Is Your Horse Hurting?
Horse and Rider|Spring 2023
Learn how his behaviors under saddle can help you decide.
BARB CRABBE
Is Your Horse Hurting?

Your new horse swishes his tail, pins his ears, and swings his butt to the side every time you pick up the left lead. When you bought him, his previous owner told you, “Oh don’t worry about it, he’s always done that. It’s just normal for him,” but now you’re not so sure. Is it really normal?

Great question! In fact, it’s just this type of scenario that caused researchers to start asking what behaviors horses exhibit under saddle that might mean there’s something wrong. After all, would you really want to force your horse to perform a straight transition if he’s simply saying that he hurts? Most horse owners would say no. And you might be surprised to learn that studies indicate as many as 50% or more of horses that owners think are sound are actually lame.

How can that be? Lameness that is “subclinical” or mild enough that it’s difficult to recognize may go undiagnosed, but still be a source of pain. And bilateral (impacts both front of both hind legs) or multi-limb lameness can easily go unnoticed. Forcing a horse to perform when he’s hurting is an important welfare issue. We owe it to our horses to make sure they’re comfortable in their work.

In an effort to protect our equine athletes, and perhaps put a stop to coercive or harsh training methods that can sometimes be employed to overcome “bad behavior” that might actually be due to pain, researchers in the U.K. have developed a tool called the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE).

In this article, I’m going to introduce the basics of the RHpE. I’ll tell you what it is, how it was developed, and how it can help you evaluate your own horse’s behavior.

Esta historia es de la edición Spring 2023 de Horse and Rider.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición Spring 2023 de Horse and Rider.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE HORSE AND RIDERVer todo
The Horse
Horse and Rider

The Horse

LIFE TAKES US DOWN different paths, but I seem to be on just one, which is with the horse.

time-read
2 minutos  |
Fall 2024
Decoding the Diseases Examined by AQHA's Six-Panel Test
Horse and Rider

Decoding the Diseases Examined by AQHA's Six-Panel Test

The six-panel test is a diagnostic tool used to assess the genetic predispositions of horses. It's meant to discover if a horse has or is a carrier for certain hereditary diseases and traits.

time-read
4 minutos  |
Fall 2024
Love is Good
Horse and Rider

Love is Good

All horses are assured a hopeful, compassionate plan of care at This Old Horse, a program that helps not only horses but people, too.

time-read
4 minutos  |
Fall 2024
HORSE PACKING 101
Horse and Rider

HORSE PACKING 101

Take your trail riding to the next level with nature-filled adventures in the back or front country.

time-read
6 minutos  |
Fall 2024
NEW HORSE; NEW PROBLEMS
Horse and Rider

NEW HORSE; NEW PROBLEMS

Anew horse can bring excitement and energy to the barn, and even reinvigorate your passion. However, there are also a myriad of new problems that can come with a new horse, so learn how to introduce him properly to avoid these common issues.

time-read
8 minutos  |
Fall 2024
First-Timer Tips
Horse and Rider

First-Timer Tips

Heading to a young rider's first event with their horse can be intimidating. Use these myths and truths to make it smoother sailing for yourself and your young rider.

time-read
7 minutos  |
Fall 2024
Re-Rescued: Aslan's Story
Horse and Rider

Re-Rescued: Aslan's Story

One special gelding learns about three different types of love during his rescue journey.

time-read
3 minutos  |
Summer 2024
The Country's Hottest Horse Motels
Horse and Rider

The Country's Hottest Horse Motels

Take your next trail-riding adventure to the next level by staying at one of these six horse motels across the United States.

time-read
7 minutos  |
Summer 2024
Outbreak! What We've Learned
Horse and Rider

Outbreak! What We've Learned

Learn how disease outbreaks in recent years have changed the horse industry, and why it's so important to play your part when it comes to disease prevention efforts.

time-read
8 minutos  |
Summer 2024
TRAINING THE SENSITIVE HORSE
Horse and Rider

TRAINING THE SENSITIVE HORSE

Shift your mindset and grow your sensitive horse's pressure-handling skills to improve his confidence and your riding enjoyment.

time-read
8 minutos  |
Summer 2024