Dressage training raises welfare concerns around rollkur hyperflexion, training methods, and competition judging standards that may inadvertently reward conflict and tension.
When practiced with positive methods on willing horses, dressage can represent positive welfare through physical development, mental engagement, and partnership. However, training shortcuts using hyperflexion, spurs, and force cause acute discomfort and chronic psychological conflict in horses who show their distress through tension, tail swishing, and mouth opening. Competition culture that rewards achieved movements regardless of the manner of training creates incentives for welfare-compromising shortcuts.