Long & Low: What Lowering The Neck Does to the Pelvis, LS Joint, and Hip

We hear it all the time: ride your horse “long and low,” “nose to the dirt,” “let them stretch forward.” But we aren’t always told what that frame actually does to the horse’s movement.

Lowering the neck doesn’t just change the head and neck—it affects the whole body, from the forehand and trunk all the way back to the hindquarters.

Today we’re focusing on the hind end and the muscles involved. When the neck is lowered, the horse’s balance and spinal motion change, and that also changes how two key joints work:

• the lumbosacral (LS) joint

• the hip joint

The Lumbosacral (LS) Joint

When a horse lowers its neck, there is a clear drop in mobility through the lumbar spine (the lower back). Because the lumbar spine is moving less, the LS joint has to do more of the “flexing” work when the hindlimbs engage.

That shift is possible because this region has more natural motion—partly due to the ligament structure around the LS area. The supraspinous ligament is weaker and more mobile here, and the interspinous ligaments have more slack, allowing more flexion at the LS joint.

Why increased LS flexion can help a sport horse

When done correctly, increased LS flexion can be beneficial in three main ways:

1. More LS flexibility during engagement. As the horse works long and low, there is longer-lasting tension through the topline (epaxial) muscles. That steady tension supports controlled motion and can help the LS joint move more freely during hindlimb engagement.

2. Helpful “traction” on major propulsion muscles. Lowering the neck causes a downward swing of the pelvis. This creates backward traction on the erector spinae muscles and forward traction on the middle gluteal muscle. Both are major propulsion muscles. That traction encourages the muscles to lengthen, which is very valuable for sport horse work.

3. Better recruitment of the muscles that flex and stabilize the spine. Because the lumbar spine is moving less, the horse has to recruit more of the muscles that flex and stabilize the spine and LS region. This supports their development over time.  [When these muscle groups fail to stabilize the spine, the result is often the chronic back soreness and lack of impulsion that Kyra Fraser explores in her latest post.] The main groups involved include the abdominal wall muscles and the sublumbar muscles.

   • abdominal wall muscles (especially the rectus abdominis and obliques)

   • sublumbar muscles (the iliopsoas group)

   The strongest sublumbar muscles are the psoas major and iliacus, which attach on the upper femur. These muscles directly affect flexion and motion of both the LS joint and the hip joint, and they help bring the hind legs forward.

The Hip Joint

As the iliopsoas muscles activate, they apply tension to the femur in a cranial-dorsal direction. This helps the horse “work around” the reduced motion in the lumbar spine and results in increased hip flexion during hindlimb engagement.

When the LS joint flexes, the gluteal muscles lengthen in response. At the same time, as the stifle extends during engagement, the muscles along the back of the hind leg also lengthen, including:

• gluteobiceps

• semitendinosus

• semimembranosus

Motion through the hip joint supports propulsion and helps develop and strengthen the muscles responsible for push and power.

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If you want to learn more about the “what” and the “how” behind pelvic biomechanics, consider registering for:

Inside the Equine Body: Understanding the Structure and Function of the Pelvis

Precision in diagnosis starts with a deep understanding of anatomy.

Join us for an immersive equine dissection workshop on March 21 & 22 as we bridge the gap between clinical imaging and physical reality. Dr. Beth Byles and Kyra Fraser lead a hands-on exploration of the pelvic and SI structures, examining the anatomical roots of performance limitations.

This 2-day intensive focuses on the "biomechanical bridge" — translating veterinary diagnostics into functional postural engagement and sustainable performance.

Secure your spot: kineticequinemedicine.com/pelvis-workshop

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