2025 Scholarship Awarded to Three World-Leading Biomechanics Researchers

The Professor Fredricson Foundation is proud to award its 2025 scholarship to three distinguished biomechanics researchers—Professors Lars Roepstorff, DVM, PhD and Marie Rhodin, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVSMR, ECVSMR; and Dr Elin Hernlund, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ECVSMR—whose cutting-edge work extends Professor Ingvar Fredricson’s pioneering legacy.

Co-founder Professor Ingvar Fredricson, DVM, PhD—The Father of Swedish Equine Biomechanics Research

Nearly fifty years ago at the Swedish University ofAgricultural Sciences (SLU), Professor Ingvar Fredricson, DVM, PhD, defended the groundbreaking doctoral thesis ‘Equine Joint Kinematics and Coordination,’laying the foundation of Swedish equine biomechanics research.

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He then established SLU’s first high-speedtreadmill laboratory for real-time gait analysis.

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He used high-speed cameras and photogrammetry techniques—borrowed from SAAB Viggen landing-gear tests—to reconstruct precise 3D models of hoof and joint movement. He devised standardized kinematic protocols that remain the cornerstone of lameness diagnostics.

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His study of racetrack geometry and surface mechanics led to the creation of banked trotting-track curves (doserade travbanor) that redistribute load, reduce joint stress, and enhance performance—an innovation that quickly became the global standard.

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Through the Brösarp Project, he demonstrated that foals raised on varied terrain develop thicker articular cartilage, correlating to better lifelong soundness.

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Professor Fredricson inspired Professors Roepstorff and Rhodin and Dr. Hernlund to envision—and pioneer—the future of equine biomechanics long before today’s advanced tools existed.

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Professor Lars Roepstorff, DVM, PhD, From Hoof Simulator to Global Standards

Professor Roepstorff extended Fredricson’s arena-surface legacy by engineering the mechanical hoof simulator—an apparatus that quantifies firmness, cushioning, responsiveness, grip, and uniformity to objectively assess surfaces. As an FEI “footing expert,” he’s evaluated arena surfaces at over 50 top-level competitions, including the London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024 Olympic Games. His current biomechanical research focuses on the dynamic interaction between horse and rider, examining how equipment such as saddles mediates force transmission, movement symmetry, and communication. He’s also working with objective diagnostic tools for equine lameness—integrating motion capture, pressure mapping, and gait analysis to detect subtle asymmetries and optimize both horse and rider well-being.

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Professor Marie Rhodin, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVSMR, ECVSMR, Objective motion analysis to improve lameness diagnostics across species

Professor Rhodin has conducted groundbreaking research on lameness in horses and how lameness diagnostics can be improved using objective motion analysis. The knowledge generated is now used worldwide when motion analyses are performed on horses during lameness investigations and when veterinarians interpret the results. She also conducts research on how to interpret horses’ and cows’ body language and facial expressions to detect lameness and pain. As a dedicated supervisor and mentor, she’s nurturing the next generation of equine researchers.

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Dr Elin Hernlund, DVM, PhD, AI-Driven Gait Analysis

Dr. Hernlund advances objective gait analysis and integrates AI tools into everyday equine care—enabling earlier lameness detection and prevention. As co-founder and CMO of Sleip, she led the development of a marker-free, lab-grade AI smartphone app to track over 100 anatomical keypoints—now used in over 40 countries. She co-created PFERD, one of the world’s most comprehensive databases for equine motion patterns, paving the way for next-generation biomechanical research and innovation. She also spearheaded the DESSIE 3D-motion model at KTH/SLU, bridging AI and veterinary science to give horses a “digital voice” and drive more precise interventions.

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A Shared Vision for the Future

By awarding this scholarship to Roepstorff, Rhodin, and Hernlund, the Professor Fredricson Foundation keeps Fredricson’s bold vision alive—driving biomechanical breakthroughs that improve horse welfare and performance worldwide. The Foundation is proud to support the next generation of equine biomechanics leaders and to spotlight their pioneering efforts to advance horse welfare.