High severity

Lameness

Lameness is an uneven gait — a sign of pain or mechanical restriction, not a diagnosis on its own. First signs are often a head nod, a shorter stride on one limb, or a hip hike. Rest the horse and do not ride through it. A still photograph cannot diagnose lameness, and the app gait scan is a short video of a few strides you can share with your vet — not a verdict that your horse is lame.

Symptoms to watch for

Uneven gait — one limb takes a shorter stride, or the horse looks 'off' at walk or trot

A head nod: the head drops when the sound front limb lands and rises when the sore front limb lands

A shorter stride on one side, or a hip that lifts higher when a hind limb is sore

Reluctance to trot, turn, or bear weight evenly at rest

Heat, swelling, or a strong digital pulse in a limb or hoof — not always present

Stumbling, toe-dragging, or a sudden change in how the horse lands

Common causes

Hoof pain — abscess, bruise, laminitis, or poor balance
Soft-tissue strain in a tendon, ligament, or muscle
Joint inflammation or injury in a fetlock, hock, stifle, or knee
A stone, puncture, or nail in the foot
Work on hard, deep, or uneven ground
An old injury that flares after rest or a change in work

Prevention

Keep a regular farrier cycle so feet stay balanced
Warm up before hard work and cool down after
Match the work to the footing — avoid sudden heavy work on hard or deep ground
Pick out feet daily and check for stones or heat
Do not ride through an uneven gait hoping it will 'work out'
Do not treat a still photo or a scan result as a diagnosis

What to do

1
Stop riding. Rest the horse — do not ride through an uneven gait, a head nod, or a shorter stride.
2
Look at all four limbs and feet in good light. Pick out the feet and feel for heat, swelling, or a strong digital pulse.
3
Move the horse to a small, level, quiet area. Keep it on box rest or a small dry paddock until a vet has seen it or the gait is even again.
4
Do not give pain medication unless your vet directs it — masking pain can make a mild problem worse if you work the horse.
5
If you record a gait clip, film a few strides at walk and trot on a hard, level surface from the side and from the front — that is a video, not a still, and it is a first look to share, not a diagnosis.
6
If the horse will not bear weight, is in obvious pain, or the gait is suddenly much worse, call the vet now rather than waiting.

When to call the vet

Pick up the phone if…

Call the vet if the horse will not bear weight, if there is heat or swelling with a sudden uneven gait, if you see a puncture or nail in the foot, or if rest for a day has not evened the stride. A head nod or shorter stride that appears after work also warrants a call. Lameness can be an abscess, laminitis, a fracture, or a soft-tissue tear — those need a vet. A still photograph cannot diagnose lameness.