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Are horses in equestrian sports being harmed by bending their necks?

Horses experience hyperflexion, or rollkur, when their necks bend far towards their chests – it could place the animal at a greater risk of physical discomfort and stress

By Christa Lesté-Lasserre

2 August 2024

A dressage horse

Iurii/iStockphoto/Getty Images

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).

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