10/07/2025
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Balance, for the racehorse, is a tricky thing. In the ridden horse, balance is attained by engaging and increasing the elastic kinetic energy storage of the hindquarters while simultaneously amplifying the trampoline-like function of the engaged thoracic sling muscles. By moving in such a way, the horse can transfer much of the weight of his massive frame and free his already disproportionately burdened front end from the concussion it receives when a rider is added to his payload.
Harnessing the pure strength of the powerful gluteal and hamstring muscles, the horse’s center of gravity moves backward, enabling him to evade the destabilizing effects of inertia and become more immediately responsive to his rider’s commands for speed and direction.
However, this is where it gets tricky for the racehorse. In order to create such high velocities over the ground, a racehorse must transfer the extraordinary propulsive forces produced by his musculature into the ground and quite literally catapult himself over his own legs. During the finishing strides of a race—often the only time a true double-bounding racing gallop is fully activated—the horse produces his maximum catapult force.
In a standard gallop, there is typically one main suspension phase, occurring when the legs are fully outstretched as the horse shifts weight from hind to fore. In contrast, the racehorse in full flight travels nearly as far after his front legs leave the ground as he does when bounding forward from hind to fore. This results in an additional suspension phase that occurs when the legs are gathered together underneath the body after the forelimbs leave the ground. Using the counterweight of his long neck and heavy head, the racehorse creates a second catapult action, effectively "vaulting" over the forehand while drawing the hind legs up and under in preparation for the next stride.
The Thoroughbred is purpose-bred for extraordinary acceleration and efficient force transmission. His ability to smoothly "touch down" with the front limbs and immediately roll into one massive stride after another is what separates a good racehorse from a great one. In this unbridled, near-horizontal frame, the racehorse is encouraged to run with lowered shoulders and maximal ground contact to generate immense ground reaction forces, thus maximizing speed.
In contrast, classical dressage defines balance as the horse’s ability to shift weight rearward, lighten the forehand, and engage the hindquarters to support more of the body mass. Here, the frame is characterized by an elevated forehand and a lowered, flexed pelvis, allowing the horse to coil his loins and lift through the thoracic sling. The result is increased maneuverability, self-carriage, and the ability to perform advanced movements requiring precise weight shifts and controlled impulsion.
At first glance, these two expressions of balance—horizontal balance in the racehorse and collected, uphill balance in the dressage horse—seem diametrically opposed. Yet they share a fundamental physics-based foundation: both forms rely on finely tuned timing of the "catapult" phase and on the dynamic interplay of muscle chains that manage forward thrust and vertical lift.
It is crucial to recognize that when a rider, even a tiny jockey, is added to the horse, the entire biomechanical equation changes. The horse’s natural balance is altered by the additional load, increasing the demand on both front and hind limbs to maintain propulsion without excessive concussion. Strengthening and training the lift and extension muscles of the forehand, as well as the carrying and pushing muscles of the hindquarters, becomes essential not just for collection, but also for preserving long-term soundness and maximizing stride efficiency.
Dressage training can support the racehorse precisely because it develops this fine-tuned muscular control. Systematic dressage work teaches the horse to better engage his thoracic sling, stabilize the scapula, and coordinate the forelimb flight arc with the powerful thrust of the hindquarters. By improving the timing and symmetry of each catapult phase, dressage reduces premature or uneven limb loading, minimizes concussion, and helps to maximize stride length while maintaining balance and control.
Furthermore, dressage work enhances proprioceptive awareness, allowing the horse to adjust subtle shifts in mass and force throughout each phase of the stride. This results in a horse who is not only faster but also better able to withstand the physical demands of high-speed work without breakdown.
In essence, though it may seem counterintuitive, introducing principles of dressage to the Thoroughbred or other speed-oriented breeds is not about slowing them down or collecting them into a purely academic frame. Instead, it is about improving their ability to coordinate lift and thrust, to manage their balance dynamically under a rider, and to optimize force transmission in a way that both enhances performance and preserves soundness.
By embracing both classical and modern understandings of balance, we can create athletes who are not only more powerful and efficient in motion but also more resilient and harmonious in their biomechanics.
