Flexion tests are widely used to detect equine lameness, but their interpretation requires skill and an understanding of welfare implications for the horse.
Lameness diagnostics involve deliberate application of mechanical stress to painful joints, raising welfare concerns when tests are repeated unnecessarily or performed without adequate analgesia context. Horses cannot consent to these procedures and may show stress responses including resistance, sweating, and elevated heart rate. Best-practice lameness evaluation balances diagnostic thoroughness with minimizing unnecessary discomfort, uses objective measurement tools to reduce subjective variability, and follows positive flexion results with targeted nerve blocks rather than repeated joint loading. Early and accurate diagnosis ultimately serves welfare by enabling timely treatment and preventing chronic progression.