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As an equestrian, you have likely experienced the frustrating feeling of not knowing whether your horse is in pain. Perhaps the horse's behavior has changed, it struggles with a particular exercise, or it suddenly appears disobedient or withdrawn. Horses, for obvious reasons, cannot verbally tell us when they are in pain. Therefore, we must do everything we can to learn to interpret their language – their body language. The question is: How can we learn to identify when a horse is in pain, ensuring we do not ask more of them than they can handle? In this context, a horse's head offers many indicators of pain – we just need to learn to read them.
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Most equestrians fortunately know that ears are an excellent means of communication, one that we can learn to understand. There is cause for concern if the horse pins its ears back in response to people, equipment, or riding. Additionally, pay attention if the ear openings point slightly outward and downward, increasing the distance between the ears – unless the horse is dozing.
If you know your horse well, you can also check its eyes for signs of pain. When a horse is in pain, the muscles around its eyes tighten, giving the eyes a triangular appearance. Wrinkles will often form above the eyes. The gaze becomes tense and may even seem distant. The horse may avoid blinking or blink rapidly if it is experiencing acute stress or pain.
We typically recognize the muzzle as soft, round, and somewhat loose. If it suddenly becomes tight and angular, this may indicate the horse is tensing due to pain. Often, the horse will push its upper lip forward and tighten it. The tip of the muzzle may feel firm, making it clear the horse is not relaxed.
A horse's nostrils should normally be soft and elongated. If they appear more square-shaped and tense – particularly noticeable when the horse inhales – it is highly likely the horse is experiencing pain somewhere.
The muscles on the sides of the horse's face, particularly the jaw, will also tighten if the horse is in pain. This happens because the horse clenches its teeth.
Remember, the fact that signs of pain appear in the horse's head or face does not necessarily mean the pain originates there. Using the horse's head and facial expressions as indicators is helpful, but pain may be located elsewhere in the body. Once you identify signs of pain, it is always best to contact a veterinarian to examine the horse.
For more information, search for: pain face in horses.
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Sources
Langthesteliv.dk (Danish)
Causes of Back Pain in Horses, Equuus.com
Gleerup, Forkman et. Al. 2015: An Equine Pain Face, Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia.
