Poor Horse Behavior?

A new attitude could be pain-related

She was asked to watch a horse move. “Something just wasn’t right,” proclaimed the owner of a young Arabian. The mare was either “lazy” or bucking and rearing. Robin Foster, Ph.D., certified equine behaviorist and university professor of 30 years, agreed that something was amiss.

As she took note of the horse’s movement and behavior, she soon said to the owner, “I’m not a vet, but I have some ideas. You should get your vet out here to look at your horse. Something is happening in the hind end they may need to look at.”

Through examination from her veterinarian, it was determined that this horse’s supposed “laziness” was due to deformity in both stifles. The horse was experiencing such pain from carrying weight and moving forward that her veterinarians recommended bilateral surgery or otherwise, never ride the horse again.

Horses can talk

Another horse, a 5-year-old off-track Thoroughbred mare, was labeled as a “hot Thoroughbred” as she would often rear and bolt during training.

Then not asked to be on the bit, or when simply enjoying a light hack, her behavior was normal. The rider and trainers changed bits, switched disciplines from jumping to dressage, then to riding trails only.

It was upon involving a veterinarian that they learned the mare’s actions were not due to misbehavior. A series of X-rays revealed what the human eye could not see—a C1 fracture of the vertebrae, nearest to the poll, causing her significant pain from bone-on-bone contact and arthritis.

“In my experience, horses almost never say ‘no.’ Horses can talk, and it is our job to learn how to speak their language and above all, to listen and be their advocate,” said Steve Allday, DVM, an equine lameness specialist with more than 35 years’ experience caring for an impressive list of equine athletes. His “clients” include legendary racehorses A.P. Indy and Cigar.

Behavior vs. pain

Dr. Foster shared how labeling horses a certain way such as “lazy” or “hot,” for example, isn’t uncommon. “When we label a horse’s behavior in a certain way, that becomes the truth about that horse,” Dr. Foster said. “And when the label becomes the truth, it’s hard to see past that and look for other explanations. What gets missed, though, can be signs of discomfort, pain and stress. The way horses express themselves when in pain and uncomfortable are seriously under-recognized.”

It is important to mention any behavior-related issues with your veterinarian so they can look closely for any potential pain and discomfort during their regular exams.

Of course, there are some signs of pain and discomfort that are more easily recognized, like limping, for instance. The milder pain states are more easily unrecognized, therefore resulting in horses commonly labeled as misbehaving, while they actually may be experiencing pain.

An Important Resource

To help address unrevealed signs of pain in horses, co-authoring Drs. Catherine Torcivia and Sue McDonnell, with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, published “Equine Discomfort Ethogram,” a detailed catalog of behaviors associated with equine physical discomfort.

Drs. Torcivia and McDonnell outlined 73 specific discomfort behaviors and grouped them into eight categories: posture and weight-bearing; limb and body movements; head, neck, mouth, and lip movements; attention to area; ear and tail movements; overall demeanor; altered eating or drinking; and vocalizations/audible sounds.

The report notes that “horses have evolved to show little evidence of discomfort or disability in the presence of predators, including humans.”

“Signs of discomfort and pain are often instead attributed to a horse’s personality. The identification of pain is an important gap commonly missed in equine welfare,” said Dr. Foster.

Managing pain in horses

You know your horse better than anyone else, often seeing them daily. Watch carefully for any new behaviors, and ask yourself whether these behaviors could instead be the result of pain.

Work closely with your veterinarian for diagnosis and management of your horse’s pain and discomfort. There are a number of supplements and prescription pain and inflammation medications available to help them.

Help ensure your horse is living their healthiest, happiest and most comfortable life possible.