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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2025; 15(12); doi: 10.3390/ani15121797

Objective Evaluation of Gait Asymmetries in Traditional Racehorses During Pre-Race Inspection: Application of a Markerless AI System in Straight-Line and Lungeing Conditions.

Abstract: Subtle locomotor asymmetries are common in horses and may go unnoticed during routine pre-race clinical inspections, particularly when based solely on subjective evaluation. This study aimed to describe vertical head and pelvic movement asymmetries in racehorses that passed official pre-race inspections at a traditional racing event. Twenty-four horses were analysed using a markerless AI-based gait analysis system while trotting in-hand and during lungeing in both directions. Asymmetry parameters (HDmin, HDmax, PDmin, and PDmax) were extracted from video recordings, with values ≥0.5 considered clinically relevant. Vertical asymmetries were detected in 71% of horses during straight-line evaluation and in 79% during at least one lungeing direction. Some horses showed relevant asymmetries only under specific movement conditions, underscoring the complementary role of straight-line and lungeing assessments in comprehensive gait evaluation. These results suggest that objective gait analysis could enhance pre-race veterinary assessments, especially in traditional racing, where horses are subjected to significant biomechanical stress, including variable surface properties and repetitive directional loading. In such complex and dynamic environments, relying solely on visual assessment may result in the underdiagnosis of subtle locomotor alterations. The AI-based tools offer potential to improve the detection of subtle irregularities and support evidence-based decisions in performance horse management. Further investigations are warranted to validate the clinical relevance of currently adopted asymmetry thresholds, refine their diagnostic value, and support their integration into standardized pre-race evaluation protocols.
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Publication Date: 2025-06-18 PubMed ID: 40564348PubMed Central: PMC12189307DOI: 10.3390/ani15121797Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper presents a study that applies an artificial intelligence (AI) based system for objective gait analysis in racehorses. The study finds that this system can help detect vertical asymmetries in the movement of horses that may go unnoticed in traditional visual inspections, indicating its potential in enhancing pre-race veterinary assessments.

Methodology and Data Collection

  • Twenty-four racehorses that passed official pre-race inspections were included for analysis.
  • The horses were analyzed while trotting in-hand and during lungeing (a method of horse training) in both directions.
  • A markerless AI-based gait analysis was used to objectively analyze the horses’ movement for any asymmetries.
  • Asymmetry parameters were extracted using video recordings of the horses, with values equal to or higher than 0.5 deemed clinically relevant.

Results and Findings

  • Vertical asymmetries, specifically in the movement of the horses’ heads and pelvis, were noted in 71% of the horses during a straight-line evaluation and in 79% of horses during at least one lungeing direction.
  • The inclusion of both straight-line and lungeing assessments provided a more comprehensive evaluation of the horses’ gait, as it revealed asymmetries that were specific to certain movement conditions.
  • Hence, the study underscores the benefits of adding objective gait analysis to the standard visual pre-race inspections.
  • This is especially relevant in traditional racing, where factors such as variable surface properties and repetitive directional loading can cause significant biomechanical stress and subtle locomotor alterations in horses.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The results suggest that AI-based gait analysis tools can improve the detection of subtle irregularities in a horse’s movement, thereby supporting more evidence-based decisions in performance horse management.
  • In environments such as traditional horse racing, where visual assessment alone might underdiagnose subtle locomotor alterations, the inclusion of objective gait analysis could enhance pre-race veterinary assessments.
  • However, further research is warranted to validate the clinical relevance of the asymmetry thresholds being used currently, refine their diagnostic value, and support their integration into standardized pre-race evaluation protocols.

Cite This Article

APA
Meistro F, Ralletti MV, Rinnovati R, Spadari A. (2025). Objective Evaluation of Gait Asymmetries in Traditional Racehorses During Pre-Race Inspection: Application of a Markerless AI System in Straight-Line and Lungeing Conditions. Animals (Basel), 15(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15121797

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 12

Researcher Affiliations

Meistro, Federica
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
Ralletti, Maria Virginia
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
Rinnovati, Riccardo
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.
Spadari, Alessandro
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano dell'Emilia, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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