Riding Soundness-Comparison of Subjective With Objective Lameness Assessments of Owner-Sound Horses at Trot on a Treadmill.

This research studied the ability of horse owners to accurately assess lameness in their horses, comparing subjective assessments with objective gait analysis. The findings showed a discrepancy between owner perceptions and the measured degree of lameness, highlighting the need for careful interpretation of both subjective and objective evaluations.

Study Methodology

• This study was conducted in two parts. In the first part, 235 horses were subjectively assessed in a field study where owners filled out an online survey to record their perception of their horse’s orthopedic health.
• In the second part, 69 of these horses underwent objective gait analysis at an equine hospital.
• A veterinarian used a scale of 0/5 (sound) to 3/5 (moderate lameness visible at trot) to score the horse’s gait while the horse trotted on a treadmill.
• Together with the gait score, movement asymmetry of the head and pelvis and weight-bearing asymmetry were simultaneously quantified.

Study Findings

• The majority of horses exhibited signs of lameness according to the subjective scoring of the owners, with 55% receiving a lameness grade of ≥2/5 in the first part of the study, increasing to 74% in the second part.
• Despite this, the objective gait analysis revealed a significant number of horses with movement asymmetry (57%) and weight-bearing asymmetries (58%) that were sometimes unrelated to the clinical lameness grade – particularly in the forehand.
• Interestingly, several horses with a lameness grade of ≤1/5 exhibited asymmetry values beyond that which is normally expected, indicating that there may be clinically undetected lameness or other health issues.

Implications of the Study

• This study highlights that there can be significant discrepancies between owner-perceived lameness and actual lameness as identified through gait analysis.
• The findings also underscore the need for careful interpretation of both subjective assessments and objective measurements when it comes to assessing lameness in horses.
• Moreover, the research suggests that even low grades of clinical lameness could be accompanied by significant asymmetry values, indicating the presence of under-identified pain or injury in horses.