10/01/2026
🔹Poor Performance in the Horse🔹
When a horse suddenly starts acting out, develops a new behavior, or begins a vice, does that mean the horse is just being “naughty” and needs more training?
Sometimes.
But very often, a change in behavior is the horse’s way of telling us that something hurts.
➡️Poor performance does not always look like obvious lameness. In many cases, the horse is completely sound at the jog but is no longer performing the way they normally do.
Some of the most common complaints we hear include:
BARREL HORSES
• Not turning the first barrel
• Ducking a barrel
• Rearing before entering the arena
• “Bunny hopping” out of a barrel
• Tossing the head when asked to turn
• Losing speed after the third barrel
• Biting or becoming girthy when being saddled
HUNTERS / JUMPERS
• Suddenly refusing jumps
• Tail swishing on landing
• Bucking after a jump
• Lead changes becoming sticky or inconsistent
DRESSAGE HORSES
• Not halting straight
• Losing energy when asked to collect
• Reluctance to cross over during leg-yielding
• Tail swishing during tempi changes
• Becoming increasingly reluctant to move forward
Many of these behaviors can begin with pain.
If the underlying problem continues long enough, the horse may also begin to lose confidence in its ability to perform comfortably and safely. At that point, even after the physical problem is addressed, there may be a learned behavioral component that needs to be worked through.
Just like people, horses also have different levels of tolerance. Some horses will continue competing at a very high level despite significant pathology, while others may show subtle behavioral changes much earlier.
Here are a few examples of horses that presented to First Equine Veterinary Services for poor performance:
🔹CASE 1
An 8-year-old Quarter Horse mare presented sound but had developed progressively worsening biting behavior while being tacked up.
➡️Gastroscopy revealed Grade 3 nonglandular gastric ulcers.
🔹CASE 2
A 10-year-old Warmblood dressage mare presented for occasional tripping, a disjointed walk, and reluctance to move forward at the trot.
➡️Diagnostic imaging revealed severe cervical facet osteoarthritis at C2-C3.
🔹CASE 3
A 17-year-old Warmblood dressage gelding presented for topline muscle atrophy and reluctance to move forward.
➡️Radiographs revealed severe kissing spine lesions.
🔹CASE 4
A 7-year-old OTTB mare presented for increasingly abnormal heat-cycle behavior that was not responsive to Regumate.
➡️Reproductive ultrasound revealed a hemorrhagic anovulatory follicle.
The common thread?
All four horses were considered sound, but each presented because of a change in behavior or performance.
A horse does not have to be visibly lame to be painful.
When your horse suddenly starts saying “no” to something they previously performed willingly, it is worth asking why.
At First Equine Veterinary Services, poor-performance evaluations may include a detailed history, physical and lameness examination, diagnostic anesthesia, radiographs, ultrasound, gastroscopy, reproductive evaluation, or other diagnostics depending on the individual horse.
Behavior is information.
Sometimes your horse is not giving you a hard time.
They may be having a hard time.
