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The Official Blog of 24HorseBehaviors.org
Hosted by The Train with Trust Project
Q&A Recording: Empowering change in equine sport
“We have to be prepared to come together and say in a cohesive way, ‘We have been doing some things wrong, these are what we acknowledge as problems, and this is what we are going to do to try and improve.’” ~Dr. Sue Dyson
Q&A Recording: Pre-purchase Exams and the 24 Behaviors Checklist
"I’ve never acquired x-rays of any horse I’ve bought for myself, because I think the clinical examination is the most important thing." Dr. Sue Dyson
Q&A Recording: How to Select the Right Vet
“The number one thing for lameness diagnosis is to find the source of pain. In many instances there are no localizing external clues, and when there are no such clinical signs, then we need to use nerve blocks.” Dr Sue Dyson
Q&A Recording: Why Tacking up & Mounting Matters
“I was quite surprised by the frequency of abnormal behaviors during bridle placement. It was more than I had anticipated.” says Dr. Sue Dyson in a conversation with Jody Ambrose of the Train with Trust Project, in which they discuss Dr. Dyson’s research findings into horse behaviors during tacking up and mounting, and what they can tell us about a horse’s wellbeing.
Video Q&A: Rideability and Equine Orthopedic Health
Dr. Sue Dyson and Jody Ambrose of the Train with Trust Project discuss the ways in which “rideability” or “rider feel” give clues about a horse’s health and wellbeing.
Video Q&A: Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Learn how the horse’s lumbo-sacroiliac region functions, what kinds of issues cause pain in and around the area, and how to spot signs of trouble.
Considerations for Equine Injury Rehabilitation
“It is of paramount importance that you have confidence in the honesty, trustworthiness and competence of the facility and their staff.” Dr. Sue Dyson
Video Q&A: Rehabbing Equine Ligament Injuries
“We cannot shortcut the repair of ligament injuries, we have to give the horses sufficient time, and to try to put them back into work too early is false economy.” - Dr. Sue Dyson
Presentation: Differentiation between head tossing behavior & head shaking
In this 10-minute presentation, Dr. Dyson uses before and after video clips to explain important distinguishing details of head tossing behavior and head shaking in horses.
Video Q&A: Head Tossing, Head Shaking and other Irregularities
In this interview with Dr. Sue Dyson we discuss head tossing, head shaking, and other causes of irregular head position, as well as what can be done to address them.
Assessing your horse’s response to the use of pain-relieving medication (e.g. “bute” trial)
“It is important to be aware that improvement in performance and behaviour during medication and/or deterioration in performance after stopping medication are positive indicators of the presence of pain. However, a negative response to phenylbutazone does not preclude the presence of pain, because phenylbutazone is not effective in relieving all sources of pain.” Dr. Sue Dyson
Video Q&A: What Does a Happy Horse Look Like?
“A horse which is pain free should stand for grooming and tacking without fidgeting constantly. It shouldn’t be picking up limbs, it shouldn’t be swishing its tail, it shouldn’t be opening its mouth or threatening to bite, because all of those are not normal behaviors. Many horses who are normal will particularly enjoy being groomed in some specific areas, for example when you use a curry comb to effectively scratch the withers, which is where horses mutually groom each other.” Dr. Sue Dyson
Video Q&A: Gastric Ulcers in Horses
Dr. Sue Dyson sheds light on the important health concern of gastric ulcers in horses
“Girthiness”: Resources for greater understanding
“Girthy” behavior may have many causes. Learn more about this important behavioral indicator from great resources such as World Horse Welfare , Equus Magazine, and previous TWTP Q&A recordings.
Video Q&A: Bucking, Rearing and Unwillingness
Dr. Sue Dyson clarifies the various reasons a horse may buck or rear and common causes of general unwillingness under saddle, based on her extensive research involving thousands of horses.
Video Q&A: No Hoof, No Horse
In a conversation with the Train with Trust Project, Dr. Dyson answers the question, "What should a healthy hoof look like?" and discusses the current research on barefoot trimming vs. shoeing, how to look for a good farrier, the latest developments in boot/shoe technology, the crucial role of communication between vets and farriers, and more.
Video Q&A: The 24 Behaviors Film - Where Are They Now?
Jody Ambrose & Megan Phillips of the Train with Trust Project host a live discussion about the making of the sensational, award-winning film that started it all - The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain: Shifting the Paradigm of How We See Lameness.
Hear what the experience has been like for the cast and producers and how the film’s message is having a significant impact on the horse industry. Learn what happened to Galina when cameras stopped rolling, how she is responding to treatment and what she is doing now!
Impinging Spinous Processes, aka “Kissing Spines” – What You Should Know
Renowned equine orthopedic veterinarian Dr. Sue Dyson answers questions about impinging spinous processes (ISPs), commonly known as "Kissing Spines").
Dr. Dyson explains what we know about ISPs; how or if we should respond to such radiographic findings; and what a conservative care plan for kissing spines should look like.
Video Q&A: Social License to Ride - What It Is & Why It Matters
How do people outside the horse world feel about what we do, and why does it matter?
“Social license” refers to an unwritten agreement between the public and those who ride horses, that what we do is okay.
In order for riding to be socially acceptable, the majority of people need to agree that we make right and ethical decisions for horses. Maintaining this trust is important to the future of horse riding in its many forms.
In this conversation with Dr. Dyson, we examine current issues within this debate and discuss ways we can find common ground by looking at what the evidence tells us are the best practices to ensure the wellbeing of our equine partners.
Canter dysfunction & lumbosacroiliac joint region pain
“Management of lumbosacroiliac joint region pain includes local medication, manual therapy and groundwork to strengthen the supporting muscles, and appropriate modification of the training and management programme. This is often a long-term project rather than a ‘one-off’ treatment.” Dr. Sue Dyson