Equine Complex Vertebral Malformation (ECVM) — Part 3: The Neck’s Role in Balance, Movement, and Performance

The horse’s neck is far more than a steering mechanism—it is a biomechanical driver of balance, coordination, and athletic power.

Acting as a counterweight, the neck shifts the horse’s center of mass forward or backward depending on its position. This directly influences balance and stability. During movement, coordinated neck motion supports stride length, rhythm, and overall fluidity.

The neck plays a central role in balance, coordination, and power. During athletic efforts, free cervical motion helps regulate stride, absorb force, and support efficient movement through the entire body.

The cervical spine also plays a role in shock absorption. With each stride, it helps dissipate impact forces that would otherwise stress the forelimbs and back. Flexibility—both lateral and vertical—allows for precise steering, collection, and engagement of the hindquarters.

Critically, the lower neck anchors the thoracic sling muscles, which lift the trunk between the forelimbs and allow the shoulders to move freely. It also houses nerve pathways essential for forelimb function. When alignment or motion is compromised, nerve irritation, stiffness, or altered movement patterns may follow.

In performance disciplines, the neck is indispensable—whether providing rapid extension for jumping or refined elevation and carriage for dressage. When cervical structure or function is impaired, the entire system is affected.

Next: how ECVM is diagnosed—and why it can be challenging.