Saddlery and Clothing
Latest Research on Assessing Pain in the Ridden Horse
January 2019
The latest work on pain-associated behaviour in ridden horses, from two illuminating studies, was presented by Dr Sue Dyson at the Saddle Research Trust Conference on 8 December 2018. While one paper showed how heavier riders and unsuitable saddles can cause back muscle tension and pain in the horse, another disclosed that the ability to spot initial signs of musculoskeletal pain is now within the grasp of both trained and untrained assessors. Together the studies give the equestrian world better knowledge and tools to enhance the welfare and performance of ridden horses.

