The welfare implications of flexion testing in horses and the debate around this controversial lameness examination technique.
Flexion testing represents an area of genuine welfare controversy in equine veterinary practice. The procedure deliberately exacerbates pain in joints that may be inflamed or arthritic, causing unnecessary suffering particularly when performed routinely as a pre-purchase examination tool. The high rate of false positives further undermines justification. Welfare-conscious veterinary practice is moving toward imaging-first approaches for suspected lameness and limiting flexion testing to specific diagnostic circumstances with appropriate pain assessment.