There’s a particular feeling that arrives in the spring: the mornings get lighter, the yard smells of wet earth and new grass and suddenly you want to do more with your horse. After months of short days, heavy going and limited riding, spring feels like permission to start again.

But horses don’t reset overnight. Their bodies have been managing winter – lower workloads, different feed, heavier rugs, harder or muddier ground, less varied movement. As the season shifts and your ambitions grow, it’s worth pausing before you push forward. A little attention now across a handful of areas can make the difference between a horse that builds through spring and one that struggles into summer.

This isn’t a list of problems to worry about. It’s a prompt to look carefully at your horse before the season gets away from you.

The ground is changing – and so is the risk

One of the most significant shifts in spring is one you might not immediately connect to your horse’s wellbeing: the grass.

After a winter of slow growth, spring grass comes in fast and rich, packed with non-structural carbohydrates – the sugars and starches that accumulate as plants photosynthesise in longer daylight hours. For most horses this isn’t a crisis. But for those prone to laminitis, insulin resistance or carrying extra condition through winter, spring grass is the biggest risk they’ll face all year.

The signs of early laminitis can be easy to miss. A horse that seems a little sore, reluctant to step forward or shifting weight more than usual may be telling you something important. Feet that feel warmer than normal, a stronger digital pulse or reluctance to trot on hard ground are all worth noting.

If your horse is in this category, gradual introduction to pasture makes a meaningful difference. Short initial turnout (even just 15 to 20 minutes) with gradual increases over several weeks, is far better than suddenly switching from a hay-based winter diet to unlimited spring grazing. Giving hay before turnout helps reduce the urge to gorge. And if you’re turning out on lush grass, earlier morning or overnight grazing tends to mean lower sugar levels than afternoon, though this isn’t foolproof in spring conditions.

If something feels off, trust that instinct. The Talk Lamness Quiz is a good starting point for thinking through what you’re seeing and how to describe it to your vet.

Feed: the transition matters as much as the destination

A horse’s digestive system adapts to its diet over time and the microbiome in the hindgut, which does so much of the work of processing forage, doesn’t appreciate sudden change. If you’re moving from a winter feed regime to something richer, or increasing calories to build condition ahead of a competition season, do it slowly.

As a rule of thumb, make any significant feed change over at least two weeks, ideally longer. Monitor your horse’s weight and condition as you go. What looks like “catching up” after winter can tip into overweight quite quickly in spring, particularly in good doers and native breeds.

If your horse has been stabled for much of the winter, digestive changes – including an increased risk of colic – can be associated with the transition back to more grass. Keep an eye on gut sounds, droppings and general demeanour as turnout increases.

Fitness: patience pays

After a winter of reduced or light work, a horse’s cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and the integrity of tendons and ligaments will all have dropped. Connective tissue in particular responds slowly to training load – it strengthens, but over months rather than weeks.

If you have events or competitions in mind for the season ahead, map out a realistic timeline. Six to eight weeks of gradually increasing work before you ask for anything demanding is a minimum and that’s for a horse that’s been in light work through winter. A horse that’s had complete rest needs longer.

The classic mistake in spring is doing too much too soon in the enthusiasm of better weather and firmer going. Soft tissue injuries, like suspensory strains or tendon issues, are disproportionately common at this time of year and they’re the kind of setbacks that cost months, not weeks.

Build base fitness before you add speed, intensity or technical demands. Hacking on varied terrain, long and low schooling and steady hill work are all excellent early season tools. Save the harder stuff until your horse is clearly moving freely and willingly.

Watch how your horse moves. Are they tracking up evenly? Is there any shortening of stride, reluctance on one rein or resistance in transitions that wasn’t there before? These can be early signs of discomfort that are much easier to address if caught early.

A horse that isn’t quite right in spring , even subtly, is telling you something before it becomes a problem you can’t ignore.

If you’re unsure what you’re seeing, Why lameness isn’t always obvious is a helpful read for unpicking the subtle signs.

