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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(12); doi: 10.3390/ani13121940

Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to 150 Horses with Musculoskeletal Pain before and after Diagnostic Anaesthesia.

Abstract: The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed to facilitate the recognition of musculoskeletal pain. The aim of this study was to document changes in RHpE scores before and after diagnostic anaesthesia was performed to alleviate pain ± when the saddle was changed. One hundred and fifty horses underwent ridden exercise as part of an investigation of poor performance. The RHpE was applied before and after the interventions. Fifty-two (34.7%) horses exhibited a bilaterally symmetrical short step length and/or restricted hindlimb impulsion and engagement. Fifty-three (35.3%) horses had episodic lameness; only forty-five (30.0%) horses were continuously lame. The median maximum lameness grade when ridden was 2/8 (interquartile range [IQR]: 0-3; range: 0-4). Fifty-six (37.3%) horses had an ill-fitting saddle, which was considered likely to influence performance. The median RHpE scores after the interventions (2/24 [IQR: 1-3, range: 0-12]) were significantly lower than before the interventions (9/24 [IQR: 8-11, range: 2-15]) (Wilcoxon signed-rank z = 10.6, p < 0.001). There was no correlation between the RHpE score and maximum lameness grade before diagnostic anaesthesia (Spearman's rho = 0.09, p = 0.262). It was concluded that the absence of overt lameness does not preclude primary musculoskeletal pain. Gait quality and performance can be improved by diagnostic anaesthesia, with substantial reductions in RHpE scores.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-09 PubMed ID: 37370450PubMed Central: PMC10295347DOI: 10.3390/ani13121940Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article studied the application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a tool for recognizing pain in horses, particularly in cases of musculoskeletal pain. Examining the changes in the scores before and after diagnostic anaesthesia and saddle adjustment, the researchers found that pain management significantly reduced pain symptoms in horses, even in the cases where no overt lameness was observed.

Context and Purpose of the Study

  • The study aimed to analyze how RHpE scores changed before and after diagnostic anaesthesia, a technique used to relieve pain in horses. It also undertook interventions like saddle changes that may influence a horse’s performance.
  • The ultimate goal was to contribute to the better understanding and management of musculoskeletal pain in horses, thus improving their performance and wellbeing.

Research Methods

  • 150 horses were exposed to ridden exercise as part of an investigation into subpar performance. The RHpE was applied both before and after interventions like diagnostic anaesthesia and saddle adjustments.
  • The study characterized the horses’ issues based on several indicators, such as step length, engagement, episodes of lameness, continuous lameness, riding lameness grade, and effectiveness of saddle fitting.
  • Statistical methods were used to compare RHpE scores before and after the interventions, including methods for detecting changes in distributions (the Wilcoxon signed-rank z test) and to check for correlation between RHpE scores and lameness grade before diagnostic anaesthesia (Spearman’s rho).

Key Findings

  • Findings revealed that over a third of the horses had issues such as symmetrical short step length or restricted hindlimb impulsion and engagement, and a similar proportion had occasional lameness.
  • Moderate proportions of the horses were continuously lame or had ill-fitting saddles.
  • The intervention notably decreased the RHpE pain scores, indicating that diagnostic anaesthesia was successful in significantly alleviating the horses’ musculoskeletal pain.
  • No statistical correlation was found between the RHpE score and lameness grade before anaesthesia, suggesting that not all musculoskeletal pain is associated with visible lameness. This finding highlights that the absence of apparent lameness does not necessarily signify the absence of pain, indicating the importance of the RHpE in identifying musculoskeletal pain.

Implications of the Study

  • The study emphasized the importance of using tools like the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram in tandem with interventions like diagnostic anaesthesia to accurately recognize and manage musculoskeletal pain in horses.
  • The results suggest that symptoms other than obvious lameness may indicate musculoskeletal pain and should therefore be taken into account in equine care and performance evaluation.
  • Through successful reductions in RHpE scores, the study also underscores the effectiveness of interventions like diagnostic anaesthesia.

Cite This Article

APA
Dyson S, Pollard D. (2023). Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to 150 Horses with Musculoskeletal Pain before and after Diagnostic Anaesthesia. Animals (Basel), 13(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13121940

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 12

Researcher Affiliations

Dyson, Sue
  • The Cottage, Church Road, Market Weston, Diss IP22 2NX, UK.
Pollard, Danica
  • The Rodhams, Rodham Road, Christchurch, Wisbech PE14 9NU, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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