title: Prevalence of different head-neck positions in horses shown at dressage competitions and their relation to conflict behaviour and performance marks.
abstract: Much controversy exists among riders, and in particular among those practicing dressage, regarding what can be considered an "appropriate" Head-Neck-Position (HNP). The objective was to assess the prevalence of different HNPs in the field, the behavioural reactions of horses during warm-up and competition rides in relation to HNP and the relation between HNP and marks achieved in the competition. Horses (n = 171) were selected during dressage competitions according to their HNP (3 categories based on the degree of flexion), and their behaviour was recorded during 3 minutes each of riding in the warm-up area and in the competition. Scans were carried out on an additional 355 horses every 15 minutes to determine the proportion of each HNP in the warm-up area. Sixty-nine percent of the 355 horses were ridden with their nasal planes behind the vertical in the warm-up area, 19% were ridden at or behind the vertical and only 12% were ridden with their nasal plane in front of the vertical. Horses carrying their nasal plane behind the vertical exhibited significantly (P<0.0001) more conflict behaviours than horses with their nose held in front of the vertical. Horses were commonly presented with a less flexed HNP during competition compared to warm-up (P<0.05). A HNP behind the vertical was penalised with lower marks in the lower (P = 0.0434) but not in the higher (P = 0.9629) competition levels. Horses in higher classes showed more (P = 0.0015) conflict behaviour than those in lower classes. In conclusion, dressage horses are commonly ridden during warm-up for competitions with their nasal plane behind the vertical, and this posture seems to cause significantly more conflict behaviour than HNPs in front of the vertical.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kienapfel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Link
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: König V Borstel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D006257:Head / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D009333:Neck / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence
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