Rugs: time to reassess

Many horses spend winter in rugs that are heavier than they strictly need and many come off rugs in spring either too abruptly or later than is comfortable. Horses regulate their temperature remarkably well and a horse in light work – that’s been trace or full clipped through winter – may be genuinely ready to come out of a heavyweight rug sooner than you think once temperatures stabilise.

Check the fit of rugs that have been on all winter. Horses lose and gain condition through winter and a rug that fitted in November may be sitting differently by May. Look for signs of rubbing at the shoulders, withers and chest, which can indicate poor fit and cause low-grade discomfort that’s easy to overlook.

A horse that’s been rugged heavily through a mild winter may also be carrying more condition than you realise. The rug can mask a rounder topline and ribs that are harder to feel than they should be. Spring is a good moment to take the rug off, step back and actually look at your horse’s body condition honestly.

Tack fit: a winter body is not a spring body!

This is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of spring management. Horses change shape through winter (you may well know that feeling yourself as you start to shed those winter jumpers!). Some lose muscle and topline, others gain weight – and a saddle might not sit the same by spring.

A saddle that was well balanced in autumn can appear to tip forward or rock on a horse that’s lost condition through its back, creating pressure points that weren’t there before. Conversely, a horse that’s gained weight across the back and shoulders may suddenly find its saddle feels tight in ways it didn’t.

If you’re planning to increase work significantly in spring, a saddle fit check before the season starts, not after a problem appears, is money well spent. The same applies to bridle fit, particularly if you use anatomical or shaped bridles where the padding placement matters.

Feet: hoof growth picks up in spring

Hooves grow faster in spring as the ground softens and nutrition improves. For horses in work, this means your farrier schedule may need revisiting. A horse that was comfortable on a 10-to-12-week interval through winter may start to go long in the toe or lose balance in the hoof capsule more quickly once spring kicks in.

If your horse is barefoot, keep a close eye on wear versus growth. Spring going can be unpredictably variable, and a horse that was managing fine on hard winter ground may need more frequent attention as the going changes.

For all horses, spring is a natural time to discuss with your farrier whether the previous season’s approach is still right. Changes in workload, surfaces or the horse’s way of going can all influence the best approach to shoeing or trimming. If your horse is showing any foot soreness, even mild or intermittent, don’t assume it’s just the changing ground. Subtle foot pain is one of the most common forms of lameness in horses and it’s one of the areas where early investigation pays dividends. A horse that’s mildly foot sore in spring can deteriorate quickly once the workload increases.

Final thoughts: use spring as an opportunity to observe

The seasonal change is one of the best prompts to really look at your horse: not with a list of concerns in mind, but just with fresh eyes. Watch them move in the field. Feel along their back and legs. Notice if their attitude to work is different. Has anything changed since autumn?

Horses are very good at compensating for low-grade discomfort, which is why problems can become established before they become obvious. The patterns you notice over a few days – a slight reluctance on the right rein, a change in behaviour when you groom over the back, a foot that’s warmer than the others – are often more useful information than a single observation.

Spring is also an excellent time to raise anything you’ve noticed with your vet, before the season gets into full swing and your diary fills up. If you’re not sure how to describe what you’re seeing, or whether it warrants a call, 5 things to discuss with your vet is a practical guide to preparing for exactly that conversation.

If your horse is showing signs of lameness — or something that’s just not quite right — Talk Lameness is a free educational resource to help you understand what you’re seeing and talk confidently with your vet. Start the Quiz.

For equine vets and practices interested in standing MRI for lameness diagnosis, find out more about Hallmarq’s equine imaging. With the tools available to scan the foot, carpus and tarsus, the gold standard in lameness diagnosis is now even better!

If you’ve ever thought “something’s off with my horse, but I can’t prove it”, you’re not imagining things. Lameness isn’t always a dramatic limp. More often, it’s a collection of small changes that come and go, shift with the surface or only show up when you’re riding.

When vets measure lameness, they’re doing one main thing: turning a gut feeling into a clear picture they can track, compare and use to decide what to do next. It’s not usually one magic number. It’s a story built from a few reliable clues.

