Summary Background Since Muybridge's ‘horse in motion’, researchers in the equine movement analysis field continue to improve objective analysis and performance monitoring while ensuring representative data capture. However, subjective evaluation remains the primary method of equine gait analysis in the applied setting, despite evidence highlighting the unreliability of this approach. Objectives To map research trends, limitations and opportunities across the diverse equine gait analysis literature. Study design Joanna Briggs Institute and Cochrane systematic scoping review. Methods Search terms were chosen based on the ‘PICO’ framework and included keywords such as: Equine, Gait, Kinematics and Analysis. Studies were excluded based on predetermined criteria by two independent researchers. Data were extracted from 510 articles from 1978 to 2018. Results Insights derived from movement analysis appear to be driven by tool availability. Observational research (42.9%) was the most popular study design. Use of wearable technology as a primary research tool is established within the field, accounting for 13.5% of studies. Analysis of limitations identified 17.8% of studies citing challenges to the transferability of research results. Restricted sample size appears to be an underlying contributor to many of the limitations identified. In terms of research opportunities, advances in intervention studies were called for (10.4% of studies) in the following three areas; clinical, rehabilitative exercise and performance/training. Main limitations This review was confined to research in the English language. Conclusions Standardised research reporting may alleviate sample size issues by facilitating data pooling, database creation and meta‐analyses. Large holistic data collections and application frameworks based on wearable technologies are not reflected in the current equine gait analysis literature and thus represent an interesting opportunity for this field. Progress and lessons learned from the human field of movement analysis can be useful in supporting this potential development.

(1) Background: Postural sway is frequently used to quantify human postural control, balance, injury, and neurological deficits. However, there is considerably less research investigating the value of the metric in horses. Much of the existing equine postural sway research uses force or pressure plates to examine the centre of pressure, inferring change at the centre of mass (COM). This study looks at the inverse, using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) on the withers to investigate change at the COM, exploring the potential of postural sway evaluation in the applied domain. (2) Methods: The lipopolysaccharide model was used to induce transient bilateral lameness in seven equines. Horses were monitored intermittently by a withers fixed IMU over seven days. (3) Results: There was a significant effect of time on total protein, carpal circumference, and white blood cell count in the horses, indicating the presence of, and recovery from, inflammation. There was a greater amplitude of displacement in the craniocaudal (CC) versus the mediolateral (ML) direction. A significant difference was observed in the amplitude of displacement in the ML direction between 4–12 h and 168 h.; (4) Conclusions: The significant reduction in ML displacement during the acute inflammation period alongside greater overall CC displacement may be a compensatory behaviour for bilateral lameness.

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Wearable sensing technologies are increasingly used in human and equine gait research to improve ecological validity of research findings. It is unclear how these tools have penetrated the equine industry or what perspectives industry stakeholders’ hold in relation to these relatively new devices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Irish equine industry stakeholders to understand their perception of objective tools for biomechanical analysis in the field. The study participants came from professional/elite backgrounds in both the sport horse (n = 6) and thoroughbred (n = 6) sectors. The interview data were analysed using thematic analysis, resulting in four analytical themes. The first theme conveys the importance of tacit knowledge and experience in the holistic analysis of a horse. Theme two highlights that the perfect horse does not exist therefore, equine athlete management is complex and requires a multi-layered problem-solving approach. Theme three describes an awareness among stakeholders of technologies, however they are sceptical of their value. The final theme identified that one of the key barriers to technology adoption is the economic value of the horse and the cost of implementing technology herd-wide. Our findings highlight the need for a user-centred design in this domain, which requires greater consultation and learning between technology developers and equine stakeholders to develop fit-for-purpose analysis and monitoring tools.