Commentary on Ladewig et al.: The uses, values, and limitations of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram

Berger, Jeannine; Bondi, A.; Dyson, Sue; Ellis, A. D.; Lindegaard, Claus; Martin, Claire; Mullard, Jessica; Pollard, Danica; Quiney, Laura; Routh, Jennifer; Thomson, Katy

doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2022.09.002

Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…There has been a tendency of those performing observational studies in ridden horses to attribute some aspects of behaviour to conflict behaviour, without consideration of underlying pain [ 44 , 45 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ]. Indeed, there is considerable cross-over between these behaviours and those that are often observed in ridden horses with musculoskeletal pain [ 7 , 10 ]. Differentiation between pain, rider errors and tack-related problems is not always straightforward [ 66 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is clear from studies performed in Denmark [ 1 ], Sweden [ 2 ], Switzerland [ 3 , 4 ], and the United Kingdom [ 5 , 6 ] that riders and trainers are poor at recognising lameness or pain-induced abnormalities of canter. Previous work has focused on the assessment of ridden horses’ behaviour to facilitate recognition of musculoskeletal pain [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. A Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed comprising 24 behaviours; the majority of the behaviours of the RHpE were greater than ten times more likely to be seen in a lame horse versus a non-lame horse [ 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determination of Equine Behaviour in Subjectively Non-Lame Ridden Sports Horses and Comparison with Lame Sports Horses Evaluated at Competitions

Dyson,

Pollard

2024

Animals

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The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed to facilitate the identification of musculoskeletal pain. The aim of the current study was to collate behavioural data using the RHpE from horses at competitions assumed by their owners and/or riders to be fit for competition. The objectives were to quantify the frequency of occurrence of behaviours in pain-free horses and those with lameness or abnormalities of canter and to determine any differences between disciplines and levels of competition. The RHpE was applied to 1358 horses competing in Grand Prix (GP) dressage (n = 211), 5* three-day events (TDE) (n = 137), or low-level one-day events (ODE) (n = 1010). The median RHpE score for all horses was 4 (interquartile range [IQR] 2, 5; range 0, 12) and the median lameness grade was 0 (IQR 0, 1; range 0, 4). The Kruskal–Wallis test, followed by Dunn’s test for pairwise comparisons, found a difference in median RHpE scores between low-level ODE and GP dressage (p = 0.001), but not between 5* TDE and low-level ODE (p = 0.09) or between GP dressage and 5* TDE (p = 1.00). The median RHpE score was highest for low-level ODE. The Chi-square/Fisher’s exact test identified a significant difference in prevalence of most of the 24 behaviours of the RHpE in non-lame compared with lame horses. Recognition of the behaviours of non-lame horses may improve equine welfare and performance, and rider comfort, confidence, and safety.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of Equine Behaviour in Subjectively Non-Lame Ridden Sports Horses and Comparison with Lame Sports Horses Evaluated at Competitions

Dyson,

Pollard

2024

Animals

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“…The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed to facilitate the recognition of pain in ridden horses and comprises 24 behaviours, the majority of which are at least 10 times more likely to be seen in a horse with musculoskeletal pain than in a nonlame horse [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. An RHpE score of ≥8/24 reflects the likely presence of musculoskeletal pain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to 150 Horses with Musculoskeletal Pain before and after Diagnostic Anaesthesia

Dyson¹,

Pollard²

2023

Animals

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The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed to facilitate the recognition of musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to document changes in RHpE scores before and after diagnostic anaesthesia was performed to alleviate pain ± when the saddle was changed. One hundred and fifty horses underwent ridden exercise as part of an investigation of poor performance. The RHpE was applied before and after the interventions. Fifty-two (34.7%) horses exhibited a bilaterally symmetrical short step length and/or restricted hindlimb impulsion and engagement. Fifty-three (35.3%) horses had episodic lameness; only forty-five (30.0%) horses were continuously lame. The median maximum lameness grade when ridden was 2/8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0–3; range: 0–4). Fifty-six (37.3%) horses had an ill-fitting saddle, which was considered likely to influence performance. The median RHpE scores after the interventions (2/24 [IQR: 1–3, range: 0–12]) were significantly lower than before the interventions (9/24 [IQR: 8–11, range: 2–15]) (Wilcoxon signed-rank z = 10.6, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between the RHpE score and maximum lameness grade before diagnostic anaesthesia (Spearman’s rho = 0.09, p = 0.262). It was concluded that the absence of overt lameness does not preclude primary musculoskeletal pain. Gait quality and performance can be improved by diagnostic anaesthesia, with substantial reductions in RHpE scores.

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Aiding common sense with data

Overall

2022

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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Commentary on Ladewig et al.: The uses, values, and limitations of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram

Cited by 3 publications

References 31 publications

Determination of Equine Behaviour in Subjectively Non-Lame Ridden Sports Horses and Comparison with Lame Sports Horses Evaluated at Competitions

Determination of Equine Behaviour in Subjectively Non-Lame Ridden Sports Horses and Comparison with Lame Sports Horses Evaluated at Competitions

Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to 150 Horses with Musculoskeletal Pain before and after Diagnostic Anaesthesia

Aiding common sense with data

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