Understanding how sound horses move is a vital step

Researchers looked at the behaviours shown by horses not in discomfort, and how they differ to those who are

- ELEANOR JONES

A STUDY on the way sound, comfortable horses move and behave may help recognition of what should be normal – and benefit equine welfare.

Sue Dyson and Danica Pollard’s research, published in Animals, used the ridden horse pain ethogram (RHpE), developed by Dr Dyson and collaborators. The RHpE comprises 24 behaviours, including tail swishing and an open mouth, the presence of eight or more of which indicates that the horse has musculoskeletal pain, even if the horse is not overtly lame.

Dr Dyson, who has used the RHpE in other studies, applied it in this case to 1,358 horses, in dressage up to elite grand prix and British Eventing classes at novice to five-star level.