Prevalence of movement asymmetries in high-performing riding horses perceived as free from lameness and riders' perception of horse sidedness.
Authors: Zetterberg Ebba, Persson-Sjodin Emma, Lundblad Johan, Hernlund Elin, Rhodin Marie
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary High-performing horses across show jumping, dressage and eventing disciplines were assessed using inertial measurement unit gait analysis (Equinosis) to establish whether elite athleticism correlates with movement symmetry and whether riders can accurately perceive their horse's lateral asymmetries. Vertical movement asymmetries were quantified by measuring head and pelvis displacement ranges across 123 horses, with asymmetry defined as exceeding 6mm for head parameters or 3mm for pelvis parameters when standard deviation remained proportionally small. The striking finding was that 70% of these high-performing horses exhibited clinically significant movement asymmetries, with over one-third displaying magnitudes comparable to those observed in clinically lame animals—challenging the assumption that elite competition selects for movement symmetry. Most notably, riders' perception of horse sidedness showed no clear association with measured vertical asymmetries, suggesting that subjective rider feedback cannot reliably identify or predict these movement deviations. For practitioners, this research indicates that apparent soundness and athletic performance mask substantial movement dysfunction in the wider elite horse population; gait analysis may therefore be a valuable tool for identifying subclinical issues before they manifest as clinical lameness, though longitudinal work is needed to clarify whether these asymmetries represent genuine welfare concerns or simply the biomechanical reality of asymmetrical animals.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Most high-performing horses exhibit measurable movement asymmetries undetectable by rider feel alone; objective gait analysis may reveal subclinical issues not apparent during ridden work
- •Rider perception of 'favoring one side' does not correlate with quantifiable vertical movement asymmetries, so subjective feel should not be relied upon as sole assessment of symmetry
- •Longitudinal studies are needed to determine if these asymmetries indicate developing pathology or are benign variations; current evidence does not confirm whether they represent a welfare concern requiring intervention
Key Findings
- •70% of high-performing horses exhibited vertical movement asymmetries despite being perceived as sound by owners
- •Over one-third of asymmetric horses had asymmetry values comparable to clinically lame horses
- •No significant association found between rider-perceived sidedness and measured vertical movement asymmetries
- •Prevalence of asymmetries in elite horses is similar to younger and lower-level competitors, suggesting asymmetry is not eliminated by training level