Human direct actions may alter animal welfare, a study on horses (Equus caballus).
Abstract: Back pain is the cause of bad welfare in humans and animals. Although vertebral problems are regularly reported on riding horses, these problems are not always identified nor noticed enough to prevent these horses to be used for work. Results: Nineteen horses from two riding centres were submitted to chiropractic examinations performed by an experienced chiropractor and both horses' and riders' postures were observed during a riding lesson. The results show that 74% of horses were severely affected by vertebral problems, while only 26% were mildly or not affected. The degree of vertebral problems identified at rest was statistically correlated with horses' attitudes at work (neck height and curve), and horses' attitudes at work were clearly correlated with riders' positions. Clear differences appeared between schools concerning both riders' and horses' postures, and the analysis of the teachers' speech content and duration highlighted differences in the attention devoted to the riders' position. Conclusions: These findings are to our knowledge the first to underline the impact of riding on horses' back problems and the importance of teaching proper balance to beginner riders in order to increase animals' welfare.
Publication Date: PubMed ID: 20442766
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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.
The article investigates how human actions during riding can impact the health of horses, specifically their spinal health. The study finds significant correlation between riding postures and horses’ back problems, stressing the importance of proper riding techniques for the welfare of the animal.
Study Approach
The researchers conducted chiropractic examinations on nineteen horses from two riding centres. The horses’ posture and the riding techniques of their riders were observed during a lesson. The study was designed to understand the relationship between riding postures, vertebral problems in horses, and the methods of training imparted to the riders at the riding centres.
Key Findings
- The study found that a majority of the horses (74%) suffered from severe vertebral problems.
- Only 26% of the horses were mildly affected or unaffected.
- The severity of the vertebral problems identified in horses at rest was statistically correlated with their posture at work (how they held their neck height and curve).
- The horses’ work postures were also found to be influenced by the riding posture of their riders. In essence, the riders’ positions significantly impacted the horses’ back health.
- There were noticeable disparities between the two riding schools with regard to the posture of the riders and the horses, and the attention devoted to teaching correct riding posture.
Conclusions
The findings of this research are important as they are among the first to highlight the impact of horse riding on equine back health. They underscore the significance of teaching appropriate riding balance to beginners, which becomes crucial for the welfare of the horses. The study concludes by pressing the need for more attention on riders’ training methods to mitigate the risk of spinal problems in horses due to improper riding techniques.
Cite This Article
APA
().
Human direct actions may alter animal welfare, a study on horses (Equus caballus).
.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
Citations
This article has been cited 29 times.- d'Ingeo S, Siniscalchi M, Quaranta A, Cousillas H, Hausberger M. Chronic State and Relationship to Humans Influence How Horses Decode Emotions in Human Voices: A Brain and Behavior Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 5;15(21).
- Patricio CR, Winter GHZ, Garbade P. Spinal articular dysfunction is common in athletic horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1357-1362.
- Grandgeorge M, Lerch N, Delarue A, Hausberger M. From Human Perception of Good Practices to Horse (Equus Caballus) Welfare: Example of Equine-Assisted Activities. Animals (Basel) 2024 Sep 2;14(17).
- Luke KL, Rawluk A, McAdie T, Smith BP, Warren-Smith AK. How equestrians conceptualise horse welfare: Does it facilitate or hinder change?. Anim Welf 2023;32:e59.
- Rochais C, Lerch N, Gueguen L, Schmidlin M, Bonamy O, Grandgeorge M, Hausberger M. Horses' Tactile Reactivity Differs According to the Type of Work: The Example of Equine-Assisted Intervention. Vet Sci 2023 Feb 7;10(2).
- Rochais C, Stomp M, Sébilleau M, Houdebine M, Henry S, Hausberger M. Horses' attentional characteristics differ according to the type of work. PLoS One 2022;17(7):e0269974.
- Lerch N, Cirulli F, Rochais C, Lesimple C, Guilbaud E, Contalbrigo L, Borgi M, Grandgeorge M, Hausberger M. Interest in Humans: Comparisons between Riding School Lesson Equids and Assisted-Intervention Equids. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 28;11(9).
- Hausberger M, Lesimple C, Henry S. Detecting Welfare in a Non-Verbal Species: Social/Cultural Biases and Difficulties in Horse Welfare Assessment. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jul 30;11(8).
- Gichure M, Onono J, Wahome R, Gathura P. Assessment of Phenotypic Characteristics and Work Suitability for Working Donkeys in the Central Highlands in Kenya. Vet Med Int 2020;2020:8816983.
