Pidge
Well-Known Member
Someone said that to me yesterday that horses are in pain every time we ride them so I will be interested to see the responses to this as I don't know the answer.
Are horses in pain every time we ride them?
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MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
Well I can't pretend to be able to answer this with fact, but knowing how my daughters pony reacts to any sign of pain, I think its highly unlikely she is in pain when being ridden, or nobody would stay on her back for more than 5 minutes!
RachelB
Well-Known Member
I doubt many people can say that they personally aren't in small amounts of pain every day from one thing or another - it's life, we deal with it and so should horses to an extent. The problem is really telling whether the horse is in pain or not and whether they can or should cope with it!
TGM
Well-Known Member
I'm sure some horses are - whether it is because of badly-fitting saddles and bad riding, or because of something wrong within the horse itself, like low-level foot pain, arthritis, bad back etc. But I think it is a sweeping generalisation to say that all ridden horses are.
jumpthemoon
Well-Known Member
Probably a lot of horses are, sadly. Only due to ill fitting tack or untreated back soreness/injury or other things that can be treated. A fit and well horse would not be 'in pain' due to being ridden. They are usually quick enough to tell us if something is wrong ad providing we listen to the signals and help them there shouldn't be any reason for them to be 'suffering'.
Was the person who said it a tree/bunny hugger, by any chance?
Was the person who said it a tree/bunny hugger, by any chance?
kerilli
Well-Known Member
well, i flipping well know mine aren't, because i'm so fussy about myself being central and light, and about which numnah, saddle, girth, bridle, bit etc i use, and about their backs and teeth and saddles being as good as possible.
i've had very tricky sensitive horses in the past who told me exactly what they were feeling, and i know they were not in pain when ridden.
unfortunately i think a lot of horses probably are, and many are inured to it, especially because there are so many flippin cowboy dentists, back men, saddlers etc around... *goes off into megarant*
the ones that aren't inured to it, or who have a low pain threshold, are often the ones labelled "bad" because they have a repertoire of vile habits when ridden... and who can blame them.
i've had very tricky sensitive horses in the past who told me exactly what they were feeling, and i know they were not in pain when ridden.
unfortunately i think a lot of horses probably are, and many are inured to it, especially because there are so many flippin cowboy dentists, back men, saddlers etc around... *goes off into megarant*
the ones that aren't inured to it, or who have a low pain threshold, are often the ones labelled "bad" because they have a repertoire of vile habits when ridden... and who can blame them.
burtie
Well-Known Member
I would agree that we sometimes make them uncomfortable, when we push them or introduce new things, but that is not the same as pain. So no I don't think my horse is in pain when I ride him, nor is there any need for him to be.
Hullabaloo
Well-Known Member
My horse has just been through a long spell of treatment for a sore back (which the vet refused to believe he had) and a leg problem. Now he's coming back into work he feels like a different horse and is behaving so much better too. I now realise how uncomfortable he must have been before he had the treatment. I'm so glad I insisted on a referral from my vet but just wish I had done it sooner.
Pidge
Well-Known Member
mmm thanks for the replies guys
I did think it was a tad strange comment! no it wasn't a tree hugger either
I do agree though that those horses in pain are those with ill fitting tack, inconsiderate riders etc etc, but was sceptical about the comment itself! I'm sure our horses put up with a certain degree of pain if something is wrong, but then it is up to us to spot it and get it sorted out. Say running out of fences could be due to badly fitting tack, sore back etc etc? So when the horse does this we should put 2 and 2 together and get 5 and investigate.
Such a shame they can't talk isn't it
I do agree though that those horses in pain are those with ill fitting tack, inconsiderate riders etc etc, but was sceptical about the comment itself! I'm sure our horses put up with a certain degree of pain if something is wrong, but then it is up to us to spot it and get it sorted out. Say running out of fences could be due to badly fitting tack, sore back etc etc? So when the horse does this we should put 2 and 2 together and get 5 and investigate.
Such a shame they can't talk isn't it