I know we have all seen it or experienced it.. the swish of a tail under saddle.. the horse fussing with their head while being ridden.. a pinned ear, a little bit more “white of the eye” than we usually see.. a horse opening their mouth when working.. Those behaviors that make for a “less than fun” ride, and can be frustrating for the horse and rider.
So often, trainers, riders, and competitors chalk this up to “behavioral” issues – a training issue or attitude problem with the horse. But what if something else is going on – what if the horse was actually conveying that they were in pain? How would we know if the issue was discomfort or training?
Dr. Sue Dyson, vet researcher and developer of the “Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram,” spoke with me on this week’s podcast episode about what the pain ethogram is, how to use it for horses in our care, how to distinguish a potential discomfort/lameness versus a “behavioral” problem, and what we can do about it as equine professionals and riders.
You can hear the entire conversation on any podcast app under “The Humble Hoof,” or directly at this link.
Thank you to our amazing sponsors:
Cavallo Hoof Boots is offering 15% off a pair of Trek hoof boots at cavallo-inc.com with code HRN
A special shout out to Grid as New, Mud Control Grids – they are a game changer for any mud issues, big or small! – mudcontrolgrids.com
Also be sure to check out Hay Boss Feeders – haybossfeeders.com – for all your slow-feeding needs. I get my Hay Boss feeders from Mountain Lane Farm in NH!