- Lesimple C. Indicators of Horse Welfare: State-of-the-Art. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 13;10(2).
- Contreras-Aguilar MD, Henry S, Coste C, Tecles F, Escribano D, Cerón JJ, Hausberger M. Changes in Saliva Analytes Correlate with Horses' Behavioural Reactions to An Acute Stressor: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2019 Nov 18;9(11).
- d'Ingeo S, Quaranta A, Siniscalchi M, Stomp M, Coste C, Bagnard C, Hausberger M, Cousillas H. Horses associate individual human voices with the valence of past interactions: a behavioural and electrophysiological study. Sci Rep 2019 Aug 9;9(1):11568.
- Sénèque E, Lesimple C, Morisset S, Hausberger M. Could posture reflect welfare state? A study using geometric morphometrics in riding school horses. PLoS One 2019;14(2):e0211852.
- Sénèque E, Morisset S, Lesimple C, Hausberger M. Testing optimal methods to compare horse postures using geometric morphometrics. PLoS One 2018;13(10):e0204208.
- Stomp M, Leroux M, Cellier M, Henry S, Hausberger M, Lemasson A. Snort acoustic structure codes for positive emotions in horses. Naturwissenschaften 2018 Sep 12;105(9-10):57.
- Stomp M, Leroux M, Cellier M, Henry S, Lemasson A, Hausberger M. An unexpected acoustic indicator of positive emotions in horses. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0197898.
- Pawluski J, Jego P, Henry S, Bruchet A, Palme R, Coste C, Hausberger M. Low plasma cortisol and fecal cortisol metabolite measures as indicators of compromised welfare in domestic horses (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2017;12(9):e0182257.
- Henry S, Fureix C, Rowberry R, Bateson M, Hausberger M. Do horses with poor welfare show 'pessimistic' cognitive biases?. Naturwissenschaften 2017 Feb;104(1-2):8.
- Górecka-Bruzda A, Fureix C, Ouvrard A, Bourjade M, Hausberger M. Investigating determinants of yawning in the domestic (Equus caballus) and Przewalski (Equus ferus przewalskii) horses. Naturwissenschaften 2016 Oct;103(9-10):72.
- Horseman SV, Buller H, Mullan S, Whay HR. Current Welfare Problems Facing Horses in Great Britain as Identified by Equine Stakeholders. PLoS One 2016;11(8):e0160269.
- Kienapfel K, Link Y, König V Borstel U. Prevalence of different head-neck positions in horses shown at dressage competitions and their relation to conflict behaviour and performance marks. PLoS One 2014;9(8):e103140.
- König von Borstel U, Glißman C. Alternatives to conventional evaluation of rideability in horse performance tests: suitability of rein tension and behavioural parameters. PLoS One 2014;9(1):e87285.
- Lesimple C, Fureix C, Biquand V, Hausberger M. Comparison of clinical examinations of back disorders and humans' evaluation of back pain in riding school horses. BMC Vet Res 2013 Oct 15;9:209.
- Fureix C, Benhajali H, Henry S, Bruchet A, Prunier A, Ezzaouia M, Coste C, Hausberger M, Palme R, Jego P. Plasma cortisol and faecal cortisol metabolites concentrations in stereotypic and non-stereotypic horses: do stereotypic horses cope better with poor environmental conditions?. BMC Vet Res 2013 Jan 7;9:3.
- Lesimple C, Fureix C, De Margerie E, Sénèque E, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Towards a postural indicator of back pain in horses (Equus caballus). PLoS One 2012;7(9):e44604.
- Hausberger M, Fureix C, Bourjade M, Wessel-Robert S, Richard-Yris MA. On the significance of adult play: what does social play tell us about adult horse welfare?. Naturwissenschaften 2012 Apr;99(4):291-302.
- Fureix C, Hausberger M, Seneque E, Morisset S, Baylac M, Cornette R, Biquand V, Deleporte P. Geometric morphometrics as a tool for improving the comparative study of behavioural postures. Naturwissenschaften 2011 Jul;98(7):583-92.
- Fureix C, Menguy H, Hausberger M. Partners with bad temper: reject or cure? A study of chronic pain and aggression in horses. PLoS One 2010 Aug 26;5(8):e12434.
- Egenvall A, Lönnell C, Johnston C, Roepstorff L. Orthopaedic health status of horses from 8 riding schools--a pilot study. Acta Vet Scand 2010 Aug 20;52(1):50.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
