Unravel Equine Health & Performance - a conversation with Sue Dyson

Sue Dyson is a renowned veterinarian and researcher specializing in equine orthopaedics and welfare. She is particularly well known for her work in the field of equine lameness diagnostics. Her research has shown that many behavioral problems in horses are often due to physical pain that is difficult to identify. She developed the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), a systematic scoring system that identifies 24 specific behavioral traits that may indicate pain in ridden horses. This tool helps to detect pain at an early stage that might otherwise be overlooked. The characteristics include, for example, teeth grinding, frequent tail slapping and asymmetrical movements. In her studies, she has shown that horses that show pain signals are more likely to exhibit behavioral problems such as bucking, mounting or refusing to jump. By understanding this connection, she promotes an approach that interprets horse behavior from the perspective of their physical health.