Subtle locomotor asymmetries are common in horses and may go unnoticed during routine pre-race clinical inspections, particularly when based solely on subjective evaluation. This study aimed to describe vertical head and pelvic movement asymmetries in racehorses that passed official pre-race inspections at a traditional racing event. Twenty-four horses were analysed using a markerless AI-based gait analysis system while trotting in-hand and during lungeing in both directions. Asymmetry parameters (HDmin, HDmax, PDmin, and PDmax) were extracted from video recordings, with values ≥0.5 considered clinically relevant. Vertical asymmetries were detected in 71% of horses during straight-line evaluation and in 79% during at least one lungeing direction. Some horses showed relevant asymmetries only under specific movement conditions, underscoring the complementary role of straight-line and lungeing assessments in comprehensive gait evaluation. These results suggest that objective gait analysis could enhance pre-race veterinary assessments, especially in traditional racing, where horses are subjected to significant biomechanical stress, including variable surface properties and repetitive directional loading. In such complex and dynamic environments, relying solely on visual assessment may result in the underdiagnosis of subtle locomotor alterations. The AI-based tools offer potential to improve the detection of subtle irregularities and support evidence-based decisions in performance horse management. Further investigations are warranted to validate the clinical relevance of currently adopted asymmetry thresholds, refine their diagnostic value, and support their integration into standardized pre-race evaluation protocols.

Subjective lameness evaluation during lungeing is routinely performed in equine practice, but its consistency remains limited, especially in cases of mild or complex asymmetry. This study aimed to assess the agreement between subjective gait evaluations and a markerless AI-based gait analysis system (OAI-MS) in traditional racehorses during lungeing. Intra- and inter-observer agreement of subjective evaluations was also investigated. 24 traditional racehorses were assessed during routine pre-race inspections (T0) while trotting on a soft surface. Two experienced equine clinicians independently evaluated each horse on both reins using the AAEP 0-5 scale; scores were then converted to a 3-level ordinal scale (0 = sound, 1 = mild, 2 = severe). Simultaneously, gait data were collected using the OAI-MS. A subset of 10 horses was re-evaluated after 10 days (T1) to assess short-term repeatability of the OAI-MS. Video-based reassessment (T2) was used to evaluate intra-observer agreement. Agreement was calculated using weighted Cohen's and Fleiss' kappa. p < 0.05. Inter-observer agreement ranged from κ = -0.20 to 0.36. Agreement between subjective evaluators and the OAI-MS ranged from slight to moderate (κ = 0.13-0.47). Intra-observer agreement was fair (κ ≈ 0.22), and OAI-MS repeatability reached κ = 0.43. Agreement was higher for forelimbs than hindlimbs. Most discrepancies were of low magnitude. Subjective gait evaluations during lungeing showed limited agreement. The OAI-MS demonstrated moderate repeatability, supporting its usability in the field and its potential role as a complementary tool in clinical decision-making, particularly when asymmetries are mild or disagreement occurs.

In horses, surgical site infections (SSIs) are multifactorial complications influenced by patient-related, procedural, and environmental factors. While perioperative contamination has been extensively studied in the operating theater, the anesthetic induction and recovery environment has received limited attention. The aim of this study was to characterize bacterial contamination within an equine anesthetic induction and recovery stall and to evaluate its spatial and temporal distribution. Environmental samples were collected from four predefined locations within the stall at three time points: before patient admission, after recovery from general anesthesia, and after routine cleaning and disinfection. Samples were analyzed using standard aerobic culture techniques, and bacterial species were identified. Bacterial contamination was detected at all sampling locations and time points. Contamination increased significantly after recovery from general anesthesia and was most pronounced in areas associated with moisture retention, such as the groove between floor tiles. The bacterial species identified were predominantly opportunistic environmental organisms. No direct association between environmental contamination and surgical site infections could be established. However, the constant presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria indicates that the anesthetic induction and recovery stall represents a relevant component of the perioperative environment. These findings support the inclusion of the recovery area in infection control strategies aimed at reducing perioperative risk in equine surgical patients.

