A Look at the Anatomy of a Horse: The Poll

Equestrians seek collection at the poll. In horses, polls have nothing to do with politics. A horse's poll is a critical point for equestrian sports, though not for elections. The equine poll may play a fairly significant role in a horse show judge's evaluation of that horse and his performance.

What is a horse's poll?

Technically speaking, the poll is a bony point at the very top of an equine skull, located slightly behind and right between the horse's ears. According to All About Horses, the poll is situated between the frontal bone and the temporal fossa.

When a horse stands erect and tall, the poll is the highest point of his entire skeletal structure, as an online chart from Equus Dreams displays.

Among equestrians, however, the term "poll" has gained a slightly broader usage. Most horsey folks discuss the poll as a poll joint, located at the juncture between the top cervical vertebra or atlas joint (C-1 on the horse's spine) and the cranial bones of a horse's skull. A horse's head usually has a slight indentation at this point.

Sue Morris, of Classical Dressage, explains it this way: "People will often talk about the poll as if it is a joint, even calling it the poll joint, but this is incorrect. The actual poll is the top portion of the skull and as such is immovable. The joint that we refer to is where the first cervical vertebra attaches to the skull, which is slightly lower than the poll region."

Why is the horse's poll significant to horseback riding?

The poll joint is particularly sensitive to pressure. This is the spot where a bridle's crownpiece passes over the top of a horse's head. This is also the exact site where a leather, web or rope halter will come into contact with a horse's skull. By applying even slight pressure to the tack, a horse handler or rider can significantly influence the horse.

In nearly any equestrian discipline, a major goal of both trainers and riders is to gain the appropriate level of flexion in the horse, particularly at the poll.

Flexion is a compliant and athletic bending of the horse's poll joint, which indicates that the horse is accepting the bit in his mouth and heeding the handler or rider's cues (particularly the bridle, bit, and reins or lunge line).

For example, in a dressage show class (such as a United States Dressage Foundation competition), the judges wish to see a horse moving forward willingly with his poll as the highest point of his stature, while holding his face in a vertical position at a 90-degree angle to the ground). Both under-flexion and over-flexion are undesirable.

A horse who proceeds fluidly forward with willing flexion and acceptance of the bit and light rein contact is considered to traveling with collection. From the most basic introductory equestrian levels to Grand Prix competitions, this is the goal and the most desirable way of demonstrating an equine's beauty and natural athleticism in a horse show.

Also, in horse show classes, whether English or Western, when horses must stand for the judges' evaluation, either individually or as a group, they are expected to hold themselves squarely and straightly, with their bodies balanced and even, from poll to tail.

Basically, when it comes to winning in the horse show ring, it's all about balance, and the poll's the goal.

SOURCES
http://www.allabouthorses.com/
http://www.allabouthorses.com/site/graphics/photos/anatomy.jpg
http://www.equusdreams.com/HorseAnatomy.html
http://www.classicaldressage.co.uk/flexion___bend.html
http://www.usdf.org/