Movement asymmetries in horses presented for prepurchase or lameness examination.
Authors: Hardeman Aagje M, Egenvall Agneta, Serra Bragança Filipe M, Koene Marc H W, Swagemakers Jan-Hein, Roepstorff Lars, van Weeren Rene, Byström Anna
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Movement Asymmetries in Prepurchase Examinations Objective gait analysis is increasingly accessible to equine practitioners, yet its application in prepurchase examinations (PPE) remains poorly validated against clinical findings. Researchers enrolled 98 horses undergoing PPE and 24 horses with confirmed subtle single-limb lameness (grades 1–2/5), using optical motion capture to measure vertical movement symmetry whilst six experienced clinicians conducted orthopaedic examinations; PPE horses were classified as raising either minor or major veterinary concerns. Specific kinematic parameters successfully differentiated subtly lame horses from PPE horses with minor concerns—particularly combinations involving head and pelvis range of use (RUD), minimum and maximum difference (MinDiff and MaxDiff), and hindlimb flight phase symmetry metrics—though meaningful overlap existed between groups. Notably, age and discipline had no bearing on asymmetry levels in PPE horses, and accounting for overall vertical range of motion helped distinguish minor from major PPE concerns. For practitioners, these findings suggest that motion capture data holds promise for standardising PPE evaluation, though single kinematic variables lack sufficient discriminatory power; using composite lameness patterns alongside vertical range of motion normalization may improve objectivity, particularly when clinical impression is borderline.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Objective gait analysis using motion capture can help distinguish subtle lameness from normal asymmetry in prepurchase examinations, improving confidence in clinical decision-making
- •Combinations of multiple kinematic parameters are more discriminatory than single measurements; focus on head/poll/pelvis and hip movements for detecting low-grade lameness
- •Clinical experience and subjective assessment have limitations in detecting subtle lameness—objective data supports prepurchase examination reliability
Key Findings
- •Specific kinematic parameters (MinDiff and RUD of head) discriminated forelimb lame horses from prepurchase examination horses with minor concerns
- •Hindlimb lameness was differentiated using MinDiff, MaxDiff, RUD of pelvis, and hip hike parameters
- •Two composite lameness patterns successfully differentiated both forelimb and hindlimb lame horses from minor concern prepurchase horses
- •Age and discipline had no effect on asymmetry levels in horses with minor prepurchase concerns