Equine Pain and Behaviour
A horse’s behaviour is often described in various ways and attributed to various causes, some factual and others, simply nonsensical. Let us look at how an ANME student will reflect on this information in our classes..
Leslie Williamson, Senior lecturer
As an Equine student or qualified EMT practitioner, understanding the physiology of muscle strain, injury and compensation allows you to also view the horse as a ‘whole’ when treating the horse with remedial or sports massage. We know the horse is quite co-operative by nature and that there are many reasons as to why there may be a lack of performance from horses being described as the following…
“Cold backed, exhibiting negative facial expression, showing mannerisms under work such as tail-swishing, head throwing at the trot or canter transition, refusal or difficulty to rein back,
show jumping refusal or hurdlers running off line on the track, out of character bucking, kicking out at leg aids, unwilling to work on the bit, uneven gaits and lameness to name a few.”
If we observe, assess and aid in eliminating the obvious external reasons for discomfort and the variables, of how this contributes to the dysfunction of the horse like; saddle fit, other gear related issues, shoeing, teeth, inconsistent training, overfeeding/under feeding, horse’s age, rider’s expectations exceeding horse’s ability, conformation shortcoming, inept warming up and cooling down procedures.
Our EMT students learn the fundamentals about equine back health, how to address and treat these issues appropriately. An important detail for horse owners to understand when obvious back pain is causing ill behaviour; is horses that have been carrying saddle fit pain, compensation and muscle wastage will highly benefit from remedial massage treatments. This also includes during the transition period from their old saddle to their new one. Soft tissue damage does not have the capacity to heal itself; a spasm within muscle fibres cannot miraculously ‘un-spasm’, and muscle wastage will not suddenly be plump and toned.
Instead, it requires careful attention and understanding of ‘how’ to stimulate the healing process of an area under great stress. This will aid in dissolving compensational issues within the musculo-skeletal system and promote a more positive proprioceptive response of muscle memory via nerve receptors within each muscle fibre. This of course, will promote freer movement and aid in the ability for the horse to step through and under the weight of the rider, with reduced ‘hollowing pain’ utilising hindquarter propulsion, activate abdominal contraction, lift through the back, and strengthen both, bottom-line and top-line muscles to carry the rider. Therefore, joint articulation and overall correct muscle development and posture also improve with time.
This is but one example of the thought process and critical thinking that can be applied to assessing pain and behaviour in horses. Regardless of these external issues being rectified instantly or over time, there is still a clear and essential need to address the underlying structures responsible for movement, stability and performance with the consideration and understanding that an EMT practitioner will provide you and your horse, to aid in the elimination of unnecessary pain, strain and compensation that continually inhibits your horse.
