Original Research
Subjective Gait Assessment of 57 Sports Horses in Normal Work: A Comparison of the Response to Flexion Tests, Movement in Hand, on the Lunge, and Ridden

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2015.12.012Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Fifty-seven horses presumed to be sound were examined in hand, on the lunge and ridden.

  • Twenty-seven horses showed lameness ridden; seven were only lame ridden.

  • Twenty (35%) horses were free from lameness under all circumstances.

  • When reassessed 4 to 14 days later, six of these 20 horses were lame.

Abstract

Historically, lameness has been evaluated in hand or on the lunge, but some lamenesses may only be apparent ridden. The objectives were to compare the response to flexion tests, movement in hand, on the lunge, and ridden in sports horses in regular work, assumed to be sound by the owners. It was hypothesized that lameness may be apparent in ridden horses that was not detectable in hand or on the lunge. Fifty-seven sports horses in regular work and assumed to be sound were assessed prospectively in hand, on the lunge on both soft and firm surfaces, and ridden. Flexion tests of all four limbs were performed. Lameness was graded (0–8) under each circumstance in which the horse was examined and after each flexion test. Fourteen horses (24.6%) were sound under all circumstances. Six horses were sound in hand, on the lunge, and ridden but showed a grade 1 or 2 lameness after flexion of a single limb. Sixteen horses (26.3%) were lame in hand. Twenty-four horses (42.1%) showed lameness on the lunge on a soft surface, and 23 horses (40.4%) were lame on the lunge on a firm surface. Twenty-seven horses (47.4%) showed lameness ridden; seven (12.3%) were only lame ridden. There was no significant association between age (P = .09) or work discipline (P = .1) and lameness. It was concluded that freedom from lameness in straight lines is not a reliable indicator of soundness. Some lamenesses are only apparent ridden.

Introduction

Traditionally lameness has been evaluated in hand or in circles, but there is an increasing body of evidence that some lamenesses are only apparent when horses are ridden [1], [2]. However, this has not been quantified. Ridden exercise is not part of a prepurchase examination in many countries in Europe and America. In New Zealand, ridden exercise at canter is used for assessment of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems but not for gait evaluation [3]. A similar system applies in Australia [4]. In the United Kingdom, ridden exercise is a mandatory part of the prepurchase examination, in part to “allow assessment of the horse's gait at walk, trot, canter and, if appropriate, gallop” [5].

Flexion tests and the likely response in horses free from lameness have long been debated because of the variable techniques used, the duration of flexion and the force applied during flexion, and potential horse-to-horse and day-to-day variability in responses [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14]. However, as part of a lameness examination, it is well recognized that flexion tests, while not necessarily specific, may highlight the presence of lameness and in some instances may predict the likely source of pain [15]. Flexion tests are widely used in prepurchase examinations but are not a mandatory part of the examination in the United Kingdom: “Flexion tests of all four limbs and trotting in a circle on a firm surface may be carried out if the examining veterinary surgeon considers it safe and appropriate to do so” [5].

In a sample of 506 sports horses presumed to be sound and in regular work, 46% showed lameness or other gait abnormalities which were presumed to be pain related [16]. These horses were assessed moving in hand and ridden but were not evaluated on the lunge and flexion tests were not performed. There are a number of studies in which objective assessment of gait has been performed in circles [17], [18], [19] or after hindlimb flexion [14] in horses assumed to be sound horses based on assessment in hand only. Some of the results were consistent with observations that one might expect to see in lame horses, highlighting the need for a more rigorous definition of what constitutes a sound horse [20]. To our knowledge, there has been no study assessing a group of horses in regular work and considered sound and comparing the gait in hand, on the lunge on soft and hard surfaces, and ridden and the response to flexion tests.

The aims of this study were to compare evaluation of sports horses in regular work and assumed to be sound moving in hand, on the lunge, and ridden and the response to flexion tests. It was hypothesized that (1) the response to flexion may predict the presence of lameness on the lunge or ridden in horses appearing sound in straight lines and (2) lameness may be apparent in ridden horses that was not detectable in hand or on the lunge.

Section snippets

Horse Selection

Horses were selected for inclusion in the study if they were in regular work and assumed to be sound by their riders, trainers, and owners. This was a convenience sample of horses derived from four yards in proximity to the authors and comprised a professional showjumping yard, S (n = 17), a dressage competition yard, DC (n = 5), a dressage training center, DT (n = 27), and a private dressage yard, DP (n = 7). Age, breed, gender, size (height determined from the passport and body weight

Horses Included in the Study

There were 57 horses in the study, ranging in age from 3 to 13 years (mean: 7 years; median: 6 years), in height from 115 to175 cm (mean: 165 cm; median: 169 cm), and in body weight from 300 to 670 kg (mean: 559 kg; median: 590 kg). There were 47 Warmbloods, seven ponies, and three Arabians. There were 16 mares, 31 geldings, and 10 stallions. There were 17 showjumpers and 40 dressage horses. The showjumping horses competed at 1 m to 1 m 40 international classes; the dressage horses worked from

Discussion

This study assessed allegedly sound horses under four movement conditions. In accordance with our hypothesis, lameness may be apparent in ridden horses that was not detectable in hand or on the lunge, with 7 of 57 horses (12.3%) and 2 of 20 horses (10%) showing lameness only apparent ridden at the first and second examinations, respectively. Contrary to our hypothesis, there was a poor association between a positive flexion response and lameness detected in that limb in hand, on the lunge, or

Conclusions

In conclusion, a high proportion of sports horses in normal work is lame. Freedom from lameness in straight lines is not a reliable indicator of soundness. In some horses, lameness may only be apparent ridden. It appears that both amateur and professional riders may be poor judges of the presence of lameness.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the many horse owners who participated in the study. Both authors contributed to all parts of the study. Line Greve is supported by a PhD grant from the Royal Veterinary College. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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