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Is My Horse in Pain?

Horses are often very good at hiding pain as they don't tend to scream or yelp. Read below to find out how your animal may present if they are feeling sore or discomfort!

Behavioural 

  • Grumpy

  • Not themselves (behavioural changes)

  • Aggressive e.g. kicking & biting

  • Not wanting to jump up

  • Avoid certain surfaces 

  • Naughty

  • Does not like being touched

  • Moves away when being tacked up

  • Moving away from being touched

  • Difficult to mount

  • Eye balling (whale eye) you

Movement

  • Stiff

  • Bunny hopping

  • Skipping 

  • Toe dragging

  • Not lifting the legs much off the ground

  • Refusing to move

  • Disunited

  • Bucking and or rearing

  • Lame (not able to weight-bear properly when moving)

Posture

  • Dipped back (lordosis)

  • Poor posture

  • Not able to stand square

  • Uneven muscle build

  • Leaning more to one side

  • Putting more weight into the front or back end

Ridden

  • Resisting the contact

  • Hollowing the back

  • Refusing to jump

  • Lack of hind-end propulsion 

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