Back pain is a common source of welfare compromise in ridden horses, often manifesting as behavioral issues rather than obvious lameness, requiring careful diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Back pain in ridden horses causes welfare compromise that is often misattributed to behavioral problems or rider error, delaying appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Horses with back pain that continue in work without pain management experience ongoing discomfort during every riding session. The high prevalence of back pain in horses undergoing behavioral assessment highlights the welfare importance of pain-first investigation approaches. Treatment that effectively manages back pain produces dramatic behavioral transformation in many horses, revealing the extent to which pain was driving previous behavior.