Exploring Equine Asymmetry
- Horses Inside Out
- Nov 24
- 4 min read
For over two decades, Dr Kirsty Lésniak has dedicated her career to helping others understand the horse from the inside out. As a Senior Lecturer in Equine Science at Hartpury University, she has inspired countless students through her passion for anatomy, physiology, and the fascinating connections between structure and function. In this article, we take a closer look at her journey through anatomy, passion and discovery, and also look at what Kirsty will be discussing at the Horses Inside Out Conference: Soundness and Symmetry in February 2026.
“Understanding how a structure is built helps us understand how it works and how it adapts or responds to the world around it,” Kirsty explains. “That link between form and function is at the heart of everything I do.”
A Career Built on Curiosity
Kirsty’s academic journey has been shaped by curiosity and a lifelong fascination with anatomy. Over the years, she has taught across undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD levels, guiding students through research projects that explore anatomy, biomechanics, and asymmetry in horses. Mentoring, she says, remains one of the most rewarding parts of her role.
Beyond the classroom, Kirsty is well-known for her public equine dissections. These immersive, educational events bring equine anatomy to life for audiences ranging from professionals and students to horse owners and enthusiasts. While her main focus is horses, she has also dissected a shark, a wallaby, and even a swan - each experience offering unique anatomical insights and the opportunity to compare form and function across species.
In 2025, Kirsty co-delivered the relaunch of the Horses Inside Out Dissection Series alongside Gillian Higgins. The three-day event offered participants a rare chance to explore equine anatomy hands-on and in depth, linking theory to practical understanding in an engaging and respectful environment.
“It’s such a powerful way to bring theory to life,” says Kirsty. “When people can see and feel how anatomy, biomechanics, and health connect, it completely changes how they approach training and care.”
The Subtle Science of Asymmetry
Kirsty’s research focuses on structural asymmetry, the subtle, often invisible differences between the left and right sides of a horse’s body. Her interest in this topic began during her undergraduate studies, inspired by a BBC documentary, The Human Face, which explored the role of symmetry in humans. It sparked a question that continues to drive her research today: what does asymmetry mean for horses?
“Asymmetry has become something of a buzzword in equine science,” Kirsty explains. “We often think about movement or muscular imbalance, but the structural asymmetry I study is much more subtle, it’s in the bones themselves.”
Her studies examine minute differences in skeletal structures, from the metacarpal and metatarsal regions to facial features such as the ears. Some asymmetries occur randomly (known as fluctuating asymmetries), while others show a consistent directional bias. These patterns can reveal how well a horse’s body has coped with developmental challenges, and in some cases, may even indicate athletic potential.
Interestingly, Kirsty’s findings suggest that some directional asymmetries are species-wide traits rather than the result of training or management. What’s more, horses with proven superior athletic ability often display greater symmetry, hinting at a connection between structural balance and performance potential.
From Limbs to Hooves
Kirsty’s fascination with the distal limb (the lower part of the leg) has grown alongside her research. Recent studies have explored the relationship between limb asymmetry and hoof conformation, revealing some surprising results.
“We initially thought the hoof would compensate for skeletal imbalances,” Kirsty says. “But it seems the opposite is true, hoof shape appears to be influenced by the loading imbalances caused by asymmetry.”
Her team also found that larger horses tend to show greater hoof asymmetries, likely due to the increased forces acting on their limbs. Looking ahead, Kirsty plans to undertake a longitudinal study to track how limb and hoof asymmetries develop over time and influence one another.
Looking Ahead: Horses Inside Out Conference 2026
Kirsty will be sharing her fascinating insights as one of the keynote speakers at the Horses Inside Out Conference in February 2026. Her talk will delve into the origins of skeletal asymmetry in horses, exploring whether these variations arise naturally during development, or are influenced by training and discipline. Combining her extensive anatomical knowledge with the latest research, this talk will offer valuable insights into how skeletal asymmetry impacts soundness, performance, and long-term equine health.
“I’m really excited to bring this work to the Horses Inside Out Conference,” Kirsty says. “It’s such a fantastic opportunity to bridge science and practice, and to show how a deeper understanding of anatomy can truly benefit the horse.”
Join us in February 2026 to hear Dr Kirsty Lésniak’s keynote presentation and gain a fresh perspective on equine symmetry, structure, and performance.
Kirsty is also part of Soundness and Symmetry in Practice, which takes place at Vale View Equestrian on Monday 23 February. This final day of our conference is a practical day for owners, riders and professionals and illustrates the concepts explored in the previous two days through lecture demonstrations and practical workshops led by leading equestrian professionals.
Join Kirsty for a hands-on workshop that focuses on assessing hoof asymmetry. This is a vital skill for all equestrians, particularly when evaluating a horse for purchase or performance potential. Discover how to take accurate hoof measurements and identify asymmetries that can affect balance, movement, and long-term soundness. Kirsty will demonstrate how tools such as Kinovea software and Yogi’s HoofmApp can be used to collect and interpret data, and highlight how camera placement plays a critical role in capturing reliable images.
The session will also include a practical look at limb asymmetry measurement to give you a deeper understanding of the links between hoof structure, limb alignment and overall biomechanics.
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