The influence of rider skill on ridden horse behaviour, assessed using the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, and gait quality

Abstract

Background: The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed to facilitate identification of musculoskeletal pain. Objectives: To determine the influence of rider skill on ridden horse performance and behaviour, the latter using the RHpE. It was hypothesised that gait quality at trot and canter would improve with a more skilled rider compared with a less skilled rider, but the RHpE scores would be similar. Study design: Repeated measures investigation. Methods: Forty horses, in regular work and presumed by their riders to be nonlame, were ridden by their normal rider (N) and a skilled professional rider (P), performing a dressagetype test over 8.5 min. Twenty horses were ridden first by rider P, and 20 were ridden first by rider N. The presence of lameness or gait abnormalities in canter was recorded. Standardised video recordings were acquired. All videos were anonymised and presented in random order to the assessors. Rider skill and horse gait quality were graded (F ed eration Equestre Internationale scale, 1-10), and the RHpE was applied to each horse using the video recordings. Results: Rider P had a higher median skill score (6/10) compared with the N riders (4.5/10) (P<0.001). There was a correlation between rider skill scores and gait quality scores (P<0.001). The presence of lameness or gait abnormalities in canter, when ridden by riders N and P, varied among horses. The median RHpE score for all horses was 9/24 (range 3-14). There was no difference in mean or median RHpE scores between the N riders and rider P. There was some variance in the frequency of occurrence of specific behaviours between the N riders and rider P. Main limitations: The identity of rider P could not be concealed. Conclusions: There was no direct relationship between rider skill level and the RHpE score, but riders did alter the manifestations of some behaviours.• Although a skilled rider may improve the gait quality of a horse and reduce the degree of lameness, the RHpE score may not improve, although the manifestations of different behaviours may change.

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

“…Removal of pain by diagnostic anaesthesia results in significant reductions in RHpE scores [2,3], indicating a causal relationship between behaviour and pain. Rider skill did not alter RHpE scores, although different behaviours may be manifest when a horse is ridden by two riders of varying skill [7].…”

“…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].…”

Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses

“…However, when gait abnormalities are abolished by local anaesthesia, the rider then appears to be both more in harmony with the horse and considerably more proficient. Moreover, 40 of the horses in the current study were part of a related study in which all horses were ridden by the normal rider and a professional rider [28]. The professional rider's skill score ranged from 3.5 to 7/10 (median 6), being strongly influenced by the presence (low rider skill score) or absence (high rider skill score) of lameness [28].…”

Das Schmerz-Ethogramm des gerittenen Pferdes

“…Es gab eine signifikant positive Korrelation zwischen den Dressurstrafpunkten und dem RHpE-Score. Pferde mit einem RHpE-Score ≥ 7 hatten im Vergleich zu Pferden mit einem RHpE-Score < 7 eine signifi-Abb 12. Dieses Morgan-Horse wird im Galopp unkoordiniert.…”