VPN Plus+ ExclusiveTime to stop horsing around with equine pain managementJune 19, 2025 Many horses are described as grumpy, aggressive, unwilling, lazy, bad-tempered, or ill-mannered, but what if they are none of those things? Equine pain experts say unwanted behavior is often an attempt to communicate the animal is in pain. Failure by owners and veterinarians to recognize pain occurs for several reasons: the propensity of horses to conceal pain; a lack of training for veterinarians in evaluating poor performance or low-grade multi-limb lameness, especially in ridden horses; and denial by owners and trainers who may not want to admit that their horses are aging, injured, or unable to compete in a particular event. "I think one of the biggest challenges for us is equine medicine hasn't really come along as well as small animal medicine, dogs and cats, with regard to recognition of pain as a vital sign and something we should be treating," says Rachel Reed, DVM, DACVAA, associate professor at University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. "For horses, we're a little bit behind on thinking about managing their pain. It's often an afterthought to whatever they are presented for." Veterinary researchers are seeking improved methods and tools for recognizing and …
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