The Language of Pain

The horse cannot verbalize his pain. The only way he can convey himself is through body language. Yes, it is a silent form of communication but it is a powerful form nevertheless! Being able to interpret "The Horse's Language of Pain" is of utmost importance, especially if you expect him to work for you.

When we are able to accurately and effectively tune into our horses, the end result is going to reflect that! We simply cannot expect them to perform up to our expectations if we are subjecting them to a painful or unpleasant situation. Just as we wouldn't want to run a marathon in a pair of shoes that didn't fit, take a hike with an ill fitting pack, work out with a pulled hamstring, take a bike ride if our back was out of alignment - we cannot, fairly, expect our horses to give us their all when they are experiencing discomfort.

Just as every human reacts differently to pain, horses also have their own individual ways of expressing distress. Some may become sullen, withdrawn, or depressed and some may become angry, aggitated, or unpredictable. Then there are those stoic, work-horse types that will push through the pain and maintain their level of performance until they physcially break down. The latter type of horse requires the rider to be especially tuned in to any possible warning signs.

Most muscle injuries are cumulative,  meaning that muscle trauma can build weeks before a problem is noticed. Due to the fact that muscle disorders are not visible to the human eye, they often are missed entirely or allowed to progess into advanced stages, which prevents the horse from recovering to its fullest.

As we all know, nothing happens without a reason, and the cause of the problem is just as important as the problem itself.

Common Warning Signs

Is your horse trying to tell you something?

Look for changes in Expression:

Wrinkling of the nostrils

Narrowing of the eyelids

Rolling eyes

Flattening of ears

Grinding Teeth

Holding breath

Grunting

 Wind sucking after or during exercise

Attitude:

Flinching when being groomed

Lack of Concentration

Girth Sensitivity

Shying away from an approaching saddle or blanket

Any behavioral change

Posture:

Swaying the back when mounted

 Cold back

Atrophy

Does not prefer to stand square

Does not have an even weight bearing stance

Biomechanics:

Carrying the tail off to one side, clamping or swishing

Resisting extension

Off for no apparent reason

Difficulty bending through neck or back

Refusals

Head Tossing

Diving on front end

Counter bent

Rooting into the bit

Bucking

Inverted

False collection

To schedule an appointment, event or clinic, please contact Heidi Pichotta

Serious Therapy for Serious Results...

"Any muscle that is not working for the horse, is working against the horse - actively! "

Jack Meagher