🧠 Vet Insight: Pain Indicators in Ridden Horses | 2025 Ridden Horse Ethogram & Behavioral Red Flags 🐴

By Dr Duncan Houston, BVSc

Is your horse being difficult—or is it in pain? It's one of the most important questions you can ask as a rider or trainer. Discomfort under saddle can look like “bad behavior,” but a growing body of research shows that many horses are simply **trying to tell us they hurt**. 🧠🐎

One of the most important tools for recognizing these pain signs is the **Ridden Horse Ethogram**, developed by equine veterinarian **Dr. Sue Dyson**. In this 2025 guide, I’ll explain what this ethogram is, what to watch for, and when to call your vet. 🧪📋

🔍 What Is an Ethogram?

An **ethogram** is a catalog of behaviors used to study animal behavior—especially under stress or pain. Dr. Dyson’s **Ridden Horse Ethogram** identifies **24 behaviors** that may signal pain in horses during exercise. 📑🐴

The ethogram is backed by research and has been validated using **nerve blocks**—numbing painful joints or muscles to see if behavior improves. This helped distinguish behaviors caused by discomfort from those caused by poor training or attitude. 🎓🔬

📊 The 24 Behavior Signs of Pain in Ridden Horses

Dr. Dyson’s research found that horses displaying **8 or more of these 24 behaviors** under saddle are **highly likely to be in pain**. 🎯

🧠 Facial Expressions:

• 👂 Ears rotated back for 5+ seconds
• 👁️ Eyes closed or semi-closed
• 👀 Sclera (whites of the eyes) visible
• 😠 Intense, fixed stare
• 👄 Mouth gaping or opening repeatedly
• 👅 Tongue exposed or moving in and out
• 🪢 Pulling the bit through the side of the mouth

📉 Head & Body Movements:

• 🔁 Repeated head position changes
• ↩️ Head tilt or lateral movement
• 🌀 Head tossing
• 🐎 Tail swishing repeatedly or clamped down

⚠️ Gait and Movement Abnormalities:

• 🎵 Irregular rhythm or inconsistent steps
• 🔁 Hind legs not tracking evenly with front
• ⛔ Wrong canter lead, gait changes, or breaking gait
• 😓 Toe dragging or stumbling
• 👻 Spooking or sudden reactions
• 🚫 Reluctance to go forward or slow transitions
• 🐉 Bucking, rearing, or resisting under saddle

Each sign alone might not mean much—but **8 or more at once is a red flag** that shouldn’t be ignored. 🚨

🎯 How the Ethogram Was Validated

To confirm the reliability of these pain indicators, Dr. Dyson tested the ethogram with **non-expert observers**. Horses with confirmed lameness were assessed **before and after nerve blocks** to numb the affected areas. ✅📉

Observers—after some basic training—were able to detect pain more accurately using the ethogram. This makes it a **valuable tool for riders, trainers, and vets alike**. 📊👁️

🧠 When Pain Looks Like Behavior

It’s easy to assume a horse is just being “naughty” when it bucks, refuses to go forward, or tosses its head. But in many cases, these are **coping behaviors for discomfort**. 🧠

Examples That Might Be Pain-Driven:

• 🐎 A horse that only picks up the right lead
• 🎯 One that chronically breaks gait during canter
• 🪢 A horse that constantly chews or fights the bit

Recognizing these subtle signs helps prevent **long-term joint or soft tissue damage** by catching injuries early. ⏱️💪

🩺 What to Do If You See 8+ Signs

If your horse is showing 8 or more signs from the ethogram—or even just seems “off”—it’s time to involve your vet. 🧠📞

What Your Vet Might Recommend:

• 📋 Full lameness exam
• 📸 Radiographs or ultrasound to assess joints, soft tissue, or spine
• 🧪 Nerve blocks to localize the pain
• 💊 Pain relief trial to observe behavioral change

Early intervention can mean faster healing and a return to comfortable performance. ✅🐴

📲 Use Ask A Vet to Evaluate Behavior

The Ask A Vet app lets you track ridden behaviors and get expert guidance when something doesn’t seem right:

• 📱 Upload ride videos for ethogram-based analysis
• 📊 Track behaviors and improvement over time
• 🩺 Ask about vet exams, nerve blocks, and pain treatment options
• 🔄 Monitor changes after interventions or rehab

It’s like having a pain detection expert in your pocket. 🐴📲

✅ Ethogram Takeaways for 2025

• 🧠 Many “behavioral” issues are actually signs of pain
• 📋 Dr. Sue Dyson’s 24-point ethogram helps detect pain under saddle
• 🎯 8 or more signs strongly suggest musculoskeletal discomfort
• 🩺 Involve your vet for proper diagnostics and treatment
• 📱 Use Ask A Vet to monitor signs and get expert feedback

📲 Final Thoughts from Dr Duncan Houston

Your horse might not limp, but that doesn’t mean it’s pain-free. Thanks to tools like the ridden horse ethogram, we’re better equipped to **listen to what horses are telling us through their behavior**. Don’t ignore the signs—**early action leads to better outcomes**. 🧠💙

Download the Ask A Vet app to evaluate ride footage, ask about lameness exams, and build a pain management plan tailored to your horse. 🐎📱