Equine sports medicine is evolving rapidly, driven by breakthroughs in technology, AI, biomechanics, exercise physiology, and clinical diagnostics. This Special Issue brings together eleven original and review articles that highlight both scientific progress and practical implications for the training, health, and welfare of horses in competitive sport. Together, they illustrate how modern equine research is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary — and increasingly relevant to everyday work with horses.
Recent scientific advances are transforming equine sports medicine, offering new tools to support both performance and welfare. A newly published editorial brings together eleven studies spanning biomechanics, exercise physiology, respiratory health, genetics, and clinical diagnostics, all pointing toward a more precise, humane, and evidence-based future for the sport horse.
Researchers are developing markerless motion-capture systems that allow natural gait analysis in real training environments without intrusive equipment. New workload models integrate heart rate, lactate, and GPS data to better understand the demands of cross-country eventing. Studies on tack design, including girth tension and saddle pressure, provide practical insights into comfort and long-term soundness.
Physiological research highlights biomarkers that may help detect oxidative stress and early signs of overtraining, while clinical studies explore links between dental health and gastric pH. Breeding research offers new knowledge on heritable conformational traits, and gait-analysis studies clarify the difference between natural laterality and pathological asymmetry, a crucial distinction as technology becomes more sensitive.
Respiratory health remains a major welfare focus. New work shows how post-exercise diagnostics can improve the detection of mild asthma, supporting earlier and more accurate intervention. Together, these studies reflect a clear trend toward non-invasive, field-applicable, technology-driven tools that help us understand the horse more deeply — and protect its welfare more effectively.
Blake R, Marlin D. From Biomechanics to Welfare: Integrative Advances in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. Animals (Basel). 2025;15(18):2706. Published 2025 Sep 15. doi:10.3390/ani15182706.
At Flyinge’s Horse Welfare Summit, the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation awarded its 2026 scholarship to Dr Andrew McLean, recognising his pioneering work in equitation science and his longstanding contribution to equine welfare.
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Two days. One shared goal: advancing horse welfare through science, education and practice. Join leading international experts at the Horse Welfare Summit 2026, where Dr Andrew McLean will deliver two keynote lectures and receive the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation Scholarship.
A new review examines how smartphones are becoming genuine tools for monitoring a horse's soundness, heart rate and recovery, and even for meeting international competition requirements. Among the systems it highlights is Sleip, co-founded by Dr. Elin Hernlund, one of the Foundation's own scholarship recipients, whose work builds on decades of Swedish equine biomechanics research going back to Professor Ingvar Fredricson himself.
On November 2, visitors gathered in Hall B at the Jönköping Horse Show for the Professor Ingvar Fredricson Foundation’s 2025 scholarship ceremony, celebrating groundbreaking Swedish research in equine biomechanics. From the pioneering efforts of the 1970s—when high‑speed cameras and manual measurements were the researcher’s tools—to today’s AI‑powered motion analysis and robotic hoof simulators, the audience was taken on a journey through decades of innovation. Professors Lars Roepstorff and Marie Rhodin, together with Associate Professor Elin Hernlund, shared their latest breakthroughs, followed by live demonstrations showing how AI and high‑precision sensors are transforming the understanding of horse–rider interaction. Moderator Jens Fredricson guided the dialogue and inspired exchange between researchers, while post‑event discussions with attendees helped build valuable bridges between research and practice.