Gait abnormalities and ridden horse behaviour in a convenience sample of the United Kingdom ridden sports horse and leisure horse population

Abstract

Summary The objectives of this study were to compare horses’ gaits in hand and when ridden; to assess static and dynamic saddle fit for each horse and rider; to apply the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) and relate the findings to gait abnormalities consistent with musculoskeletal pain, rider position and balance and saddle fit; and to document noseband use and its relationship with mouth opening during ridden exercise. Data were acquired prospectively from a convenience sample of horses believed by their owners to be working comfortably. All assessments were subjective. Gait in hand and when ridden were evaluated independently, by two assessors, and compared using McNemar’s test. Static tack fit and noseband type were recorded. Movement of the saddle during ridden exercise, rider position, balance and size relative to the saddle was documented. RHpE scores were based on assessment of video recordings. Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was used to determine factors which influenced the RHpE scores. Of 148 horses, 28.4% were lame in hand, whereas 62.2% were lame ridden (P<0.001). Sixty per cent of horses showed gait abnormalities in canter. The median RHpE score was 8/24 (interquartile range 5, 9; range 0, 15). There was a positive association between lameness and the RHpE score (P<0.001). Riding School horses had higher RHpE scores compared with General Purpose horses (P = 0.001). Saddles with tight tree points (P = 0.001) and riders seated at the back of the saddle rather than the middle (P = 0.001) were associated with higher RHpE scores. Horses wearing crank cavesson compared with cavesson nosebands had higher RHpE scores (P = 0.006). There was no difference in mouth opening, as defined by the RHpE, in horses with a noseband with the potential to restrict mouth opening, compared with a correctly fitted cavesson noseband, or no noseband. It was concluded that lameness or gait abnormalities in canter may be missed unless horses are assessed ridden.

Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to Elite Dressage Horses Competing in World Cup Grand Prix Competitions

“…As hypothesised the median RHpE score was low, consistent with the absence of many of the signs associated with musculoskeletal pain in the majority of horses, and a relatively narrow spectrum of behaviours was observed compared with lame horses [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. The most frequently observed behaviours were the front of the head being behind a vertical position >10° for ≥10 s, mouth opening with separation of the teeth for ≥10 s, an intense stare for ≥5 s and repeated tail swishing, similar to the most common behaviours observed in elite event horses during the warm-up for the dressage phase at 5* three-day events [ 9 ].…”

“…A Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) comprising 24 behaviours, the majority of which are at least 10 times more likely to be seen in lame versus non-lame horses, has previously been developed [ 1 ]. It has been shown that a RHpE score ≥8 is likely to reflect the presence of musculoskeletal pain [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Removal of pain by diagnostic anaesthesia results in significant reductions in RHpE scores [ 2 , 3 ], indicating a causal relationship between behaviour and pain.…”

“…In contrast, in a study of a convenience sample of 148 sports and leisure horses in the UK, believed by their owners (both amateur and professional riders) to be working comfortably, 62% were lame when ridden, and 60% of horses showed gait abnormalities in canter [ 5 ]. The median RHpE score was 8/24 (interquartile range [IQR] 5, 9; range 0, 15).…”

“…Overall, gait and RHpE data from 491 horses have been assessed and documented. These comprised non-lame horses, lame horses, and lame horses before and after diagnostic anaesthesia had been used to abolish pain causing lameness or abnormalities of canter [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. These data provide strong evidence that a RHpE score of ≥8/24 is likely to reflect the presence of musculoskeletal pain, although some lame horses score <8/24.…”

“…These data provide strong evidence that a RHpE score of ≥8/24 is likely to reflect the presence of musculoskeletal pain, although some lame horses score <8/24. The results of application of the RHpE by 23 assessors have been documented, including skilled assessors [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ], equine veterinarians after preliminary training [ 4 ], an equine physiotherapist after on-line training and additional repeatability assessment [ 7 ], and non-trained assessors from a variety of equine-related professions [ 3 ]. When the RHpE was applied to 20 horses by 10 veterinarians and one expert assessor, there was excellent consistency in overall agreement for total scores among raters (Intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.97, p < 0.001, Confidence Intervals (CI) 0.95, 0.99), and, for exact agreement between individual observers, there was good to moderate agreement (ICC 0.7, p < 0.001, CI 0.56, 0.84) [ 4 ].…”