unevenly, bony growths (remodeling) form, and mobility decreases. Many horses that were worked excessively on tight lines during their training later show chronic cervical spine problems.
The combination of strong bending and simultaneous elevation (collection) is particularly critical. In a higher frame, the curvatures of the cervical spine intensify, leading to even more stress on the vertebral joints. Therefore, tight turns and strong bending should be ridden primarily in a stretching frame (long and low), in which the cervical spine is more extended and the load is distributed over several vertebrae.
Common Mistakes and Their Consequences
A classic mistake is over-bending the neck while the torso remains straight. The horse then travels with its neck sharply kinked to the side, while its body does not follow the line at all. Outwardly it looks as if the horse is bending, but in fact, it is evading with the shoulder outward or the hindquarters inward. This false bending puts one-sided strain on the cervical spine and leads to tension.
Another common mistake is the lack of flexion before bending. Some riders try to bend the horse without first correctly flexing it at the poll. The horse then twists its neck, but the spine does not follow. Blockages occur at the transition from the cervical to the thoracic spine, and the horse shows resistance.
Continuous riding on one hand without compensation is also problematic. Horses that are ridden mainly on the hand on which they bend more easily anyway (usually the hollow side) reinforce their natural crookedness. One side of the cervical spine becomes overloaded, while the other withers. Asymmetric musculature develops, and the vertebral joints wear unevenly.
Developing Correct Bending
Correct bending is created from back to front, not vice versa. The inner hind leg must step under the center of gravity and take weight. This activity of the hindquarters continues through the pelvis and the lumbar spine and brings the entire torso into bending. The neck follows this body bend instead of replacing it.
Flexion at the poll is established by a slight taking of the inner rein with a yielding outer hand. The outer rein limits the flexion and prevents the horse from taking the neck too far to the side. The bending itself is created through the interplay of the inner driving aid, the outer limiting leg, and the rider's correct weight shift.
It is important that bending is never forced. A horse that cannot yet bend needs time and gymnastic exercises to develop the necessary mobility. If you pull on the rein to achieve more bending, you only block the horse and prevent correct longitudinal bending. True bending arises from releasing and giving, not from holding and pulling.
Exercises for Healthy Bending
Lateral movements are the classic exercises for developing bending and flexion. In shoulder-in, the horse learns to bend evenly while the inner hind leg takes more weight. In travers and renvers, the bending is developed from the hindquarters. These lessons should only be ridden once the horse has mastered the basics and can move with a degree of suppleness on both hands.
For young or unbalanced horses, serpentine lines and gentle curves are better suited than tight turns. Through frequent changes of hand, the horse learns to bend on both sides without overloading one side. The constant change of bending is also good gymnastics for the cervical spine because the joint surfaces are alternately loaded and relieved.
What is important is the regular change between bending and a straight posture, as well as between elevation and stretching. A horse that travels on a curved line for one minute should afterwards have the opportunity to stretch on a straight line and relax its muscles. A phase of collection should always be followed by a phase of stretching, in which the cervical spine can extend again.
Flexion and Bending as Health Prevention
Correct flexion and bending are not ends in themselves and are not purely aesthetic criteria. They are fundamental elements of healthy riding. A horse that can flex and bend correctly loads its spine evenly, does not develop one-sided tension, and remains mobile into old age.
Working on flexion and bending is always also work on straightness, suppleness, and balance. A horse that can be bent equally well on both hands is a straight horse. A horse that can bend with suppleness without holding its back tight is a healthy horse. The time and effort invested in these basics is the best health prevention you can offer your horse.
