As an equestrian coach you face a number of challenges you may not even be aware of:

1. Research has shown that riding school horses have higher ridden horse pain ethogram(RHPE) scores than general purpose horses. This means that coaches who spent their formative years in riding schools (that includes colleges and equestrian centres) have been exposed to horses working whilst experiencing musculoskeletal pain and will likely (and unknowingly) been conditioned to the resulting behaviours. Indeed you may have been taught ‘strategies’, ‘techniques’ or ways to ‘resolve’ those behaviours. These behaviours become normalised. In fact they are not normal behaviours they are abnormal and indicate the presence of musculoskeletal pain.

2. The huge media interest in elite level competition might lead us to believe that the ‘problems’ associated with horses and sport are mainly found at the top end. However, there is strong evidence that if you compare horses competing at  5* 3DE or World Cup level GP dressage with horses competing at the lower levels (where, let’s face it, most of us coach), elite horses have lower ridden horse pain ethogram scores and a lower incidence of lameness. (I am not saying there aren’t problems at the elite level there are).

   
   

3. At the lower levels research has found much higher RHPE scores and a much higher prevalence of overt lameness. Compared to the elite levels, ‘behavioural’ problems are more likely to be identified in the lower levels and more likely to be considered a training or rider skill problem. And yet research has shown that >50% of the sports horse and leisure horse population in normal work and considered to be OK are in fact lame

   
   

4. There is a lot of behaviour attributed to the presence (or suspected presence) of gastric ulcers. What is the biggest risk factor for gastric ulceration according to the research? You guessed it - the presence of musculoskeletal pain.

   
   

5. Rider skill can influence the way in which a horse moves in terms of the quality of paces but a good rider cannot conceal behavioural signs of discomfort. Many experienced  riders can be very skilful at producing horses but not have a good feel for lameness. Many lower level / less skilled riders may have a better feel for lameness than upper level riders. What this means is that we, as coaches, shouldn’t discount a rider who believes their horse is ‘not right’ just because they are less skilful and the horse goes differently (apparently ‘better’) when ridden by a more skilled rider. If we use the RHPE for an objective assessment we are likely to see the same behavioural indicators that the horse is experiencing pain / discomfort.

   
   

When you take away lameness the horse becomes much easier to ride, more co-operative and the rider ends up doing less and appears less busy with their seat, legs, hands and aids.