During the Olympic equestrian events of dressage, horses display dance-like steps that demand high levels of muscular strength and control across the animals’ bodies and legs. But at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, there has been more focus on the position of the horses’ heads. On 27 July, for actions during a warm-up session that “could have caused unnecessary discomfort to the horse”, according to a statement by the governing body of the sport, the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).
The warning was related to a prohibited movement in which the rider causes their horse’s neck to tuck in towards the chest in a position called hyperflexion. Some people spurn the practice as animal abuse, while others claim that – under specific conditions and for very brief periods – it can have beneficial effects.
żěè¶ĚĘÓƵs have been studying hyperflexion in sport horses for the past two decades, but there is still much left to learn. Here’s what you need to know.
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What is hyperflexion?
Hyperflexion relates to the angle of a horse’s neck relative to their body. żěè¶ĚĘÓƵs and the FEI generally agree that horses work comfortably when their noses are vertical to the ground or farther away from their chest at a larger angle. But if a rider pulls the horse’s nose closer to the chest, narrowing the angle of the head to the neck, the horse enters hyperflexion.
Does hyperflexion hurt a horse?
Not in every situation, but it does place the animal at a greater risk of physical discomfort and stress.
Research shows that hyperflexion places strain on the neck muscles and can  and can affect the pressure in the throat, which might suggest hampered airflow. Horses in hyperflexion can also get eye strain as they try to rotate their eyes for a better view of the ground. Even if they can do so, they may still .
In addition, horses’ heads and necks represent about 10 per cent of their body weight – meaning it takes a lot of physical effort to pull the head back up after it is close in to the chest.
Do horses ever naturally end up in hyperflexion?
Yes. Horses often hyperflex their necks on their own, says at the French National Veterinary School of Alfort. “You put them out to pasture, you’ll see them take off galloping and putting their heads in hyperflexion,” he says. “Physiologically, it’s movement that’s natural for horses, so I’m not shocked when I see it happen for brief periods.”
During the last step of a three-beat gait called the canter, horses also often appear to naturally enter hyperflexion for a second or two as their backs rock down, says at The Horse Trust in the UK. This appearance comes from the horse’s orientation to the ground. “So they’re effectively downhill, and the curve of the neck just continues round,” she explains. “So they’re slightly behind the vertical, but I don’t have a problem with that.” So if a horse looks like he is in hyperflexion, she says, it could be his hind end is up in the air relative to the canter.
Is there any good reason for hyperflexion in horse sports?
Under a skilled and educated rider, hyperflexion can help improve horses’ “gymnastic” ability, says Denoix. Gymnastics for horses helps and allow a wider range of healthy movements.
“But like any gymnastic exercise, this kind of training has to occur in good hands,” he adds.
A recent study showed that competing at FEI World Cup dressage competitions had their heads at least 10 degrees behind the vertical for at least 10 seconds. Even so, an expert analysis of their revealed that the horses were essentially comfortable while competing.
When does hyperflexion become dangerous?
Riders can harm their horses if they use force to maintain the position – by keeping a tight pull on the reins – especially over a period of several minutes, says Denoix. “That’s constraint, and it’s just not acceptable,” he says, adding that the psychological consequences for the horse may be even worse than the physical ones.
