This form of work, commonly used by riders who believe they are caring for the health of their horse's back, is a real abuse of the technique. It has two consequences:

1 / Quite apart from the fact that this posture (on an unschooled horse) is far from helping his balance,

Quotation: " this exercise causes an overloading of the forehand and brings about an increase in osteo-articular and tendinous stresses on the forelimbs. A number of forelimb lamenesses are the direct consequence of this form of work. "

Footnote: Marc BURIN des ROZIERS, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, 7 April 2009: The biomechanics of the dressage horse: fundamental notions, application to physical work and pathological implications (p. 68)

2 / Low and round work also brings about

Quotation: "an excess of tension on the supraspinous ligament, which is the origin of lesions appearing on the ligament and its attachments, and a thoracic flexion that compresses the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs"

2 (same source, p. 65)