“A normal, pain-free horse should move similarly - with the same rhythm, with the same outline, with the same head and neck position, with the same swing of the tail - in sitting trot as it does in rising trot. So, I think it’s always useful as a rider to compare sitting trot and rising trot on a regular basis to test how your horse is going.” Dr. Sue Dyson
The trot is the most common gait observed when evaluating lameness, and people usually know to look for a telltale head bob. But as the RHpE shows, there are many other behaviors that can indicate the possibility of discomfort and even early lameness.
The Train With Trust Project (TwTP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to making equine behavior education accessible while promoting the use of evidence-based training.
