Equine Lameness
Lameness skills self assessment
Evaluating equine lameness takes practice. Try your hand on youtube videos, clinic cases etc. Find a Horse Angel and practice your passive examination! Or ask SkillsPac to run a session.
| Beginner | Novice | Intermediate | Advanced | |
| Forelimb lameness | Understand what to look for; sometimes can see it | Can see a lameness at a walk | Can usually see a lameness at a trot | Can detect grade 2 lamenesses |
| Forelimb lameness | Can determine which leg if holding it up or pointing it | Occasionally know which leg is affected | Generally accurate at which leg is affected | Almost always accurate at which leg is affected |
| Hindlimb lameness | Can see if major asymmetry | Can see a lameness at a walk | Can usually see a lameness at a trot | Can detect grade 2 lamenesses |
| Hindlimb lameness | Can identify leg if major asymmetry | Occasionally know which leg is affected | Generally accurate at which leg is affected | Almost always accurate at which leg is affected |
| Head nod | Slow motion makes it visible | Can sometimes see the head nod | Can see the head nod and can often correlate with weight bearing limb | Can detect subtle head nods and can correlate with weight bearing limb |
| Short stride | Not sure of meaning | Can tell short stride if slow motion or lunging | Can occasionally see the short stride at regular speed | Can usually see the short stride |
| Foot placement (alterations in tracking) | Not sure of meaning | Understand and can see if exaggerated | Can see if watch for it | Remember to check for it and can see with little effort |
| Range of motion | Yeah right! | Can see changes in joint flexion if in slow motion | Can sometimes see a difference in joint flexion | Can often see a difference in joint flexion |
| Hip “hike” | Hip huh? | Understand but don’t often see without tape markers | Can see in many if right conditions (color of horse, background) | Can see in most |
| Flexion tests | Understand the principles; not sure could do on own | Know the principles behind; can identify structures affected | Understand principles; know when and how to use; could do with supervision | Comfortable doing and interpreting |
| Palpation skills | Can safely palpate | Could pick up asymmetries but might need a refresher on what the structure is | Can pick up abnormalities, know the larger structures
|
Can pick up abnormalities even if bilateral and comfortable determining the structures |
| Hoof testers | Understand the principles | Can apply safely | Can apply and can determine if positive | Can apply and interpret |
