Do horses show pain signals?
Horses can read a lot of body language but can we read theirs?
Many horse owners can’t see the specific signals of a horse in pain. Are you a horse ‘whisperer’? I'm definitely not because horses can't speak. Do not give commands all the time and do not think what a horse should do. You have to look and observe a horse to know what’s on his mind.
Horses are beautiful animals whose survival depends on their ability to flee from predators. When a horse is weak, injured or not able to run, the predator will notice. That’s why horses hide their pain signals. On one hand, some signals are vague and hard to notice but, on the other hand, there are many behavioural signs such as lameness, lethargy or aggression that you cannot ignore. Some horse owners even think that aggression is always a form of bad behaviour and not a sign of pain. I believe it's important to know your horse. Instead of spending hours on which colour of blanket he should wear, sit back, relax and watch your horse! You have to know its normal behaviour so normal actions can be distinguished from abnormal actions.
Horses vary in their tolerance of pain. There are also racial differences, for example with the Friesian breed. These horses are unique and show almost no pain signals. Horses’ heart rate can change as a result of stress and pain. As a vet, it is important to keep in mind that sedation affects the heart rate. So, you have to check the pain signals before further examinations with sedation.
In order to limit the number of horses with chronic pain, the challenge is to know your horse so well that you can spot the mild pain signals from the start. So, take some time to observe your horse. It should be part of your daily routine. Only then you will be smarter than your vet. Because he doesn’t see the things you see every day.
