Page 162 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

RIDDEN EXAMINATION

On occasions the lameness will only be seen when a horse is ridden. A talented and
VetBooks.ir experienced rider is often able to ‘feel’ a slight resistance before it can be seen. In these

situations the vet will observe the horse under saddle and check the fit of the tack at the same
time. The lameness may be accentuated when the horse is ridden owing to:

• the weight of the rider

• more advanced manoeuvres being performed

• badly fitting tack
• poor riding.

LAMENESS

In addition to observable lameness, there are many other signs that the horse is in discomfort.
These include less response to the leg than normal, resistance, tail swishing, an unsteady

head carriage, being on the forehand as a result of lack of engagement behind, poor
transitions, reluctance to canter, changing leads and stiffness through the back. Slipping of

the back of the saddle to one side is often an indication of hind limb lameness.

FACIAL EXPRESSION AND BEHAVIOUR

Not all horses with musculoskeletal pain show obvious lameness. When the condition is

bilateral, i.e. affecting both forelimbs or both hind limbs, the horse may just move with a
shortened stride length. If the pain is arising from multiple sources, the horse may simply

move awkwardly. So is there another way of telling if horses are experiencing pain?
Recent work carried out by Dr Sue Dyson and her team at the Animal Health Trust in

Newmarket, UK has demonstrated that facial expression and certain behaviours can be
reliable and repeatable indicators of discomfort experienced by the horse.

In the facial expressions study, an ethogram was developed to help owners, riders and

trainers recognize signs of pain or distress in the ridden horse. The ethogram is a collection
of facial expressions that vary according to whether the horse is comfortable or not and
include the following:

• ears – forwards, back or sideways?

• eyes – open, partially closed, closed? Tension around the eyes, an intense stare, white of
eyes showing?

• nostrils – relaxed, flared, crinkled?

• muzzle – relaxed or tense?