Can you recognise pain-related behaviours in horses – before they escalate?

Many owners, riders, and professionals can identify a clear lameness, yet research shows the subtler signs of pain and discomfort are often missed. Horses naturally mask pain, so painful conditions frequently appear as behaviour problems – tension, reluctance, reactivity – that get misinterpreted as naughtiness, disobedience, or a training issue. Misreading these signals delays appropriate care, risks inappropriate handling, and can compromise welfare, performance, and safety.

In this webinar, equine behaviourist Justine Harrison translates current research into practical observation skills so you can identify the less obvious behavioural signs of pain. You’ll learn why behavioural change is often the earliest indicator of an underlying health problem, how context and individual differences matter, and what to watch for at rest, in-hand, and under saddle. Justine shares a welfare-centred approach to assessing pain, with practical tips that support prompt treatment, safer handling, reduced costs, and – most importantly – a healthier horse. You’ll leave more confident at recognising the early, subtle signs of pain, so you can intervene sooner – reducing the risk that short-term discomfort becomes a more complex, long-term issue.

Webinar content includes:

• What pain is and how it can alter behaviour, posture, and performance

• Individual response to pain

• Key behavioural indicators of pain at rest and in-hand – including ‘subtle' signs

• The latest research into pain expression in horses and the use of pain ethograms

• How to recognise pain in the ridden horse: e.g. changes in performance and conflict behaviours

• The behavioural signs of gastrointestinal discomfort

• How to recognise indicators of dental pain