Nov 18, 2025

Why Belgian vets are saying yes to objective gait analysis

We caught up with three of Belgium’s top equine vets on objective gait analysis — and their verdict is clear: there’s no good reason not to use it. With leading orthopaedic specialists already setting the standard, objective gait analysis is becoming as natural a diagnostic tool for vets as the X-ray.

What motivated you to introduce objective gait analysis into your daily work?

Maarten Oosterlinck: “I started using it in 2014 during my PhD. The motivation was simple: to overcome the limitations of our eyes and brains. There is actually no good reason not to use it”.

Adeline Tischmacher: “Two things: research and longitudinal data. I appreciate having objective data I can follow over time — something that supports what I see clinically and helps standardise follow-ups across multiple visits. From a research perspective, it’s becoming indispensable; many protocols now expect an objective lameness component.”

Sofie Van De Velde: “I was motivated by the need for better decision support in subtle cases. Many of the horses we see show mild, hard-to-localise lameness or vague performance issues. Objective gait analysis gives me data to confirm what I see — or sometimes question it — and helps verify changes after diagnostic blocks. I also use it to compare results over time and track progress in follow-ups”

In what ways has it changed the way you work?

Maarten Oosterlinck: “It opened my eyes to compensatory lameness, something I wasn’t taught in school. Now I use that reasoning even without the system.”

Adeline Tischmacher: “It hasn’t changed the way I work and I honestly don’t rely on it for decisions during my consultations. But I record almost all my orthopaedic cases, then often review the data after the consult to reflect and compare."

"As vets, we need to dare to try new things — otherwise we risk standing still while the profession moves on. The tool doesn’t replace the clinical exam; it adds a structured layer I can return to", - Adeline Tischmacher

Sofie Van De Velde: “My routine hasn’t changed. We assess the horse as we always have — on a straight line, on the circle in both directions, on hard and soft ground. That’s the nice thing about Sleip: you don’t have to change your routine, you just add something that gives you more information and supports your decision-making”

Are there cases where the data changed your mind?

Maarten Oosterlinck: “Absolutely. These systems are not here to have an opinion, the data isn’t wrong — it measures what it measures. If it doesn’t match my first impression, that’s a reason to double-check, repeat the evaluation if needed, and reconsider my conclusion. Sometimes, that process reveals things I might otherwise have missed.”

Adeline Tischmacher: “It is honestly rare because I don’t rely on it and I do look at more than just vertical displacement when evaluating a lame horse, which is the only information measured by objective gait analysis systems. But the graphs have already prompted a second look — especially when my initial focus was elsewhere. It’s a useful nudge to re-examine assumptions, but I still integrate it with my broader clinical reasoning.”

Sofie Van De Velde: “Occasionally. Sometimes I expect improvement that the metrics don’t confirm, or the opposite. Then I’ll re-measure, compare before/after blocks, and aim for consistency (e.g., once the horse is more relaxed). It’s a prompt to look again — not a replacement for clinical judgement.”

How do owners and riders respond?

Maarten Oosterlinck: “Very positively. Many even come back asking specifically for measurements, or request it in pre-purchase exams. They see that the vet’s opinion is backed by objective data.”

Adeline Tischmacher: “They appreciate the thoroughness and the fact that we can track progress over time. I don’t market it heavily — it’s mainly a tool for me right now — but owners like that it provides an objective record and, when needed, a more affordable way to do remote follow-ups between in-person visits.”

Sofie Van De Velde: “Mostly very positive. Showing results in the consult helps align expectations — especially when owners arrive convinced it’s one limb and it turns out to be another.”

What role will gait analysis play in the future?

Maarten Oosterlinck: “I see it as a natural part of sports medicine: Early detection and intervention could help in every case. Some vets already refer cases to me with asymmetry data attached — a clear sign that this way of working is spreading. Gait analysis has learned us so much about evaluation of equine locomotion and lameness in particular.”

Adeline Tischmacher: “The main role I see for it in my practice is for longitudinal follow-ups: monitoring horses over time, knowing their existing asymmetries and being able to detect subtle changes can really improve early detection and even prevention of injuries. I also think it will probably become standard practice in pre-purchase exams within a few years — much like X-rays today. For international sales, sending radiographs and objective gait data will likely become the norm. But we should use it thoughtfully, though, especially in this context: the data supports the vet; it shouldn’t replace clinical judgment.”

Sofie Van De Velde: “Monitoring and prevention. Accessibility enables longitudinal data across training periods and competition seasons, helping us spot small, emerging changes before they become obvious lameness.”

Is Belgium ahead of the curve?

Maarten Oosterlinck: “No, I don’t think Belgium is ahead of the curve in this field. Belgium has a very strong equine veterinary profession with lots of innovations, but the use of objective gait analysis is only spreading slowly compared to elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world; it seems that Belgian vets are rather conservative on this aspect. I think that the younger generation of vets is more open, and they may drive change over time.”

Adeline Tischmacher: “I’d say Belgium is moving in the right direction — perhaps catching up rather than leading — but momentum is building. Neighbouring countries with strong research hubs help raise awareness, and I see adoption increasing here as more clinicians get hands-on experience.”

Sofie Van De Velde: “Belgium has many skilled veterinarians and is strong in adopting technology, such as advanced imaging. The use of objective gait analysis is growing, though not yet routine. I see younger vets adapting, with clinics leading the way before ambulatory work. At Bosdreef, we aim to stay open and curious — always exploring new tools that can help us improve.”

Dr. Maarten Oosterlinck, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVS, Dipl. ECVSMR

Current position: Head of clinic in ‘equine orthopaedics’, Department of Large animal Surgery, Anaesthesia and Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University (Belgium)

Education: DVM (2004), PhD (2011), Dipl ECVS (2014), Dipl ECVSMR (2018)

Specialisation: Orthopaedics, sports medicine, podiatry, and locomotor biomechanics

Dr. Adeline Tischmacher, DVM, Dipl. ECVSMR

Current position: Equine orthopaedics and sports medicine specialist, Equine Sports Medicine Practice (ESMP), Belgium

Education: Residency at the Center for Imaging and Research on Equine Locomotor Affections (CIRALE) of the National Veterinary School of Alfort (France)

Specialisation: Sports medicine, orthopaedics, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation