Lameness is a clinical manifestation of orthopaedic pain in horses that compromises their welfare and their use for riding. Workload-related injuries are among the most common causes of lameness, and early detection is critical for enabling timely intervention before irreversible damage occurs.

Assessment of vertical movement asymmetry in the upper body, provides information on the symmetry of motion between diagonal limb pairs during trot. In recent years, objective gait analysis has advanced considerably and has become an important tool in the evaluation of equine lameness. Current approaches include the use of wireless sensors attached to specific anatomical landmarks, as well as video-based motion analysis supported by artificial intelligence.

The aim of this study is to establish a scientific foundation for improving objective lameness assessment in the Icelandic horse.

The specific objective is to determine whether compensatory movements are present in clinical cases and whether these movements resolve following identification of the source of lameness and its abolition by diagnostic local anaesthesia.