06/04/2026
Some food for thought today. I pride myself on helping address not only physical pain but emotional and remembered pain as well. Pain is the biggest “symptom” we look for in our horses. When we have behavioral, structural, or emotional problems with our animal this is the first thought, and it should be. That’s when we go for a full work up vet visits, bodywork, chiropractor. I would say that most of the times, these visits and measures are enlightening and effective. Because 9 times out of 10, the problem is true structural pain. However, even when we have positive findings, the struggle does not end. Because pain is also learned. Once physical findings are ruled out or “fixed”, most are encouraged to just “work them through it” and that doesn’t always work. The interesting thing about pain is that it is 100% in the brain. The signal the brain gives that is pain, can occur with or without physical injury. Why do you think you can see horses out in the wild with seemingly a debilitating injury and still playing and eating and living, the brain in survival mode will down regulate the pain signal. Priority #1 is survival. The same reason, a horse who has had every work up in the world can still exhibit pain symptoms without direct injury. The brain, to protect itself, has conjured a pain response. The signal is the same as direct pain, both come from the brain in the long run. One is direct, one is perceived or learned. This is the same reasoning that two horses with the same x-rays can ride completely different. Sure their injury is the same, but their perception of pain is completely different. So saying, “it’s just in their head” or “work them through it” seems a little controversial right? Showing a horse they can do something without pain and helping them heal emotionally, is a slow patient process. And it is just as important as healing them physically. Without pressure, or stress.
