This January, he leads VetPD’s new online series Objective Gait Analysis – From Technology to Clinical Application, which Sleip is proud to support. We spoke to Andy about the role of technology in lameness assessment, what vets can expect from the course, and how tools like Sleip can support decision-making in everyday practice.
I’ve felt it was important for over a decade. But the difference now is usability. Systems like Sleip have made gait analysis much more practical in real-world conditions. No sensors slipping off a muddy, sweaty horse, no fiddling with cables — just set it up and go. That ease of use makes it more accessible, especially for younger vets.
From a clinical point of view, objective analysis helps us work more accurately, especially during nerve blocks. It removes some of the bias we can all fall into when we want a block to work. It also gives clients more confidence, and supports your own decision-making. I often say to students that it’s like having a little electronic friend with you during a lameness workup.
One concern is that people will follow the machine blindly. But that’s not what objective gait analysis is for. It’s just giving you data. Like with any diagnostic tool— an ultrasound, for example — you still need to apply clinical judgement.
Another worry is de-skilling. That if we rely on data, we’ll stop looking at horses properly. In fact, my experience has been the opposite. Tools like Sleip make you think harder. If the data doesn’t match what you saw, you stop and question it. That’s how you get better. And of course, it helps you focus fully on the horse while the tool does the measuring in the background.
Just start using it. Like scanning, it might feel awkward at first, especially with a client watching — but that goes quickly. You don’t need to rely on it blindly. Use it to support your clinical findings, and build confidence in your assessments.
One big benefit is the ability to store and review data over time. I often go back and watch videos again when I’m writing up reports. And once you’re used to having it, you don’t want to work without it. It becomes part of your process.
Beyond clinical decision-making, I think there’s real potential in injury prevention. In sport horses, and particularly in racing, we often see injuries where subclinical lameness was likely present before. If we can monitor horses more regularly and catch changes early, that’s better for the horse and for the sport’s social licence.
There’s also great potential in research. I’ve seen promising studies undermined by relying only on subjective assessment. Adding objective data strengthens conclusions — and helps justify clinical choices in front of clients or colleagues.
The idea is to give people a practical foundation. We’ll cover the biomechanics of lameness, explain how different systems work, and look at what each measures. That helps vets choose what might work in their own clinics — and explain it clearly to clients.
We’ll also go through real case examples, to show how different systems output and interpret data. And finally, we’ll look at future use: from post-injury monitoring to potential applications in prevention and performance. It’s aimed at giving vets a realistic, hands-on view — from people who use these tools in daily practice, not just in research.
Andy will be joined in the course by other expert speakers who use objective gait analysis regularly. At Tierklinik Lüsche in Germany, for example, Sleip has been integrated into the clinical workflow for several years
Andy Fiske-Jackson, BVSc, MVetMed, FHEA, Dipl.ECVS, MRCVS
Royal Veterinary College, UK
Philippe Benoit, DVM, MS, Dipl.ACVSMR
Consultant, France & USA
Marc Koene, Dr.Med.Vet
Tierklinik Lüsche, Germany
Sandra Kurras, DVM
Tierklinik Lüsche, Germany
Learn more about the VetPD lecture series here.
