Inertial sensor systems and force plate technologies are revolutionizing equine lameness detection, identifying pain horses that visual assessment misses.
Objective lameness detection technologies address a persistent welfare gap: horses with mild to moderate pain that passes visual assessment are routinely worked through their discomfort without diagnosis or treatment. Inertial sensor systems have demonstrated that many horses considered sound or within normal variation by experienced veterinarians carry objectively measurable asymmetries indicating pain. The technology is now affordable enough for routine clinical use, yet adoption remains patchy. Wider implementation of objective measurement as a standard diagnostic tool — rather than an optional addition — would substantially improve welfare by catching painful conditions earlier and providing data for tracking treatment response.