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

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.