1. First, we agree what we’re looking at

In plain terms, lameness is a change in the way a horse moves that’s linked to discomfort or reduced function. The tricky bit is that horses are brilliant at coping. They can shift weight, shorten a stride, change rhythm or alter balance so the problem hides in plain sight.

That’s why measuring lameness is less about catching one bad step and more about noticing patterns and unevenness. It’s asking: is something consistently different on one side, under certain conditions or over time?

2. The trained eye: what your vet is watching for

A lameness assessment usually starts with careful observation at walk and trot, often on a firm, level surface. Your vet is looking at stride length, rhythm, straightness and how evenly your horse loads and pushes off each limb. They’ll often watch from the side and from behind, because different angles show different clues.

Then they’ll add context. That might mean circles, different surfaces or seeing the horse under saddle if that’s where the issue shows up. The point isn’t to make the horse look worse. It’s to create the conditions where subtle issues are easier to spot, so your vet can start narrowing things down.

“Measuring lameness isn’t about proving anything. It’s about building a clearer picture so you and your vet can make better decisions. The better the picture, the calmer the plan tends to be.”

Chrysanthi Pitaouli, DVM, CertAVP

3. Grading scales: a shared language, not a label

To make lameness easier to describe, vets often use a grading scale. You might hear the AAEP 0–5 scale mentioned, where 0 is not perceptible and 5 is non weight bearing. The middle grades are where many “not quite right” horses sit. They might look fine some of the time, then show it on a circle, on a hard surface, when they’re tired or when they’re ridden.

A grade isn’t a judgement on you or your horse. It’s simply a way of saying “today, in these conditions, this is how clear it is”, so it can be compared later.

4. Making it repeatable: conditions matter

One reason lameness feels so confusing is that it can change depending on:

• the surface (hard vs soft)
• straight lines vs circles
• warming up vs fatigue
• ridden vs in-hand

So part of measuring lameness is keeping things consistent. Vets do this by repeating the same checks and comparing what they see in different situations.

As an owner, you don’t need to recreate a full work-up at home. But you can help by keeping your horse’s story tidy. Two short videos filmed in a similar way a few days apart, plus a note of when it looks better or worse, can be genuinely useful.

5. Objective gait analysis: when sensors help

Alongside the vet’s eye, there are tools designed to measure movement more objectively. Some practices may use systems that allow for small sensors to be placed on areas like the poll and pelvis to measure asymmetry and track change over time.

This can be helpful when:

• signs are subtle and you want to be sure a change is real
• the picture is complicated (for example, multiple issues or compensation)
• your vet wants a consistent way to monitor response to treatment or rehab

It’s worth saying: sensors don’t diagnose the cause on their own. They’re another way of measuring what’s happening, so decisions aren’t based on guesswork.

6. Measuring response: what changes after a test?

A big part of lameness measurement is comparison. Your vet will look at your horse’s movement at baseline, then see what changes after specific steps in the exam.

That might include flexion tests, hoof testing or local anaesthetic blocks used to narrow down where discomfort is coming from. The principle is the same each time: they’re not just looking at what you see, they’re looking at what changes when something is tested.

This step-by-step approach is why lameness work-ups can feel slow. They’re designed to build accuracy, not rush to a conclusion.

7. Imaging: getting a clearer picture inside

Sometimes the lameness is measurable, but the why still isn’t clear. That’s where imaging comes in.

X-rays and ultrasound can be really useful depending on what your vet suspects. Ultrasound is often used to look at soft tissues that are accessible from the outside. X-rays help with bony changes and joint spaces.

MRI is another option, particularly in complex areas like the foot and lower limb, where structures are crowded and harder to fully assess with other imaging. Standing equine MRI can often be done with the horse standing under mild sedation. It’s one tool among several, used when your vet needs more detail to guide treatment, rehab or next steps.

The takeaway

Measuring lameness isn’t about proving anything. It’s about building a clearer picture so you and your vet can make better decisions. The better the picture, the calmer the plan tends to be.

