Limitations and Advances in Lameness Assessment
Clayton recommended that veterinarians evaluate horses—particularly those with subtle lameness—at a slow and consistent trot. | Photo: Stephanie L. Church/The Horse
When it comes to diagnosing a horse’s lameness, the veterinarian’s eyes are no longer the ultimate diagnostic machine. In fact, in one study (Keegan 2010) only 52% of participating veterinarians agreed on which of a horse’s limbs was lame while assessing him visually.

During the American Association of Equine Practitioners’ Focus on the Sport Horse program, held July 20-22, in Louisville, Kentucky, Hilary Clayton, BVMS, PhD, MRCVS, Dipl. ACVSMR, McPhail Dressage Chair Emerita at Michigan State University and president of Sport Horse Science, in Mason, Michigan, discussed the human eye’s limitations and described up-and-coming inertial sensor systems’ usefulness for detecting lameness.

When veterinarians observe horses’ movement at the trot, speed affects what they see. “Lameness appears to decrease at faster trotting speeds,” Clayton said. “But, in fact, the lameness doesn’t change—it’s just that our eyes can’t see it as well when the horse trots faster.”

Thus, she recommended that veterinarians evaluate horses—particularly those with subtle lameness—at a slow and consistent trot

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