02/17/2026
🧠💪🏽 Laterality isn’t just a rider’s “feel” 👉 it’s measurable, it’s biomechanical, and it runs deep.
📊 Research by Krüger et al., 2022 (Laterality in Horse Training: Psychological and Physical Asymmetry in Horses, Animals, 12(8):1017) and Kuhnke et al., 2022 (A Comparison of Different Established and Novel Methods to Assess Laterality in Horses, Front. Vet. Sci., 9:789260) found that:
🔎 Rein tension is rarely equal. One rein almost always shows higher tension - and that isn’t a rider error. It reflects a fundamental left–right asymmetry in the horse’s neuromuscular system. What you feel in your hands is a direct representation of how the horse organises movement through the spine and limbs.
🔎 Hindquarter displacement is common. Even in apparently “straight” horses, the pelvis and hindquarters often drift a few centimetres off the midline. That subtle shift alters how force travels through the body, changes back muscle activation, and can lead to uneven loading in the forelimbs.
🔎 Rider asymmetry compounds the problem. The research also found that when a horse’s laterality matches the rider’s dominant side, rein tension and movement patterns become more balanced. But when they don’t, asymmetries often worsen - amplifying drift, poll bend, and uneven contact.
📏 What does this mean for us as vetrehabbers?
Laterality is not something to “fix”. It’s a pattern rooted in the horse’s brain, musculoskeletal system, and history. Recognising it allows us to:
✅ Design targeted groundwork to balance hindquarter control.
✅ Support more symmetrical development in the trunk and thoracolumbar fascia.
✅ Coach riders on how their seat and rein habits influence what happens beneath them.
🐴 Straightness isn’t about straight lines - it’s about balanced neuromuscular control. And the evidence shows that paying attention to these details can make the difference between subtle compensations and sustainable, symmetrical performance.
💡 How do we start to differentiate between asymmetry and laterality 👇
👨🏫 This months webinar with João Paulo Marques: DVM, MRCVS, IVCA, IVAS, CERP starts to unravel this question.
🟢 Equine Asymmetry and Laterality: Part 1
During this webinar, we will explore morphological and functional asymmetry and laterality in horses, reviewing key findings from the literature. The webinar will provide insights into how these factors influence equine performance and movement, laying the foundation for clinical applications in rehabilitation and training.
📢 Comment EQU if you would like the link to register for this webinar
