JUNE 2006 • VOLUME 10 • ©HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

The nuchal ligament trapping the vertebral column
inside the curl.

In rollkur, the upper part of the vertebral column is severely overflexed and under strain. Since there are only 7 cervical vertebrae, the angles between the vertebral bodies in this part of the neck are as far away from their natural position as possible. To some extent this is OK. The neck is agile and meant to be able to take this position. But working in this position, where the muscles and ligaments between the vertebrae are stretched to their limit, dulls the tone of these muscles and elongates the ligaments, ridding the neck of all natural tone. Thus the dishrag necks we see in these horses in the arena.

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