07/05/2025
This is some really interesting research!
A recent publication in the Journal of Equine Rehabilitation details the validation of the Equine Quality of Movement Score (EQoMS), a new outcome measure designed to bring greater consistency and transparency to the clinical assessment of equine movement quality
Unlike traditional visual assessments, which are often subjective and inconsistent, the EQoMS aims to provide a more reliable and transparent way to evaluate aspects such as gait, symmetry, biomechanics, motor control, and behavioural indicators of discomfort or willingness.
The tool was created to help equine industry professionals monitor changes over time, detect subtle movement dysfunctions, and support evidence-based decision-making in equine care.
But how reliable is it?
Six expert assessors-three specialist equine veterinarians and three equine physiotherapists-scored video footage of 20 horses performing a battery of 30 in-hand movement tests using the EQoMS.
The study found excellent intra-rater agreement, meaning individual assessors were highly consistent in their scoring across two rounds separated by two weeks.
When it came to ranking horses by movement quality, there was moderate-to-strong consensus among assessors - though they often disagreed on the absolute scores assigned to each horse.
Notably, specialist veterinarians tended to give higher scores and focus more on lameness, while physiotherapists gave lower scores and commented more on pain, balance, and muscle activity.
Assessors’ free-text comments also revealed a tendency toward negative observations, with different features emphasised depending on gait, movement figure, and surface.
A.G. Bowen, G. Tabor, R. Labens, M. Douglas, H. Randle,
The Equine Quality of Movement Score: How reliable is it?,
Journal of Equine Rehabilitation, Volume 3, 2025
