05/10/2026
Meet the nuchal ligament: the most important part of horses’ topline you’ve probably never heard of.
The nuchal ligament, which runs from the top of the skull down the neck to the withers, is responsible for holding the weight of the horse’s head (which comprises about 10% of their total bodyweight!). It plays a role in almost every movement a horse makes, from storing a significant portion of the energy they need to move to stretching to help them lift their backs.
When I attended the Equine Brain and Body Symposium with Dr. Stephen Peters and Jillian Kreinbring over the summer, I learned a LOT about the nuchal ligament… and I’m obsessed.
Think about it: if this ligament is so important and responsible for so many functions, what happens when it’s not doing what it’s supposed to?
If horses are ridden regularly with over-flexed polls or with their necks otherwise restricted, it can trigger pain and inflammation in the nuchal ligament and even issues like nuchal bursitis. Nearly everything a horse does, from work under saddle to simply grazing in the field, is affected by an impaired nuchal ligament.
This is one of the many reasons I am so passionate about proper biomechanics in both horses and riders.
When riders learn to follow the motion of the horse with their elbows, they let the neck oscillate properly so the nuchal ligament can do what it’s built to do. When horses learn to push out to the contact with an open throatlatch and their poll as the highest point, they build the correct muscles and leave the nuchal ligament unimpeded.
Biomechanics is not just a buzzword. It’s the foundation of happy, healthy horses and harmonious riding.
