What is the ridden horse pain ethogram? How can this help us understand our horses better?

Subtle signs can be noted in lame horses such as head tilts, sclera (white of eye) showing, Mouth opening, tail swishing repeatedly. In a recent study of 57 horses in regular work assumed sound by the rider, 12% of horses were found to be lame even though they were sound in hand, on the lunge and to flexion tests. What does this tell us?

Ethograms are a method of assessing behavioural changes. In the study Dyson et al, (2022) found the ridden horse pain ethogram was used to decide if horses are experiencing pain and lameness only when ridden. Factors which were decided that could potentially effect the result were; rider position and balance, saddle fit and noseband fit. The horses were assessed in hand and ridden by two different assessors and the ridden pain ethogram assessment was made via a video recording of the horse when under saddle. The study found that in 148 horses recorded, 28% were lame in hand and 62% were lame when ridden. Most horses displayed signals from the ridden horse ethogram when lame.

But what does this all mean for us? Poor saddle fit and rider imbalance also attributed to the horses showing high scores on the equine pain ethogram alongside horses wearing tight crank nosebands. This highlights the importance of getting your saddle checked regularly and listening to your horse if they are displaying signs of pain.  

Always ask advice from a veterinarian if you are concerned and notice your horse displaying lots of pain signals. Early diagnosis often means better treatment and a better long term outcome.

We offer a ridden analysis as part of the assessment of your horse, heavily using the ridden horse pain ethogram, please do not hesitate to ask for this option when booking in.

Link to an explanation of the ridden pain ethogram: https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/eve.13468

References:

Dyson, S., Routh, J., Bondi, A. and Pollard, D., 2022. Gait abnormalities and ridden horse behaviour in a convenience sample of the United Kingdom ridden sports horse and leisure horse population. Equine Veterinary Education, 34(2), pp.84-95.

Dyson, S., 2021. The ridden horse pain ethogram. Equine Veterinary Education.

Dyson, S. and Ellis, A.D., 2020. Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to horses competing at 5‐star three‐day‐events: Comparison with performance. Equine Veterinary Education.

Dyson, S., Berger, J., Ellis, A.D. and Mullard, J., 2018. Development of an ethogram for a pain scoring system in ridden horses and its application to determine the presence of musculoskeletal pain. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 23, pp.47-57.

Dyson, S. and Greve, L., 2016. Subjective gait assessment of 57 sports horses in normal work: a comparison of the response to flexion tests, movement in hand, on the lunge, and ridden. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 38, pp.1-7.