SAEVA Congress 2018 Proceedings | 12-15 February 2018 | ATKV Goudini Spa
A. Gait Evaluation
1. Identify abnormal limb(s).
a. Observe horse when walking, trotting, turning tightly, backing.
b. If possible, also when walking up and down hill, walking with head and
neck extended, and when blindfolded.
c. Some problems are subtle; watch for consistent mistakes.
2. Is abnormality neurological or musculoskeletal in nature?
This is a critical and sometimes difficult to answer question. To help differentiate
neurologic from musculoskeletal gait abnormalities some general guidelines are:
1) neurologic abnormalities tend to be more variable (less consistent); 2)
neurologic abnormalities tend to be as or more apparent at the walk than the trot
3. Characterize/grade according to:
a. Ataxia
b. Weakness (paresis)
c. Spasticity (hypometria)
d. Hypermetria
4. Ataxia – non-cerebellar: Poor coordination due to proprioceptive
(ascending) deficits.
Common signs:
a. Abnormal foot placement
b. Crossing of limbs or stepping on opposite foot
c. Circumduction of outside limb when turning or circling.
d. Exacerbated when on slope and/or head is raised.
e. May be most pronounced when moving freely.
5. Weakness
a. May be hard to differentiate from ataxia.
b. Lesions in descending UMN of white matter or ventral horn grey matter
level with the limb, peripheral nerves or muscle (LMN).
Common signs:
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