Gait abnormalities and ridden horse behaviour in a convenience sample of the United Kingdom ridden sports horse and leisure horse population
Authors: Dyson S., Routh J., Bondi A., Pollard D.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Education
Summary
# Editorial Summary This 2022 UK study examined gait, behavioural pain indicators, saddle fit and noseband use in 148 horses presented as sound by their owners, revealing a stark discrepancy: whilst 28.4% showed lameness in hand, 62.2% displayed lameness when ridden—a clinically significant finding suggesting that ridden assessment is essential for identifying locomotor dysfunction that may be masked during in-hand evaluation. Using the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) alongside video analysis and subjective assessments of saddle fit and rider position, the researchers identified multiple factors associated with higher pain-related behavioural scores, including lameness itself, canter gait abnormalities (present in 60% of the sample), tight saddle tree points, riders positioned towards the cantle rather than the middle of the saddle, and use of crank cavesson nosebands compared with standard cavessons. Notably, the study found no relationship between noseband type and mouth opening restriction during ridden work, challenging assumptions about crank nosebands' mechanical effects in this population. For equine professionals, these findings underscore the importance of ridden gait assessment in lameness diagnosis, highlight saddle fit and rider position as modifiable risk factors for pain behaviours, and suggest that behavioural indicators should inform management decisions—particularly given that horses believed sound by their owners frequently demonstrated evidence of musculoskeletal discomfort under saddle.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Always assess ridden horses for lameness and gait abnormalities, as nearly 2/3 showed problems only when ridden—in-hand assessment alone will miss significant issues affecting performance and welfare
- •Check saddle tree point fit carefully and ensure riders sit in the middle of the saddle rather than towards the back; these factors directly correlate with horse pain and discomfort
- •Reconsider use of crank cavesson nosebands in favour of standard cavessons or no noseband, as they are associated with higher pain indicators independent of actual mouth opening restriction
Key Findings
- •62.2% of horses were lame when ridden compared to only 28.4% lame in hand (P<0.001), indicating that ridden assessment is essential for detecting lameness
- •60% of horses showed gait abnormalities in canter, suggesting this gait is commonly affected
- •Tight saddle tree points and riders seated at the back of the saddle were significantly associated with higher pain ethogram scores (P=0.001 for both)
- •Horses wearing crank cavesson nosebands had higher pain scores than those with cavesson nosebands (P=0.006), despite no difference in mouth opening restriction