b'VIEWPOINTPublisher: Marla Bickel STEPHANIE L. CHURCH, Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief: Stephanie L. Church @TH_StephLChurch Managing Editor: Alexandra Beckstett Digital Managing Editor: Michelle AndersonArt Director: Brian Turner Do You Know Pain Web Producer: Jennifer WhittleMarketing Manager: Victoria BennettWhen You See It? EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT2365 Harrodsburg Rd #A200Lexington KY 40504-3331E-MAIL [email protected] homping on the bit between rounds. Teeth grinding during a test.All letters must include the writers name, address,and daytime phone number for verification.Grunting while walking down a hill on a trail ride. Just generally L etters: [email protected], or by mail.being a weirdo in the crossties. If you watch enough horses overFarm Call: [email protected], or by mail. time, youll notice patterns of behavior you deem normal or abnormal,Across the Fence and Behavior Columns: based on the individuals, their histories, and the situations theyre [email protected], or by mail.New Products: [email protected],Now, read Dr. Nancy Lovings cov- years later. Was there less bit-squeak- or by mail.er story about detecting pain (pageing there? Only Icy, now long-past,EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD12), and you might find yourselfwould know, though Im tempted toScott Anderson, DVM; Sarah Barr, DVM; Anthony second-guessing what youve seen.show our ride videos to the scientists.Blikslager, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS; Ann Dwyer, DVM; Thanks to researchers seeking waysI also think of strangers Ins- Benjamin Espy, DVM, Dipl. ACT; Jenifer R. Gold, DVM, to gauge pain by looking at horsestagram posts of horses regularlyDipl. ACVIM, ACVECC; Kyla Ortved, DVM, Dipl. ACVS; postures, ridden habits, and facial ex- bucking under saddle. Feeling herDebra Taylor, DVMpressions, were learning more aboutoats! the owners gush, with smilingEducational Partnership Disclaimer: The American Association how they display painful states underand celebration emojis. Even beforeof Equine Practitioners (AAEP), one of The Horses partners in equine health, has no involvement regarding editorial saddle or when stabled or pastured.I read this months cover story, Ivemanagement or advertising content within this publication and Some of these indicators I found un- wondered if these bucking spreesthereby does not endorse any editorial or advertising content surprising. Others had me recallingwere exuberance or discomfort. Imunless so acknowledged within the individual articleor advertisement.incidences where I thought the horsesure some horses are feeling happy was just being quirky or excitable butand fresh, but I wouldnt be sur- EXPERT ADVISORSmight have been in pain. prised if some are also in pain.Sue McDonnell, PhD, Cert. AAB; Milt Toby, JDTake Icy, my first off-track Thor- Then there are the unridden oughbred (OTTB), who seeminglybehaviorshorses that seat them- FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS tolerated dressage during horseselves on stall ledges or prop theirSarah Evers Conrad, Natalie DeFee Mendik; Matt trials so he could go cross-countryhind feet on piles of bedding. CouldLeshaw, DVM; Christa Lest-Lasserre, MA; Nancy Loving, later in the day. Its been 26 years,they be in pain? In the case of myDVM; Stacey Oke, DVM, MScbut I can still remember the squeak- current OTTB, Happy, he suddenlyADVERTISING SALES AND SERVICES squeak-squeak of his teeth grindingstarted spooking in the crossties dur- [email protected] the bit as we prepared to enter aing tacking as if there were goblins grass dressage court at a small event.on the floor. Indeed, in this case painWest Coast Advertising Executive:This behavior was a pretty regularis possiblemy vet and I are work- Yvonne Long 859/276-6701occurrence for him. ing to correct a hindgut imbalance,[email protected], granted, researchers on theand hes doing a lot better.ridden horse pain scale say showingOf course, not every strange thingEast Coast Advertising Executive:Mark White eight or more documented behaviorsour horses do is because of pain.859/276-6710indicates pain, but Icys grindingBut I know there are behaviors [email protected] make me ponder the possibili- used to pass off as no big deal thatSales Support:ties. Did our saddle fit properly? WasI will watch for more closely afterNicol Hunt, 859/276-6740 he struggling with the footing? Ihaving read this story, and I hope [email protected] remember some beautiful, springyresearchers findings will cause you dressage tests he put in at a facilityto be more mindful of what you seePUBLISHED BY with excellent sand footing a fewin horses, as well.h @TheHorse @TheHorse @TheHorseMag OWNED BYTOBA MEDIA PROPERTIESBoard of Directors: Everett Dobson, Dan Metzger, BAD PONY CREATIVE EQUINE PHOTOGRAPHY Rosendo Parra, Dr. J. David Richardson, Peter Willmott6December 2019The Horse|TheHorse.comViewpoint_Dec USE.indd 6 11/4/19 3:10 PM'