A screening and self-coaching aid — not a diagnosis or a lesson

What RideAlign is

RideAlign is a self-serve, two-module tool. The horse gait module helps owners and caretakers track stride symmetry and stride strength over time: you film your horse trotting, tap the poll and hip on the first frame, and RideAlign tracks how those points move for the rest of the clip, comparing your horse's actual up-and-down motion to a perfectly even, symmetric reference. The rider position module helps riders track their own position in the saddle: you film yourself riding, tap four points (ear, shoulder, hip, heel), and RideAlign reports an Alignment score (how vertical that line stayed) and a Stability score (how little it swayed), which you can then compare between any two past screenings to see how your position has changed.

The idea behind the horse gait module mirrors how vets already work: they watch for a "head nod" (asymmetric vertical movement of the poll, associated with forelimb discomfort) and a "hip hike" (asymmetric vertical movement of the pelvis, associated with hindlimb discomfort) during a trot-up exam. Objective equine gait-analysis systems used in veterinary and research settings — such as Lameness Locator, Sleip, and RealHorse — quantify these same patterns from sensors or video. Ultralytics has also published a "Stride" reference app exploring pose-based gait tracking. The rider position module borrows the same video-tracking approach and applies it to the classic "ear-shoulder-hip-heel" vertical alignment line that riding instructors use to check position. RideAlign brings lightweight, video-based versions of both ideas to your phone or laptop. Video is analyzed on your device by default, and never leaves it unless you explicitly choose to save a copy to your profile.

What RideAlign is not

RideAlign does not diagnose lameness. It does not identify a specific limb, a specific injury, or a specific condition. It does not replace a veterinary lameness exam, flexion tests, nerve blocks, imaging, or any other clinical evaluation performed by a licensed veterinarian. A high or low Symmetry Index or Stride Strength Index is a data point for you to bring to your vet — not a conclusion on its own. Likewise, RideAlign's rider position feedback does not replace in-person coaching. It cannot see your reins, seat weight, leg position, or the horse's response the way an instructor can, and it does not evaluate riding safety.

The current version (V1) tracks points that you place manually, using template-matching across video frames. It does not use a trained AI pose-detection model to find the body automatically, for either the horse or the rider. Automated pose detection, additional landmarks, and multi-limb analysis are on our roadmap, but are not part of the app today. We would rather tell you plainly what RideAlign does now than overstate it.

How your data is handled

RideAlign runs entirely in your browser. Video you record or upload is processed on your device using the Canvas API. By default, the video itself is discarded after scoring and never leaves your device. When you record a clip, you can choose to "Save a copy to my profile" instead — this uploads that one clip to secure cloud storage so you can revisit it later or view it from another device; it's entirely optional and off by default. Horse profiles, rider profiles, and screening history are stored locally in your browser's storage (localStorage) and stay on your device unless you clear your browser data. If you use RideAlign on a different device or browser, your history will not follow automatically (saved video backups, if any, remain accessible via their link regardless of device).

When to call your vet or coach

Regardless of what your Symmetry Index or Stride Strength Index shows, contact a licensed equine veterinarian if your horse shows visible lameness, sudden onset of pain, heat or swelling in a limb, reluctance to bear weight, a change in behavior under saddle, or any other sign that concerns you. Likewise, regardless of your Alignment or Stability score, work with a qualified riding coach or trainer if you have concerns about your position, balance, or safety in the saddle — especially before trying to correct anything on your own. RideAlign is meant to support your observation between vet visits or lessons — never to delay a professional evaluation when something seems wrong.

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