Rollkur

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Rollkur [1][2], now officially known as "hyperflection of the neck," is a training technique used by several dressage riders today, including Athens Individual Gold Medalist Anky van Grunsven and Nicole Uphoff. Was used in other equestrian disciplines, most notably show jumping, before being adopted by such well-known dressage riders. However, it is not an old theory in dressage, either: Francois Baucher trained a similar method, although he did all his severe flexing at the halt, and in addition he connected the posture of the hindlegs to the mix.

In rollkur, the horse is taught to lower his head and round its neck as it works--working "deep"--so that the head is pulled inward. In the extreme, the horse's mouth touches the middle of his chest. Rollkur is not a quick movement lasting a few seconds, but is held for a length of time, through work at the walk, trot, and canter, including shortening and extension of the gaits. Rollkur is not just longitudinal flexion (nose to chest or forelegs), but accompanied with repeated bending to the rider's toe.

Most riders accomplish the head position by lowering and fixing the hands until the horse yields its jaw backwards in response to the pressure on the bit.

[edit] Advantages of Rollkur

Riders who practice rollkur advocate its use as a stretch of the top-line and a suppling exercise. They point to leading riders who apply this technique and have consistent winning scores in the arena as proof that the technique works.

[edit] Disadvantages of Rollkur

Those who disagree with rollkur says it goes against the priciples of classical dressage and the (written) rules of the FEI. This includes the fact that the horse is behind the bit, with the highest point at the third vertebra instead of the poll. They also point out that impulsion and throughness may be lost due to stiff backs and lack of balance, the purity of the gaits is not maintained, rhythm is lost, and the horse is forced onto the forehand.

There is also a great debate as to whether rollkur constititues animal abuse, both physically due to the held overflexed position, and mentally due to forced submission. Given that a similar practice is longstanding and routinely seen with the use of draw reins in schooling horses for events such as western pleasure, where it is close to being a universal practice (though also controversial in some circles), the debate has major ramifications across different disciplines.