The Vertical Illusion: What Dressage Says vs. What Dressage Shows

Head and neck position in dressage – Why do the rules and regulations not match what we are seeing?

Following on from our previous discussions around head and neck position, Debbie Symes (who has an Honours degree in Sport Science and Human Biology, was formerly a dressage coach and still competes at Advanced level) and I have been looking more into head position.

The following are extracts from the 2025 FEI Dressage Judging Manual, where reference is made to the head or nose position in relation to the vertical. As far as we can see, there are references to the head being vertical or slightly in front of the vertical, but no reference to the head being behind the vertical. But if we watch upper-level dressage, primarily what we see are horses vertical or behind the vertical. Rarely in front, except in the halt! 

1. The head should remain in a steady position, as a rule, with the nose line slightly in front of the vertical, with a supple poll as the highest point of the neck, and no resistance should be offered to the Athlete. (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Page 3, Point 5).
2. The head approaches the vertical position, and a light contact is maintained with the mouth. (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Basic Paces of the Horse, Page 5, Collected Walk).
3. The nose must be clearly in front of the vertical. (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Basic Paces of the Horse, Page 5, Extended Walk).
4. The Athlete allows the Horse to carry the head a little more in front of the vertical than at the collected and the working trot,… (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Basic Paces of the Horse, Page 7, Medium Trot).
5. The Athlete allows the Horse to carry the head a little more in front of the vertical than at the collected and the working canter,… (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Basic Paces of the Horse, Page 8, Medium Canter).
6. The neck should be raised with the poll as the highest point, and the nose line slightly in front of the vertical. (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Basic Dressage Exercises, Page 13, The Halt).
7. The Horse’s nose line may come slightly in front of the vertical during this exercise. (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Basic Dressage Exercises, Page 14, Give and Retake the Reins).
8. The neck should be raised and gracefully arched with the poll as the highest point and the nose line close to the vertical. (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Advanced Dressage Exercises, Page 23, The Passage).
9. Nose line slightly more in front of the vertical than at collected walk. (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Marking of Fundamental Mistakes in Dressage Movements, 1. Paces, Page 25, Medium Walk). 
10. Horse dropping poll, nose line behind vertical (!) – Deduction up to 2 p., depending on quality of rein‐back (FEI Dressage Judging Manual 2025, Marking of Fundamental Mistakes in Dressage Movements, Page 33, Rein-Back). 
11. Major faults, serious contact problems: ….NOSE LINE BEHIND VERTICAL (Effectiveness of aids, Page 60, this can carry marks ranging between 6-6.9, which is something many judges repeatedly ignore).

Why do the apparently very clear requirements in the FEI Dressage Judging Manual not match what we see in competition and what the judges are rewarding? This is also relevant to our post from last month, where we looked at the requirements in the FEI Dressage Judging Manual for the poll to be the highest point, yet this is rarely the case in higher-level dressage. Unless the head and neck position is vertical or slightly in front of the vertical, it’s not easy or perhaps even possible for the poll to be the highest point. To us, horses don’t look comfortable in this “overbent” position, and it’s an issue that should receive some urgent attention.  

This is a time when social licence in equestrian is being actively discussed. The ‘behind the vertical’ position is contentious. The FEI appear to be allowing it to pass unpenalised in competition whilst simultaneously forbidding this position in their own judging manual. If judges are ignoring the judging manual, what purpose does it serve? And surely this must lead to confusion amongst riders and trainers?  This is dangerous for the sport as high rewards are being given for what are defined in the judges’ manual as “major problems” and are a welfare concern, but this also makes the sport look foolish.