Horses send us masses of information regarding how they are feeling every day, but sometimes these indicators can be subtle and are often missed or misinterpreted.
A horse’s face is a huge indicator of what they are feeling and it has been found that their expression changes when they are in pain.
In the diagram a). shows a neutral facial expression, whereas b). shows a horse in pain (1)
(Source: Gleerup et al., 2015)
The expression of a horse in pain can include:
· Ears appear ‘low’ or ‘asymmetrical’;
· An angular appearance above the eyes, with a withdrawn or tense stare;
· Dilated nostrils;
· Tension in the lips;
· Tension in the chin and facial muscles (1).
The signs of a relaxed or sleeping horse include closed or partially closed eyes, ears held back in a relaxed way, and loose lips (1).
When treating horses, it is important to notice these behaviours as an indicator of pain or relaxation. As well as the facial expression, licking and chewing may sometimes be observed following a treatment such as massage. The studies into this behaviour have concluded that when stressed, a horse’s mouth becomes dry, then the subsequent relaxation leads to salivation. The licking and chewing occurs as they transition into a more relaxed state (2).
There are some differences in how pain is shown in a ridden horse. These behaviours have been condensed into a ridden horse pain ethogram (3). This list consists of 24 different behaviours, including things such as rearing, bucking, and showing the whites of the eyes; but some of the more subtle signs include:
· Constant change in head position (tilting, twisting, tossing head);
· The bit being pulled through the mouth on one side repeatedly;
· The tail clamped tightly to the middle, held to one side, or swishing (3).
It was thought that when several of the listed behaviours were shown, it was a potential indicator of pain and discomfort (3).
Reducing any pain and maximising the welfare is one of the fundamental aspects of horse management. Maximising the amount of turnout a horse has is one simple way to improve welfare (4). By increasing the amount of turnout a horse receives, the levels of the hormone oxytocin increases (4); oxytocin is the hormone associated with positive emotions (5).
If you have any questions, or would like to know more get in touch.
References
1. Gleerup KB, Forkman B, Lindegaard C and Anderson PH. 2015. An Equine Pain Face. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 42(1), pp.103-114.
2. Lie M. (2018). Equitation Science 150 years after Caprilli: Horse communication: what does non-nutritive chewing mean? Rome, 21-24 September 2018. Available at: https://www.equitationscience.com/14th-ises-conference-2018 Accessed (15/09/2023).
3. Dyson S. 2022. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram. Equine Veterinary Education, 34(7), pp.372-380.
4. Lesimple C, Reverchon-Billet L, Galloux P, Stomp M, Boichot L, Coste C, Henry S and Hausberger M. 2020. Free movement: a key for welfare improvement in sport horses? Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 225.
5. DiSimplicio M, Massey-Chase R, Cowen PJ, Harmer CJ. 2008. Oxytocin enhances processing of positive versus negative emotional information in healthy male volunteers. J. Psychopharmacol, 23 (2008), pp. 241-248.
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