Introduction: Equine biomechanics and the role of AI in gait analysis (10 mins)

Elin Hernlund DVM, PhD, Associate Professor at SLU, co-founder and CMO at Sleip
Elin will introduce the fundamentals of equine biomechanics and how AI-driven gait analysis provides value to practitioners, supporting early detection of lameness and better preventive care for horses.

The farrier's perspective (15-20 mins)

Marc Jerram, BSc (Hons) Grad Dip ELR CJF AWCF Master Farrier
Master Farrier Marc Jerram will share practical insights from his experience using gait analysis in farriery, focusing on case studies that demonstrate the impact on decision-making and hoof care.

The physiotherapist’s perspective (15-20 mins)

Gillian Tabor, Chartered Physiotherapist and ACPAT Veterinary PhysiotherapistGillian Tabor, an equine physiotherapist, shares her approach to gait analysis technology and data, which she uses to support decisions and enhance communication with clients and vets.

Panel with vets, farrier and physio: collaborative care for early detection (20 mins + questions)

Moderated by Elin Hernlund, the panel, which includes Marc Jerrams and Gillian Tabor, as well as equine veterinarians Karolina Dahlqvist and Stefan Witte, will explore how combining objective gait analysis with teamwork can optimize horse health management and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.

Marc Jerram, BSc (Hons) Grad Dip ELR CJF AWCF Master Farrier

Marc Jerram has specialised in corrective farriery since qualifying as a farrier in 2006. His interest in using diagnostic technology to assess hoof balance and address asymmetries led him to complete a foundation degree in farriery science and several advanced qualifications, including a Graduate Diploma in Equine Locomotor Research.

Marc has published some 50 articles, lectures at a veterinary school, collaborates with local vet practices, and provides educational clinics for farriers, veterinarians, and horse owners. He is also the author of The Hoofcare Companion.

Dr. Gillian Tabor, Chartered Physiotherapist and ACPAT Veterinary Physiotherapist 

Gillian has over 20 years of experience in equine rehabilitation. She specialises in combining biomechanics, behaviour, and physiotherapy to create tailored rehabilitation plans. Apart from her clinical work, Gillian is Senior Lecturer and Programme Manager for the MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy course at Hartpury University, where she also conducts research. Her doctoral thesis, completed in 2020, was Hartpury's first and focused on the use of objective measurement in veterinary physiotherapy. She continues to lead research projects and supervise students in this field.

Dr. Karolina Dahlkvist, DVM, Swedish specialist in Equine Medicine, certified by EGAS 2024

Karolina graduated as a vet in 1994 and has worked as a clinician mainly in orthopaedics at different equine clinics and equine hospitals since 2001. The drive to continuously improve both the veterinary medicine and the business led to the role of clinic manager and later area manager for 14 clinics and hospitals. For the last seven years, she has combined this with clinical work, in a team with physiotherapist and farrier. Karolina has a great passion for objective gait analysis and the higher level it provides in daily practice – in diagnosing, during rehab and also as an educational tool in the art of evaluating the kinematics of the horse.

Dr. Stefan Witte, DVM, Diplomate ACVS and ACVSMR 

An equine veterinarian with almost 25 years of experience,  Stefan graduated from veterinary school in Hannover, Germany, and did further surgical training over the next six years in the US (Ohio State University, Lexington Kentucky, and the University of Georgia). He then spent a year working in Tipperary, Ireland, followed by two years in the Middle East (Qatar). For the last decade, Stefan has owned an equine clinic just outside Bern, Switzerland. Stefan spends a large portion of his time looking at lame horses and has been using objective lameness evaluation for about ten years.  

Dr. Elin Hernlund, DVM, PhD, Associate Professor at SLU, co-founder and CMO at Sleip

Since graduating as a vet in 2008, Elin has worked in clinical practice at the teaching hospital and with research. She has published more than 40 research articles and written chapters in several scientific and popular science books about lameness assessment technology, biomechanics of body conformation, and sport surfaces for equestrian sports. In 2016, she published her PhD thesis in equine biomechanics. Since then, she has focused her research on AI methodology in animal motion analysis. Elin's life goal is to contribute to the development of scientifically validated tools that will help horses live longer and healthier lives.