Flexion tests used to detect equine lameness are invasive and painful. Understanding their appropriate use and limitations protects horse welfare during veterinary assessment.
Flexion tests cause temporary pain and impose welfare costs on horses undergoing veterinary assessment. Their diagnostic value has been questioned by research showing poor specificity and high rates of false positives, particularly in older horses. When performed repeatedly, aggressively, or without appropriate interpretation, they cause unnecessary welfare harm with limited diagnostic return. Welfare-conscious lameness assessment uses flexion tests as one component of a systematic examination, interprets results in full clinical context, and relies on diagnostic nerve blocks and imaging for definitive diagnosis rather than over-interpreting flexion responses.