Aipedia: Veterinary surgeons and practices

AI lameness tools and equine pre-purchase examinations

Aipedia, by the Apex broking team · Last reviewed 2026-10-30

Equine vets can use sensor and video AI to measure lameness, but the vet's own clinical assessment remains the finding that matters, especially in a pre-purchase examination. Buyers of valuable horses rely on that opinion, so claims can be large.

Part of: AI in veterinary practice

In short

Inertial sensors and video gait analysis use AI to quantify asymmetry and flag subtle lameness. They may be used in lameness workups and pre-purchase examinations, covered by Chapter 7 of the RCVS guidance. The RCVS Spring 2026 advice says decisions must not be wholly delegated to AI and output must be critically appraised. A buyer who later finds a problem may argue it should have been detected or reported, and the record of what was found and how it was assessed is central. PI usually responds to negligence claims subject to the policy terms, but high horse values make limits important.

How AI lameness tools are used

Body-mounted inertial sensors measure head and pelvic movement and calculate asymmetry, and smartphone or camera systems use AI to analyse gait from video. Equine vets use them to detect subtle lameness, track response to nerve blocks, monitor rehabilitation and add objective data to a pre-purchase examination.

Objective numbers can help. They can also mislead: measurements vary with surface, speed, handling and the horse's temperament, and thresholds that flag "lame" may not align with what is clinically significant for the horse's intended use.

The duties that apply

The main duties that apply are:

Pre-purchase examinations: Chapter 7 of the RCVS supporting guidance covers equine pre-purchase examinations.
No wholesale delegation: the RCVS AI advice says clinical decisions must not be wholly delegated to AI, and users need enough subject knowledge to appraise output.
Competence: Code 1.2 requires vets to keep within their competence, including in interpreting gait data.
Records: Code 2.5 and Chapter 13 require clear, accurate records of findings.
Certification: Code 6.2 requires vets to certify facts and opinions honestly and with due care, which applies to any written opinion or certificate.
Confidentiality: findings are information about the client's animal under Code 2.6, which matters when seller and buyer both have an interest.

What can go wrong

Illustrative scenario: during a pre-purchase examination, a sensor system shows a small hindlimb asymmetry within the range the vet regards as normal variation. The vet does not mention it in the report, and the buyer completes the purchase. A few months later the horse is lame on the same limb, and the buyer's adviser obtains the sensor data and argues the finding should have been reported and investigated.

The reverse also happens: a vet reports a sensor flag as a significant finding without clinical correlation, the sale falls through, and the seller complains. Video systems used by owners and trainers can also create disagreements when their results conflict with the vet's opinion.

Pre-purchase work involves more than one party with an interest. The examining vet acts for the prospective purchaser, but the horse belongs to the seller, who may also be a client of the practice. Sharing AI data or findings with the wrong party, or without the right permission, can raise confidentiality issues under Code 2.6 on top of any negligence argument.

High-value claims and how PI usually responds

Claims from buyers are usually for the difference in value, veterinary costs and associated losses, and with competition horses these can be significant. Veterinary PI under Code 3.4 usually responds to allegations of negligence in an examination, subject to the policy terms. The defence often depends on what was recorded: the conditions, what the vet observed, what the data showed and how the vet interpreted it. Unexplained sensor data that the vet did not mention can be harder to defend than no data at all. Because the RCVS sets no minimum limit, equine vets should check their limit against the values of horses they examine; see what veterinary PI costs.

Practical controls

These steps reduce the risk:

Use AI gait data alongside, not instead of, your clinical lameness assessment.
Record surface, conditions, handler and any factors affecting the measurements.
Record all data captured and explain in the report how you interpreted it.
Be clear in the report about what the tool can and cannot show.
Keep raw data for as long as records are kept.
Check your PI limit against the horse values you deal with.

Related: AI and certification, AI imaging reports and the AI in veterinary practice overview.

How Apex helps

Apex arranges PI for equine and mixed practices. A broker reviews your cover, including limits for pre-purchase work and how AI-measured findings are treated.

Sources

Frequently asked

Should sensor data be included in a pre-purchase report?

If it was captured, it is usually safer to record it and explain how you interpreted it. Unexplained data that later surface can suggest a finding was overlooked. Chapter 7 covers pre-purchase examinations, and Code 2.5 requires accurate records.

Can an AI gait tool decide if a horse is lame?

No. It measures movement and flags asymmetry. The RCVS says clinical decisions must not be wholly delegated to AI, so the vet must judge whether a finding is clinically significant for that horse and its intended use.

What PI limit do equine vets need?

The RCVS sets no minimum. The right limit depends on the horses you examine and the claims they could generate. A broker can help compare your work with the limit you hold.

Who owns the sensor data from an examination?

That depends on the arrangements between the practice, the client and the provider of the system. The RCVS asks practices to check where data are stored, whether the developer can access them, and whether the tool trains on live client data.

Check your PI covers how you use AI

Tell us about your firm and the work you do. A broker will review how your current PI treats AI-assisted work, or arrange new cover. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.

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Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information about how AI is used in the profession and how insurance may respond. It is not legal, regulatory or insurance advice on your circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.