Can you recognise when a horse is in pain?

Research indicates that many horse owners, riders, and equine professionals often struggle to recognise pain and discomfort in horses. Pain is one of the most common causes of behavioural problems and pain-related behaviours are often misinterpreted or dismissed as ‘bad behaviour’.

If a horse has a major injury it is easy to see signs of discomfort immediately – most riders and owners can identify a limping horse. However, it is much harder to tell if a horse is experiencing chronic, or low-level pain.

Recognising when a horse is suffering is vital for their health, welfare and quality of life.

This instructor-led course will give you a practical understanding of equine pain. Veterinary behaviourist Roxane Kirton, equine behaviour consultant Justine Harrison and veterinary physiotherapist Holly Gallacher will look at how to recognise and assess equine pain and discomfort from physiological and behavioural perspectives.

You will have access to 4 weeks of learning – including video lessons, group Zoom meetings for weekly live chat, discussion in a dedicated forum, real-life case studies and practical advice.

You will learn:

• What pain is and how it affects the horse

• The relationship between pain and behaviour

• The behavioural indicators of pain

• How to identify subtle signs of discomfort in the horse

• How to recognise pain in the ridden horse

• How to perform a clinical assessment

• How to identify forelimb and hindlimb lameness

• How to identify biomechanical dysfunction

• The biomechanics of engagement

• Case studies

This course is aimed at horse owners, students and equestrian professionals interested in learning about equine pain. You don't need any prior knowledge to take this course, it is open to everyone.

The course runs for 4 weeks.

All course material will be available for 30 days after the course has finished.