When performance changes show up, it’s not always easy to know where the problem is coming from. Is it a training limitation, a communication issue, fatigue, weakness—or an underlying medical concern? And how do you start telling the difference?

In this episode of The Soundness Check, Dr. Michelle Correia and Dr. Rachel Buchholz unpack how they evaluate performance or behavior changes in sport horses. They discuss the subtle signs that can point toward a medical issue, as well as the situations where training, workload, or communication may be contributing to the problem instead.

Because not every change in behavior under saddle requires medical intervention—but involving your team early when something changes can make all the difference in catching issues before they become bigger problems.