The other day, my young dressage students who are also 4H members came and asked me about Rollkur. Well, I'd never herd of it, but after seeing some videos and pictures on youtube, I am more than a little disturbed by this training method; however, I know nothing about the logistics of it. It seems to be very wide spread and used by Anky and Isabelle at the International levels.
Can you please help me to understand the theory, practicality, benefits and risks to using this technique?

I recently added this discussion to the main page. Barnmice Admin recommended that I add it to the dressage groups and broaden the discussion. I am only glad to do so and look forward to the feedback!

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Even Anky herself (along with her coach, Sjef Janssen) say that this should not be instituted by people who are not intimately acquainted with their unique training methods. Please read this to say that this should NOT be incorporated into anyone's program...for the sake of the horse.
The methods have been villified by most mainstream schools of thought, and extensive research has been done (although it is rejected by Sjef and Anky) that points to this "method" as being cruel to the horse, as well as being physically detrimental to the horse's psyche as well as physically.
There are SO many other ways to train your horse that are kinder, reasonable, time-tested and true AND produce the results that you are looking for (a willing partner and physically well-developed athlete that is physically and mentally able to perform with you, not "for" you). I personally believe that this "method" will eventually be proven to be seriously detrimental to all horses and to true training programs...I just am very sad that so many horses have to suffer along the way until everyone denounces this torture. JMHO
Mary McGuire Smith
http://www.iride.at
Hi. Good question.

A very interesting book has been written by Dr Gerd Heuschmann on this topic, going into details on the physiological and psychological implications of hyperflexion. I believe there is also a DVD coming out.

YES this technique is used by a few top riders who are undoubtedly very successful. However it is incorrect to attribute their success to one aspect of their training. I think some people tend to latch onto the idea, because it is easily visible, and it would be nice to think there was some kind of magic key to the art of Dressage! There is a lot of more subtle communication going on which is not so visible to the observer, and let's not forget that - whether you like her or not - Anky is an extremely talented rider, and has spent years working very hard to become what she is. Doing Rollkur is not going to make you ride like Anky, but maybe with a bit of luck, a lot of hard work, training, perserverence, (and dare i say, but probably true, money) we could get there too! :-)

On a less agreeable note, I have heard there is a high proportion of "wastage" at some of the top competition yards. Linked to physical and psychological stresses caused by training practises? Possibly.

From what I understand, it is used to control overly "hot" horses through "submission". In most cases, Rollkur is likely to produce behavioural issues and lameness in horses due to the conflicting aids (leg and rein used simultaneously) and the physical contortion of the neck and back. It is, on the whole, totally inappropriate, unnecessary and harmful. (Note, however that 'long and low' stretching done properly with the horse reaching forward to a light contact is a totally different matter, and I believe an essential aspect of gymnastic training.)

I just found an interesting discussion here:

It's an interesting (but rather sad) reflection on human nature that Rollkur/hyperflexion has become 'fashionable' in spite of widespread condemnation. I hope your young students can be inspired to engage in discussion not only about dressage training but also some of the wider ethical issues implicated.
Talk about hearing it right "from the horse's mouth" so to speak....

January 28, 2009

A study of the Rollkur technique used in dressage horse training has been carried out in Canada.

In Rollkur, the horse's neck is hyper flexed so that the nose is very close to, if not touching, the chest. The front of the head is behind the vertical (angled in) instead of being vertical or slightly forward of vertical as in normal poll flexion.

Dr Ute von Borstel and others working at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada conducted a series of tests to investigate whether the technique adversely affects the horse's welfare.

The FEI's draft description of Rollkur states that: "Hyperflexion of the neck is a technique of working/training to provide a degree of longitudinal flexion of the mid-region of the neck. Hyperflexion cannot be self-maintained by the horse for an extended period of time."

With the help of two equestrian centres - one in Ontario, the other in Ohio - the researchers devised a preference test, to see if horses would choose or avoid Rollkur if they had the choice.

Equine Science Update e-news reports that each horse was ridden into the trunk of a Y-shaped maze and allowed to choose which arm of the maze to take to enter an exercise area. After leaving the maze the horses would be ridden in 20 metre circles in either the Rollkur or normal poll flexion posture, depending on which arm of the maze they had chosen.

Previous training had taught the horses that leaving through the left arm would result in being ridden in the Rollkur posture. Leaving through the right arm resulted in being worked in a normal outline.

A rider would ride the horse into the maze, but allow the horse to choose the exit - and by implication the style of riding that would follow.

Fourteen of the 15 horses in the study chose the normal poll flexion.

Another part of the study involved horses being exposed to a "fear test" whilst being ridden either Rollkur or normally. Each horse suddenly encountered a fear-inducing stimulus: a fan blowing air with plastic strips attached to it; and an umbrella that was opened and closed as the horse approached.

The researchers found that horses tended to have higher heart rates and to react more to the fear-inducing stimulus, when ridden in Rollkur rather than in normal poll flexion.

The researcher concluded: "Horses show higher levels of discomfort when ridden in a coercively obtained Rollkur posture compared to regular poll flexion, and that they will avoid being ridden in Rollkur if given the choice."

Impact of riding in a coercively obtained Rollkur posture on welfare and fear of performance horses.
UU von Borstel, IJH Duncan, AK Shoveller, K Merkies, LJ Keeling, ST Millman. Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2009) 116, 228 - 236.
Equine Science Update
Rollkur is NOT merely longitudinal flexion (head to chest), but also pulling the head side to side to get it (often to the rider's toe). The effects of the method has to also study the balance of the horse, and how impure the gaits become when it is applied.
this was supposed to appear as a link back there 2 comments ago...
http://thedressageprocess.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/hyperventilating...
Fantasitc information!! Thank you all for sharing. I've always trained, and teach my students, that the long-and-low, swinging movement is the foundation to all of dressage. Rolkur has no place in my training but now I can take the information to my students and explain why.

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