Can Osteopathy Improve Behaviour in the Performance Horse?

Why addressing pain is the key to a happier, more willing equine partner

As riders, trainers and owners, we all want the same thing: a horse that feels good in their body and is able to perform comfortably and confidently. Yet so often, behaviours like bucking, tail swishing, reluctance to go forward, or spookiness get labelled as “naughty” or “disobedient.”

But modern research is making one thing very clear: Most so-called ‘behaviour problems’ are actually pain problems.

At Dynamic Equine Therapy, our focus is on understanding the why behind your horse’s behaviour — and osteopathy is proving to be a powerful tool in uncovering and addressing pain that may be hidden beneath the surface.

Why Horses Hide Pain

Horses are prey animals. Instinctively, they mask discomfort as a survival mechanism — which means pain can be surprisingly hard to detect. Research has shown that horses often suppress pain signals when humans are present, making subtle signs easy to miss.

Tools such as the Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) and Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) are helping owners and professionals identify pain more accurately. For example, Dr Sue Dyson’s RHpE highlights 24 behaviours highly associated with musculoskeletal pain, including (but not limited to):

• Head held above or behind the vertical

• Tail clamping or swishing

• Reluctance to move forward

• Incorrect canter leads or disuniting

• Mouth opening or tongue protrusion

• Repeated stumbling

For a full list of the behaviours associated with musculoskeletal pain, check out the website: 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain

If a horse displays eight or more of these signs, pain is extremely likely.

Where Osteopathy Fits In

Osteopathy works from the principle that structure and function are deeply connected. If the body’s joints, muscles, fascia and nervous system aren’t moving or communicating well, performance — and behaviour — can decline.

Equine osteopathy focuses on:

• Restoring joint mobility

• Reducing muscle tension

• Improving circulation and lymphatic flow

• Enhancing proprioception and balance

• Supporting the nervous system

• Encouraging the body’s natural self-regulation

  
  

A typical session includes static and dynamic assessment, palpation, joint balancing techniques and gentle mobilisation of soft tissues and joints.

Does Osteopathy Actually Improve Behaviour?

Emerging research says yes — when behaviour changes are linked to pain.

Several studies have demonstrated:

• Positive changes in posture, stride length and movement after osteopathic intervention

• Reduced back pain and improved biomechanics

• Relaxation responses such as yawning, blinking and softening of the facial muscles

• Hormonal changes (like increased beta-endorphins) after treatment, indicating a measurable whole-body response

  
  

One study involving 374 horses found 79% improved in both performance and soundness after osteopathic treatment.

Another trial demonstrated that even a single treatment targeting the sacroiliac joint produced measurable improvements in gait and comfort.

While more large-scale research is needed — especially linking osteopathy to long-term behavioural outcomes — early results are promising and align with what many riders observe in their own horses.

Why Behaviour Should Never Be Ignored

Horses do not misbehave out of spite. They communicate through behaviour.

If we respond to “behaviour issues” without first ruling out pain, we risk punishing a horse for trying to tell us something important.

Osteopathy provides an avenue to:

• Identify underlying patterns of dysfunction

• Address compensations before they become injuries

• Support recovery from musculoskeletal pain

• Improve comfort, attitude and willingness under saddle

For performance horses, regular osteopathic care can be the difference between a horse that merely copes and one that thrives.

Final Thoughts

Osteopathy is not a magic cure for every behaviour, nor does it replace veterinary care. But when pain is a factor — and research shows it often is — osteopathy can play a significant role in improving comfort, performance and overall wellbeing.

At Dynamic Equine Therapy, we believe that a sound horse is a willing horse, and that understanding their behaviour is essential to good horsemanship.

If your horse is showing changes in attitude, resistance, or performance, an osteopathic assessment may help uncover what they cannot say out loud.

Sponsored rider Peta Southgate and her horse LPH Matilda