Recognizing the Difference Between Fatigue, Poor Conditioning, and Pain in Horses
Figuring out why your horse has slowed down can be challenging. Fatigue, pain, and poor conditioning may have similar signs, yet have very different causes. Recognizing the differences between the three will help you protect your horse's health.
Signs of Fatigue
Fatigue is usually temporary and occurs after vigorous or prolonged exercise. Fatigue may start gradually and become more obvious the longer your horse exerts itself. Horses that are fatigued may show these signs:
- Increased Sweating
- Heavy Breathing That May Take a While to Return to Normal
- Coordination Issues, Including Dragging the Toes or Stumbling
- Difficulty Performing Certain Movements, Such as Jumping Over an Obstacle
- Lack of Focus or Motivation As Fatigue Sets In
Forcing a fatigued horse to continue exercising despite showing these signs can increase the risk of injury. Tired muscles may struggle to stabilize joints, which can cause tendon or ligament injuries.
Providing water before and during exercise and avoiding large meals an hour or two before exercise may decrease fatigue. The Merck Manual also suggests fat supplementation during prolonged exercise, as supplementation helps your horse's body use fat, rather than glucose (sugar), for energy.
If your horse still shows signs of fatigue after resting a day or two, give our office a call. Prolonged fatigue may sometimes be related to or caused by a disease or health condition, such as Cushing's disease, osteoarthritis, Addison's disease, heart issues, kidney disease, or respiratory disease.
Poor Conditioning Signs
Performance can suffer if your horse's fitness level doesn't match the level of effort required to exercise. Unlike fatigue, which happens after your horse has been exercising for a while, poor conditioning signs are often obvious at the start of a ride or performance. Signs of poor conditioning include:
- Needing Frequent Breaks During Exercise
- Difficulty Maintaining a Steady Pace
- Heavy Breathing That Quickly Returns to Normal After Exercise Ends
- Becoming Easily Winded
- Heavy Sweating During Even Light Exercise
A slow, steady approach is the best way to improve conditioning issues. Gradually increase the length, intensity, and duration of exercise, and offer ample rest time between sessions. Scheduling regular training sessions is essential, as consistency is necessary to build strong muscles and help your horse's heart and lungs adapt to exercise.
Signs Your Horse May Be in Pain
Horses, like many prey animals, are good at hiding pain. Since prey animals are more likely to be attacked by other animals in the wild, hiding pain is a instinctive protective response. Unfortunately, this makes it difficult to tell if your horse is struggling.
Signs of pain may include:
- Gait Changes
- Unusual Posture
- Pointing a Foot
- Shifting Weight Between Feet
- Pinning Ears Back
- Swishing the Tail
- Partially or Completely Closing the Eyes
- Tense Chewing Muscles
- Head Tossing
- Drooling
- Strained or Dilated Nostrils
- Hesitation or Reluctance When Moving Forward
- Sweating When Not Exercising or Hot
- Tension Above the Eyes
- Reluctance to Being Ridden or Saddled
- Bucking, Kicking or Rearing
- Difficulty Getting Up After Lying Down
- Dropping Food from the Mouth
- Straining to Urinate or Defecate
- Restlessness
- Head Tilting
- Rolling on the Ground
- Kicking at or Looking at the Abdomen
- Trembling Head, Legs or Body
- Grunting
- Trouble Picking Up a Lead
- Personality Changes
Pain can have many causes, from a poorly fitting saddle to dental disease or colic. Older horses may suffer from osteoarthritis, the most common cause of lameness in horses, according to The Horse. If you suspect your horse is in pain, perform a brief examination and look for obvious causes, such as saddle sores, sharp points on teeth, and lumps or swollen areas.
If the problem isn't something that can easily be treated, or you suspect your horse is in pain but don't know why, schedule a visit with the veterinarian. Prompt treatment of pain and the conditions or injuries that cause it can help your horse return to good health much sooner.
Have you noticed any concerning changes in your horse? We'll perform a thorough examination to determine the cause and recommend treatments or strategies to improve your horse's conditioning or health. Contact our office to schedule a visit with the veterinarian.
Sources:
Dressage Today: Addressing Exercise Intolerance in Horses, 7/18/2024
https://dressagetoday.com/horse-care/addressing-exercise-intolerance-in-horses/
The Horse: Understanding, Recognizing, and Managing Pain in Horses
https://thehorse.com/features/understanding-recognizing-and-managing-pain-in-horses/
Equus: 6 Subtle Signs of Pain in Horses, 3/10/2023
https://equusmagazine.com/behavior/6-subtle-signs-of-pain-in-horses
Merck Manual: Fatigue and Exercise in Horses, 9/2024