There is a point where the pain we are experiencing is beyond our ability to control our reaction to it. This point is our pain threshold, which is different for every person and horse alive.

Discovering if your horse is a wimp or a tough guy will help in working with them or if you need to medicate for something another horse tolerates.

But pain can be more than physical. There is mental pain from a past experience that also has a threshold. This needs to be addressed as we work with our horses. It is a combination of physical and mental pain to which we apply our horsemanship skills – and our use of medications.

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