Last reviewed: July 2026
About this article
This article provides an introduction to the concept of proprioception for riders, trainers and horse owners who want to understand the mechanism behind several modern training aids, including elastic resistance bands. It is not intended to replace veterinary literature or serve as a clinical reference.
Where the evidence is well established, we use direct language. Where the science is more complex or still evolving, we deliberately use more cautious wording. If you are a veterinarian, physiotherapist or researcher in this field and believe any part of this article should be refined or updated, we welcome your feedback at support@corebyd.com.
What is proprioception?
Proprioception is commonly described as the body’s ability to sense the position and movement of its own parts without having to look at them. It is the function that allows a horse to place its feet precisely where intended, maintain balance through turns, and coordinate its trunk and limbs without consciously monitoring every movement visually.
Both horses and humans possess functioning proprioceptive systems. The differences between species lie mainly in scale and application rather than in the underlying biological principles. Proprioception is sometimes referred to as the body’s sixth sense, alongside vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch, although this classification is more educational than strictly scientific.
How the system works
Proprioception relies on several different types of sensory receptors distributed throughout the body, all of which continuously send information to the central nervous system.
Muscle spindles, located within skeletal muscles, provide information about muscle length and how quickly that length changes.
Golgi tendon organs, located where muscles attach to tendons, detect muscle tension.
Joint receptors, found within and around joints, contribute information about joint position, particularly at the extremes of joint movement.
In addition to these three primary proprioceptive sources, the skin’s tactile receptors and the vestibular system of the inner ear also contribute to the body’s overall awareness of position and movement.
Exactly how the central nervous system integrates these different streams of information remains an active area of research. What is well established is that the combined sensory input forms the basis of what we observe externally as motor control, including balance, coordination and appropriate muscle activation.
Why proprioception matters in horse training
In riding, we often describe a horse as moving in balance, in self carriage or in collection. Behind these descriptions lies an effective interaction between the horse’s sensory systems, nervous system and muscles.
A horse with good proprioception generally tends to:
- Place its feet accurately.
- Maintain relative stability through the back under changing loads.
- Respond to small imbalances before they become larger.
- Activate the appropriate muscle groups at the right moment during movement.
Conversely, a horse with impaired proprioception, for example following injury, prolonged inactivity or neurological disease, may show uncertain foot placement, uneven loading or difficulty supporting itself through turns.
For this reason, proprioceptive training has become an established component of modern equine rehabilitation and is described as a key element of core training in veterinary review literature.¹
How proprioception relates to training aids
Several training aids used in horses are based on a similar principle. Rather than physically forcing a movement, they provide a small sensory stimulus to a specific part of the body. The idea is that increased awareness of that area may influence muscle activation and movement patterns.
This principle has been investigated experimentally. In a study led by Professor Hilary Clayton at Michigan State University, four different stimulators were placed around the coronary band of eight clinically sound horses during trot. Even a very light tactile stimulator weighing approximately 55 grams was associated with a significant increase in hoof flight height through increased flexion of the shoulder and carpal joints.
The device itself was too light to explain the effect mechanically. Instead, the authors suggested that the observed changes could be explained by increased proprioceptive awareness rather than by mechanical loading.²
A similar principle has been proposed for elastic resistance bands. These bands apply gentle contact around the abdomen and hindquarters. Studies investigating elastic band systems have reported increased activation of the rectus abdominis during trot, together with reductions in unwanted rotational and lateral movement of the thoracic and lumbar spine.³⁻⁴
A reasonable interpretation, and one discussed by the study authors themselves, is that these effects are related to proprioceptive feedback rather than mechanical restriction of movement. However, alternative explanations remain possible, and additional research is needed.
The difference between restrictive and proprioceptive training aids
A distinction often made in veterinary literature is between aids that physically restrict movement and those that primarily provide sensory feedback.
Restrictive aids, such as tightly adjusted side reins or auxiliary reins, belong to the first category. Light tactile stimulators and elastic resistance band systems are generally considered examples of the second.¹
This distinction is more than philosophical. There is a theoretical basis for suggesting that horses which gradually learn new movement patterns through sensory feedback may retain aspects of those patterns even after the training aid has been removed.
However, long term studies in horses remain limited, and current evidence does not justify stronger conclusions.
When proprioception is impaired
Reduced proprioception may result from several different conditions and should always be assessed by a veterinarian rather than diagnosed by the rider alone.
Potential causes described in the literature include:
- Injury or inflammation affecting muscles, tendons, ligaments or joints.
- Muscle atrophy following prolonged inactivity.
- Neurological disorders affecting the central or peripheral nervous system.
- Long standing compensatory movement patterns following previous injuries.
If you suspect your horse has impaired proprioception, for example through uncertain foot placement, repeated stumbling or uneven loading, veterinary assessment is recommended.
Proprioceptive training may become part of the rehabilitation programme prescribed by your veterinarian, but it should never replace appropriate diagnosis.
Applying the concept in practice
For riders and trainers, proprioception is often most useful as a training concept rather than as a diagnostic term.
Several practical principles are reasonably well supported by current literature:
- Training variety creates more proprioceptive challenges than repeating the same exercise.
- Varied terrain, including arenas, woodland tracks and hills, provides richer sensory input.
- Slower exercises, such as walking over poles, give the nervous system more time to process information than faster gaits.
- Even small sensory inputs, such as light tactile stimulators or elastic resistance bands, may influence movement patterns.
- Signs suggesting impaired proprioception should always be investigated by a veterinarian.
These points should be viewed as practical guidelines rather than clinical protocols.
Summary
Proprioception is the body’s ability to sense the position and movement of its own parts. It depends on information from muscles, tendons and joints, supplemented by tactile receptors in the skin and the vestibular system. Together, these sensory systems provide the foundation for balance, coordination and motor control.
Several modern equine training aids, including elastic resistance bands, are described in the scientific literature as primarily proprioceptive rather than mechanical. Their proposed effect is that the horse modifies its own movement in response to sensory feedback rather than being physically forced into a position.
Controlled studies have observed such changes under experimental conditions. However, the current evidence base remains limited, and long term research is still lacking.
In other articles within our research library, we examine specific studies and applications in greater detail. If you are a veterinarian, equine scientist, physiotherapist or researcher and are aware of relevant publications that should be included, we would be pleased to hear from you at support@corebyd.com.
This page will be updated as new peer reviewed research becomes available.
References
- Clayton, H. M. (2016). Core Training and Rehabilitation in Horses. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 32(1), 49 to 71. DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2015.12.009. PubMed ID: 27012507.
- Clayton, H. M., Lavagnino, M., Kaiser, L. J. & Stubbs, N. C. (2011). Evaluation of Biomechanical Effects of Four Stimulation Devices Placed on the Hind Feet of Trotting Horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 72(11), 1489 to 1495. DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.72.11.1489. PubMed ID: 22023127.
- Pfau, T., Simons, V., Rombach, N., Stubbs, N. & Weller, R. (2017). Effect of a 4 Week Elastic Resistance Band Training Regimen on Back Kinematics in Horses Trotting in Hand and on the Lunge. Equine Veterinary Journal, 49(6), 829 to 835. DOI: 10.1111/evj.12690. PubMed ID: 28432739.
- Shaw, K., Ursini, T., Levine, D., Richards, J. & Adair, S. (2021). The Effect of Ground Poles and Elastic Resistance Bands on Longissimus Dorsi and Rectus Abdominis Muscle Activity During Equine Walk and Trot. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 107, 103772. DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103772. PubMed ID: 34802619.