Companion Animals

Horse Pain Recognition Welfare

Pain recognition in horses requires knowledge of subtle behavioural indicators, as horses frequently mask pain due to their evolutionary status as prey animals, leading to undertreatment.

Key Facts

The Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) provides validated facial action coding for equine pain
Subtle signs including gaze, ear position, and facial muscle tension indicate pain in horses
Horses often appear stoic while in significant pain due to prey animal behaviour
Lameness is often the primary clinical sign of musculoskeletal pain in horses
Behavioural changes under saddle including resistance and spooking may indicate pain

Welfare Considerations

Equine pain is systematically underrecognised due to stoic behaviour. Training owners and handlers in validated pain assessment tools transforms pain detection and treatment rates.

What You Can Do

Learn to use the Horse Grimace Scale for pain assessment in horses
Investigate pain causes before attributing behavioural problems to training issues
Ask your vet to use validated pain scales when assessing horses
Support equine pain recognition training in veterinary and equestrian education