Comprehensive assessment of musculoskeletal pain in riding horses under different housing systems

The article focuses on the effect of housing systems on the development of musculoskeletal pain in horses working under different conditions (competitions, rentals, equestrian sports and tourism). The relevance of the work is due to the insufficient attention paid to the assessment of pain in horses, especially under conditions of intensive workload and limited movement. The aim of the study is to assess the degree of pain in horses depending on the housing conditions using several scientifically grounded methods: the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE), the Horse Chronic Pain Scale (HCPS) and the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS). The study analyzed the data collected from two equestrian enterprises in Russia and one in Qatar. The research methods included observations and the use of ethological scales to assess the condition of horses both in motion and at rest. In particular, the differences in the pain condition of horses in different housing conditions were studied: at the CSKA Equestrian Complex (with limited time outdoors), at Suhail Sports Center (where horses had almost no access to paddocks), and at Itkaya Horse Base (where horses had the opportunity to move freely for long periods). The results showed that horses in restricted movement conditions had high levels of chronic pain and lameness, while horses with regular exercise and more freedom of movement had fewer signs of pain. The conclusion of the study emphasizes the importance of providing horses with quality exercise, which prevents the development of musculoskeletal pathologies and contributes to the animal welfare. The results confirm the need to apply comprehensive assessment methods to improve housing and training conditions for horses and to increase attention to their welfare in professional equestrian sports.

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