When would using Gait Analysis be helpful for my horse?

You may have heard of our gait analysis services, but do you know when it would be actually useful for you to utilise this service?

1. To provide an objective baseline of horse’s normal gait pattern. 
No horse is perfectly symmetrical. One of the best uses for gait analysis is to obtain a baseline measure of how your horse normally moves. Comparisons over time can help to identify potential issues or improvements due to treatment / training. The best time to obtain this measure is when your horse is in work and considered to be sound.

2. Early detection of lameness and injury prevention
Early or subtle lamenesses can be difficult to pick up with a regular lameness exam. Use of gait analysis is able to detect variations away from what is considered 'normal' movement. The best time to do an assessment would be when you may have noticed that your horse is just not performing as well as they usually do. 

3. Evaluate athletic performance
How does your horse compare to top performers? How can we improve performance based on what we have measured? The use of gait analysis (in conjunction with physiotherapy and the other practitioners working with you and your horse) may be able to highlight where any performance deficits may lie, enabling us to help put a plan in place to improve them.

​4. Pre-purchase evaluation
Working with your vet, the use of gait analysis can provide you with objective measurements regarding the horse's symmetry and movement, helping you to make an informed decision about whether to go ahead with the purchase.

5. Inform return to work after injury/rehabilitation
We can assist the veterinary, physiotherapy and farrier team with an objective measurement of symmetry and lameness, which can be used to evaluate recovery and effect of treatment. Performed regularly throughout the rehab process, you will have peace of mind that your horse is moving as well as they can be and therefore should be less likely to reinjure themself.