An investigation into the relationship between equine behaviour when tacked‐up and mounted and epaxial muscle hypertonicity or pain, girth region hypersensitivity, saddle‐fit, rider position and balance, and lameness

Abstract

Summary Background Reasons for abnormal behaviour during tacking‐up and mounting are poorly documented. Objectives To relate behavioural abnormalities during tacking‐up or mounting to epaxial muscle hypertonicity or pain, girth region hypersensitivity, ill‐fitting tack, rider position and balance, or equine musculoskeletal pain. Study design Prospective observational study; convenience sample of 193 horses. Methods The behaviour of horses in a stable or tied up was observed for ≥8 min before systematic palpation of the thoracolumbosacral and girth regions. Owners were asked to tack‐up and mount using their normal regime. A purpose‐designed protocol for assessment of behaviour during tacking‐up and mounting was applied. Lameness was evaluated in‐hand and during ridden exercise. Static and dynamic saddle‐fit were assessed. A static saddle‐fit score was the sum of any saddle‐fit abnormality. Rider position in the saddle, balance and size relative to the saddle were evaluated during ridden exercise. Multivariable negative binomial regression modelling was used to assess the relationship between the sum of tacking‐up and mounting behaviours and horse, rider and tack‐fit variables. Results Riding School horses comprised only 12% of the sample population, but had higher rates of abnormal behaviours during both tacking‐up (P<0.0001) and mounting (P = 0.007) compared with General Purpose horses. The rate of abnormal behaviour during tacking‐up for horses with moderate or severe lameness was 1.4 times higher (P = 0.02) than for nonlame horses. Horses with lameness in‐hand or ridden had 1.5 times higher rates of abnormal behaviour during mounting than nonlame horses. Tight tree points (P = 0.03) and epaxial muscle pain (P<0.001) were associated with higher behaviour scores during tacking‐up. Higher static saddle‐fit scores were associated with higher behaviour scores during mounting. Main limitations Oral examination was not performed. Conclusions The display of many behaviours during tacking‐up or mounting is likely to reflect lameness or tack‐associated discomfort. Owners must be better educated to recognise these behaviours.

Do owners recognise abnormal equine behaviour when tacking‐up and mounting? A comparison between responses to a questionnaire and real‐time observations

“…Nevertheless, it is obvious that owner education is required to improve recognition of normal and abnormal behaviours, which included stereotypical and aggressive behaviours. We have demonstrated previously that abnormalities of behaviour during tacking-up have a strong association with lameness, an ill-fitting saddle for the horse, or the rider sitting on the caudal one-third of the saddle (Dyson et al 2021b).…”

“…We have demonstrated previously that abnormalities of behaviour during tacking‐up have a strong association with lameness, an ill‐fitting saddle for the horse, or the rider sitting on the caudal one‐third of the saddle (Dyson et al . 2021b).…”

“…This suggests that they are recognising some of the behaviours, but are labelling them as normal. They are failing to consider the possibility that such behaviours may be abnormal, with a small number related to inadequate training, for example standing still during mounting, or the majority due to the anticipation of, or actual, underlying musculoskeletal pain, or other discomfort associated with tacking-up, mounting and riding (Dyson et al 2021b). Horse owners often attribute abnormal behaviour to reasons other than pain, such as ill will (Lesimple et al 2013;Lesimple 2020).…”

“…Horse owners often attribute abnormal behaviour to reasons other than pain, such as ill will (Lesimple et al 2013;Lesimple 2020). The reasons for the different behaviours exhibited during tacking-up and mounting (Dyson et al 2021a) and their potential causes (Dyson et al 2021b) are discussed elsewhere.…”

“…The association between behaviour during tacking-up and mounting and potential causes (e.g. increased epaxial muscle tension or pain, girth region sensitivity, tack fit, gait abnormalities and rider position and balance) is reported separately (Dyson et al 2021b). All participants received written feedback concerning the observations related to their horse and the overall study results.…”