Gait Workshops

Our Gait Measurement Workshops provide a detailed, data-driven assessment of your horse’s movement. Using the Equi-Pro® system, we measure gait asymmetries and movement patterns at the walk, trot, and canter. This system uses up to nine small inertial measurement units (IMUs) placed on the legs, poll, withers, and sacrum, capturing precise data on stride symmetry, limb movement, and upper-body motion. The measurement process is quick, taking just 5-10 minutes.

In addition to IMU data, we take high-speed video of a few strides to give participants a visual reference of their horse’s movement. Each participant receives a detailed report of the session. A sample report can be seen here, and the data includes:

• Stride asymmetry at different gaits

• Head, withers, and sacrum motion patterns

• Variability in limb movement and stride length

• Changes in movement over time (if multiple sessions are attended)

Why do gait asymmetries matter? Horses naturally compensate for imbalances in their movement, which can put uneven stress on their joints, muscles, and tendons. Over time, this compensation increases the risk of soreness, injury, and long-term soundness issues. Even small asymmetries can affect performance and movement efficiency. 

We are happy to collaborate with equine body workers and offer before-and-after assessments to track changes following therapy or training adjustments. All collected data will be de-identified and used in ongoing research and education to advance equine biomechanics.

In the future, we will be able to measure horse and rider heart rate and breathing patterns along with the measurements of gait.

Please email Dr. Laura Miller at lauram9@arizona.edu for more information.