About Equine BioMechanics

What is this and why is it important for us as trainers and riders to have an understanding of equine biomechanics?


Biomechanics is the science of movement of a living body including how muscles, bone, tendons and ligaments work together to produce movement. In sports biomechanics, the laws of mechanics are applied in order to gain a greater understanding of athletic performance and to reduce sports injuries.
Biomechanics can explain the negative impacts upon a horses body caused by incorrect riding and training methods, such as Rollkur.

It is important for riders to understand the physical effect that their aids have directly on the horses body as a whole, and realise that incorrect aids (such as backwards use of the hand) can make it impossible for the horse to become supple through the back and able to work correctly and also that longterm use of such aids lead to serious lameness and behavioural problems.

 The position and length of the horses neck, through its many anatomical interconnections with the trunk, has a direct biomechanical effect on the back. If the head is placed unnaturally deep or in a shortened position it will inevitably lead to movement faults and eventual health problems.

In order to train a horse correctly and so build up the correct muscles required to carry a rider and perform happily and successfully, it is necessary to understand a little about the muscular and skeletal system we are trying to develop. In this way, we can assess whether our training is heading down the right track by observing which muscles increase in size over time. It is possible to tell whether a horse is trained corrrectly by looking at its muscular development or lack thereof.
It is also helpful to understand a little physiology in order to create conditions necessary for muscles to grow and develop with training. Muscles must work n a relaxed, rhythmic manner, in order to have a good blood supply. This blood supply brings nutrients and removes toxic waste products which cause stiff muscles and prevent their growth.

The purpose of dressage training is to gymnasticise the horse, to make him stronger and in better balance as well as obedient to the aids of the rider.
 It takes time and patience to build up muscles. In training a horse the rider has a job similar to a human personal trainer, they must attempt to show and encourage the horse to use his muscles in the correct way in order to strengthen them, but also not overdo it as this will cause pain, possible injury and will increase resistance from the horse. It makes sense, then, that a rider must understand something of the anatomy and physiology of the horses muscles in order to achieve their goal

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