COMMENTARIES A Nonnatural Head–Neck Position (Rollkur) During Training Results in Less Acute Stress in Elite, Trained, Dressage Horses

This study measured parameters of stress in recreational, trained horses (REC; n = 7) and elite (International Grand Prix level) trained, dressage horses (DRES; n = 5). The training of the DRES horses uses an unnatural head–neck position (Rollkur), whereas in the REC horses such training techniques are not common. The study measured stress by using heart rate variability analysis for 30 min postfeeding in the morning and 30 min postexercise after a morning training session. The study found no signifi-cant difference at rest between the REC and DRES horses. During the posttraining measurements, however, the DRES horses showed, among others, a less sympathetic and increased parasympathetic dominance. These results suggest that DRES horses tend to have less acute stress than do REC horses postexercise. The findings of this study suggest maintaining the health and well-being of DRES horses despite nonnatural, biomechanical positions. Equine training methods are regularly criticized because of unnatural positions the horse has to maintain during training. Most research regarding the effects of training, however, has focused on anatomical, biomechanical, and kinematica