Despite the wide range of therapeutic options currently available for equine sarcoids, recurrence of these lesions remains a major clinical challenge. Consequently, the identification of effective strategies for the management of recurrent sarcoids remains an important objective in equine oncology. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical outcome of surgical cytoreduction combined with intraoperative electrochemotherapy in horses affected by recurrent equine sarcoids. Medical records of horses treated between July 2018 and August 2025 at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Bologna were retrospectively reviewed. Data collected included signalment, lesion location, clinical subtype, lesion size, chemotherapeutic agent used, recurrence status, and follow-up duration. Fourteen horses presenting 23 recurrent sarcoid lesions met the inclusion criteria. Recurrence was evaluated at both the lesion and horse levels. Local tumour control was achieved in 16 of 23 lesions (69.6%). Recurrence was observed in 7 lesions, corresponding to a lesion-based recurrence rate of 30.4%, and in 5 of 14 horses (35.7%). Malignant and fibroblastic lesions showed higher recurrence rates than other clinical subtypes, whereas larger lesions tended to recur more frequently than smaller lesions. No significant differences were identified between cisplatin- and carboplatin-treated lesions. Surgical cytoreduction combined with intraoperative electrochemotherapy provided encouraging local tumour control in a population composed exclusively of recurrent sarcoids. This treatment protocol may represent a valuable therapeutic option for horses with local recurrence of sarcoids, although larger prospective studies are required to further define prognostic factors and long-term outcomes.

Summary : A rare case of bilateral perineal hernia was reported in a 24-year-old Italian Trotter mare. This condition is described as a protrusion of retroperitoneal fat, and/or the abdominal or pelvic viscera through the pelvic diaphragm which supports the rectal wall. It is commonly observed in olduncastrated old male dogs, but occurs very rarely in large ruminants; to the Authors’ knowledge, it has never been described in horses. Chronic weight loss is the main clinical sign, even if the main concern regards the entrapment and the strangulation of the bowel content. Reaching a diagnosis involves clinical signs, palpation, ultrasound evaluation and rectal examination. The approach chosen in all the cases of perineal hernia described in large ruminants is appositional herniorrhaphy; for this reason, it was utilised as the first surgical choice in the present case. Due to its failure, a new surgical approach was used The second procedure involved the transposition of the semimembranosus muscle. The short-term outcome after the second surgery presented no recurrence or complications. It is therefore necessary to consider perineal hernia among the various differential diagnosis of perineal swellings in horses. Additional cases are required to determine its benefits.

Equine sports medicine is increasingly oriented toward objective, field-based monitoring systems that support both performance optimization and welfare assessment. In this context, smartphone-based technologies have emerged as accessible tools capable of integrating data acquisition, processing, and interpretation within a single platform. This narrative review aims to examine the role of smartphones in equine sports medicine, focusing on their function as standalone sensing devices and as gateways for wearable and external sensor systems. The analysis is based on a structured synthesis of current literature addressing technological foundations, including embedded sensors, connectivity architectures, and artificial intelligence-driven data processing, as well as their clinical applications across locomotor, cardiovascular, respiratory, behavioural, and thermoregulatory domains. Evidence indicates that smartphone-based systems improve the feasibility of longitudinal monitoring and facilitate real-time decision-making in field conditions, while enhancing communication between veterinarians, trainers, and owners. However, their performance remains influenced by acquisition conditions, system variability, and algorithmic constraints, requiring careful validation and contextual interpretation. In addition, challenges related to data governance, privacy, and ethical use remain insufficiently addressed. Overall, smartphone-based technologies represent enabling tools that support a transition toward more integrated, data-driven, and welfare-oriented management of the equine athlete, while highlighting the need for standardisation and regulatory development.