24 Behaviors Indicating Pain in the Ridden Horse

Dr. Dyson watching a horse trot.
Dr. Dyson watching a horse trot. Caroline Hegarty

Newsdate: November 13, 2018, 8:00 am
Location: THORTON, CA

World Renowned Veterinarian Dr. Sue Dyson, in partnership with Global Equine Resource Leader, Equitopia is releasing a course based on Dr. Dyson’s groundbreaking research in Evaluating Behavioural Signs in Horses that indicate the presence of underlying musculoskeletal pain.

Horse's tail is swishing repeatedly and the eyelids are closed.

Horse's tail is swishing repeatedly and the eyelids are closed

By taking this course, learners will gradually build their knowledge over the 12 parts so that they can confidently assess horses for pain at the end of the course.
© 2008 by Louis New window.

“I believe this information serves as a powerful tool that could revolutionize the industry in terms of enabling early diagnosis of injuries before they become serious or catastrophic” said Dyson in a recent interview “Horses do tell us when they are having a problem, but we have become too accustomed to writing those behaviors off as “normal”, which they are not”.

Passionate about improving the understanding and management of lameness and poor performance, Dyson wanted the course to be accessible to anyone with an interest in horses, from vets, vet students and farriers, to conscientious horse owners, physiotherapists and chiropractors, with the ultimate aim of improving equine welfare.

“I was becoming increasingly concerned by the number of riders who were ignoring their horses’ problems for far too long,” she said.

“They would say things like ‘he’s always been a grumpy horse’, ‘he’s never been a willing horse’, ‘he’s never wanted to stand to be mounted’, ‘he doesn’t want to go forward’ ‘he always pins his ears when I get on’. For vets who have had little training in the recognition of low-grade lameness it can be a struggle to understand their clients’ complaints.

These things get missed at pre-purchase examinations too. Early recognition is nearly always advantageous for a better prognosis and the course will really help to achieve this.”

By taking this course, learners will gradually build their knowledge over the 12 parts so that they can confidently assess horses for pain at the end of the course.

It is not just a matter of listening and watching – course participants will need to interact with people and horses from their local yard, study pictures and take quizzes to help reinforce information and enable it to become second nature knowledge.

“I am absolutely convinced that we have developed a really powerful tool for early recognition of pain,” Dyson said. “I think it is hugely important that this information is disseminated as widely as possible amongst the equestrian industry. A pain-free horse is a happier horse and we should all be obliged to train ourselves to listen to what our horses are trying to tell us.”

For more information and to sign up for this course, click here: https://www.equitopiacenter.com/shop/how-to-recognize-the-24-behaviors-indicating-pain-in-the-ridden-horse-dr-sue-dyson/


Press release provided by Caroline@equitopiacenter.com

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