If you want a practical next step, keep it simple:

• film a short straight line trot clip if it’s safe
• jot down when it looks worse or better (surface, rein, warm-up, ridden vs in-hand)
• share that with your vet

You’re not expected to have the answers. You’re just helping tell your horse’s story clearly and with confidence!

If lameness always looked like a clear limp, most of us would spot it in five minutes, call the vet and move on. In real life, it’s rarely that tidy. More often, you notice a feeling first. Your horse is a touch uneven, a bit reluctant or just not moving like themselves and you start second guessing. Are you imagining it? Is it the surface? Are they being cheeky? Is it your riding?

That uncertainty is exactly why lameness can be so stressful. It’s also why it helps to understand one simple truth: horses don’t all show pain in the same way and movement changes can be subtle long before they’re obvious.

Here’s why.

Horses are built to cope

Horses are prey animals. Their instinct is to keep going, even when something hurts. Many horses will protect a sore area by shifting weight, changing their rhythm or loading a different part of the limb. To you, it can look like a normal day with a few little quirks. To your vet, those quirks can be clues.

This coping is also why you might feel something is off under saddle, even when your horse looks fine to someone watching from the gate.

Subtle lameness doesn’t always look like a limp

A limp is one way lameness can show up, but it’s not the only one. Some horses shorten a stride rather than clearly nod. Some move evenly in a straight line but look different on a circle. Some lose power behind, feel less willing or struggle with a lead that was always easy.

You might notice:

• a change in rhythm or regularity at trot
• unevenness that comes and goes
• reluctance to bend one way
• stumbling or toe dragging
• difficulty with transitions
• a drop in performance, forwardness, or confidence

None of these proves lameness on their own. But they can be the start of a story worth paying attention to.

“Lameness often shows up under certain conditions, not all the time. That’s why two people can look at the same horse and see different things.”

Humphrey Grimmett BVetMed BSc MRCVS, Vet Surgeon

Lameness can depend on the situation

Lameness often shows up under certain conditions, not all the time. That’s why two people can look at the same horse and see different things.

Common “it only happens when…” moments include:

• on a circle, especially on one rein
• on a firm surface, or sometimes only on softer ground
• when the horse is tired
• after warming up, or sometimes only before they’ve loosened up
• under saddle, but not obviously in-hand

This isn’t your horse being dramatic. It’s just biomechanics. Different surfaces and shapes change how each limb is loaded and that can make a mild issue easier or harder to see.

Compensation muddies the picture

One sore area can cause knock-on changes elsewhere. A horse protecting a front foot might alter shoulder movement, change how they use their neck or shift weight back. A hindlimb issue can change how the horse carries their pelvis, how they sit in canter or how forward going they are.

This is why lameness isn’t always as simple as “left fore”. Sometimes the visible change is a compensation, not the original source. It’s also why vets work step by step, because they’re trying to find what’s driving the pattern, not just what looks odd.

Behaviour can be part of the lameness story

This is a big one and it’s where owners often feel judged.

Sometimes discomfort shows up as resistance, tension, napping, bucking, refusing or just feeling flat. That doesn’t mean every behaviour issue is pain. But it does mean behaviour doesn’t automatically rule pain out either.

A useful way to think about it is this: behaviour is information. It’s one piece of the picture, alongside movement, context and patterns over time.

Your eye adapts without you realising

If you see your horse every day, tiny changes can creep in gradually. You adjust your expectations without meaning to. It’s why someone who hasn’t seen them in a month might say, “they look different”, and you’re left thinking, do they?

This is also why short videos can be so helpful. They freeze a moment in time. You can compare week to week or show your vet exactly what you’re trying to describe.

What to do if you’re not sure

You don’t need to prove anything. You just need to get curious and collect a few useful details. A simple plan:

• Notice the pattern: when is it worse, when is it better, what changed recently
• Film a short clip if it’s safe: straight line trot and a circle each rein if you can
• Write a few notes: surface, rein, warm-up, ridden vs in-hand
• Talk to your vet if you’re worried or if it’s persistent or getting worse

You’re not overreacting by asking questions. You’re doing what good horse people do. You’re paying attention and you’re learning to talk lameness so your horse gets the right help sooner.