Evolving from prey animals, horses are adept as hiding pain. As riders and carers, we need to learn how we can recognise the sometimes subtle signs of pain. On 4 November join World and Horse and Dr Sue Dyson, a respected and popular expert in the field of equine pain, as she shares with us some of her research looking at signs and behaviours horses display when in pain. Sue will also discuss the sensitive issue of the impact of rider size on equine performance. Sue will explain the influence that riders can have on their horses and what we, as owners, can do to ensure we are able to assess and recognise signs of discomfort and pain as soon as possible.
Sue will be joined by our Deputy Chief Executive and Director of UK Welfare, Tony Tyler, who has worked alongside Sue on various projects, for the Question and Answer session, which is sure to bring lots of additional thoughts around the subject. There will be plenty of time to tackle anything that may have come up in the presentation, or other equine pain-related questions.
By registering for the webinar through Zoom, you will be able to take part in the various polls, ask questions during the Q and A and overall have a much more interactive experience. If you are keen to be part of the conversation, then please join.
The fortnightly webinars are free to attend and they can also be viewed live as a Facebook Live session. If you have missed any if the previous webinars – which have tackled subjects as fascinating and diverse as keeping animals fit, weight management and euthanasia – they are all available to watch on the World Horse Welfare YouTube channel.
More about the two presenters
Sue Dyson qualified from the University of Cambridge in 1980 and then completed an Internship in Large Animal Medicine and Surgery at New Bolton Centre. She then spent a year in private equine practice in Pennsylvania, before returning to Great Britain to take a position in clinical orthopaedics at the Animal Health Trust – running a clinical referral service for lameness and poor performance, attracting clients from all over the United Kingdom, Ireland and continental Europe for 37 years. From 2019 she has worked as an independent consultant. Sue’s key interests are improving the diagnosis of lameness and poor performance and maximising the opportunity for horses to fulfil their athletic potential at whatever level. She was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for a thesis entitled “The Differential Diagnosis of Shoulder Lameness in the Horse” and the RCVS Diploma in Equine Orthopaedics by examination and was awarded a PhD by the University of Helsinki and is recognised as a “Specialist in Equine Orthopaedics” by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Sue is an Associate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Sue is also a rider and has produced horses to top national level in both eventing and show jumping.
Tony Tyler has spent the last 35 years involved in the horse industry with extensive experience training horses and riders. He has worked in riding schools, as a freelance trainer, BHS Chief Examiner, senior college lecturer and has worked for World Horse Welfare since 1999. Starting in the charity as the Norfolk Centre Manager and being promoted twice he oversees the work of the charity in the UK including the work of the Centres and Field Officers, educational initiatives and liaising with other charities and organisations.
