Definitions on Flexions.

Blue Flame · Definitions on Flexions.

People use the terms "lateral", "longitudinal" and "vertical" all of the time. I haven't yet seen these terms defined in detail so thought I'd kick off this thread and ask people to add their knowledge to it. I'll start with some simple things and would be grateful if people could add any finer points to the definitions.

Lateral
Simple definition - side to side or left and right flexion of the horse.

Example of a finer point to work on.

In this article http://www.martinblack.net/downloads/WH-01-08.pdf kindly posted by Jack in the 'Feeling the Feet' thread, Martin Black describes how the poll (more specifically the axis) and the loins work almost simultaneously. More importantly, he describes how a horse can have his neck and nose pointed one way yet his poll is pointed the opposite way. In this case, chances are his loins will still be straight. He also describes how to begin addressing this problem using a combination of shifting weight to the outside and asking for less flexion.

Longitudinal

Simple definition - the bending of the horses vertebral column in such a way that it is either lifting through the back (bowed upwards in the middle) or hollowing (back dipping in the middle). Good banana/bad banana stuff.

Finer points.

Dr. Deb Benett asserts that a horse's posture through the torso determines what the limbs can do - i.e. that a horse must coil its loins before the limbs can be fully utilised. It is a concept that has never quite sat right with me - why? - because from an engineering and physics point of view, it is a very inefficient use of muscular energy where nature more often tends to use the dynamics of motion and gravity to the advantage of swift animals (e.g. a kangaroo breathes while travelling at speed due to the pumping action of it's body as it hops).

Contrasting with Dr. Deb's assertions, in "The Big Dressage Topic" thread, Julie kindly posted a link to an interview with Gerd Heuschmann http://www.jonibentley.co.uk/articles/edited/simple.htm . In this interview, Dr. Heuschmann explains how the position of the head and neck and the position of the hindquarters create opposing forces which stretch and lift the back. If one extrapolates this explanation further, it could be said that as the horse develops, it will need the muscles above the spine to be doing more (to resist/control the opposing turning forces of the HQ and FH) and the muscles below the spine to be doing less.

Leah, are you listening? - because the last sentence in the above paragraph is exactly what I was trying (poorly) to tell you about that was so wrong with Dr. Deb's theories back on the old Savvy Club thread. Why would nature play such a cruel trick on a horse as to make it use its abdominal muscles constantly when it has already been blessed with the structure necessary to achieve the same thing using much less energy. (oh, and I still say painty horse was on the forehand

rounded - maybe, but collected trot? not even close - refer PK).

Anyone have ideas for achieving longitudinal flexion?
We've had success by combing the reins and also be releasing braces associated with lateral flexion.

Vertical Flexion

This is the one that I'm not so sure on but I'll kick it off anyway with a statement for anyone to confirm or deny - I'm not saying it is wrong or right because we aren't there yet beyond what the horse naturally offers us - its just what I think it might be . . .

I think vertical flexion is 4 things.

1. The raising of the poll.
2. The raising of the base of the neck.
3. The raising of the withers (front legs stretch downwards)
4. The lowering of the croup (hind leg joint angles close)

Looking forward to reading everyone's input.

Clarissa

Verticle Flexion:-

The loins coil allowing the hindlegs to step way forward to under the ribs of the horse creating power. That sends a diagonally upward force from the hind foot toe, through the chest & base of the neck up to the poll, lifting both.

Because the axis joint is loose the head hangs verticle without the need for appliances.

However I think it doesn't matter what angle the neck is at, if the axis joint is loose the head may hang verticle. It just won't have that lovely asthetic appearence. There is some measurement regarding the position of the nose in relation to the height of the poll above the wither that determines 'correct' verticle flexion for the purposes of various forms of equitation.

Well that's my simplified take on it anyway

Blue Flame I liked your desciptions for all the flexions.

PasoBaby_CarolU

Clarissa, I'm not sure if this belongs under Lateral or Longitudinal, but here it is. In Mark Russell's book he gives you an exercise to lower the horse's head AND turn it to the inside, have the horse move forward and get the horse to step under themselves. This gives you a flex along the outer top line of the horse, a bend, and gets the horse to step under themselves.

In Paso Finos, although they seem to forget the horse has a body, they do 3 lateral flexions of the neck - high, mid height, and low. Each stretches a different area. The high is up towards the horse's hips (like where he'd scratch), the mid is to the rider's knees, and the low is too the riders boot. (I'm talking noses here). They don't do the lateral/longitudinal that Mark Russel teaches that builds the top line, or the longitudinal that Linda teaches for the top line.

I think few riders do lateral or longitudinal. More do lateral, and to the excess, after following Clinton Anderson, who seems to do it constantly. But, most riders ignore ANY conditioning of their horses.

Correct Vertical flexion is the least understood and most abused of the three. Most people look at headset with a vertical face as the goal, and use any means to get there, even if it is totally wrong for the horse's conformation. I see lots of horses with incredibly strong under neck muscles, and hollow backs, from doing this wrong.

Blue Flame

Blue Flame