b'STEP BY STEP CHRISTA LEST-LASSERRE, MATheHorse.com/Step-By-StepLameness Exams: Subjective or Objective?When it comes to evaluating lameness with man or machine,the best outcome might involve bothIn a recent study Rhodins team cre-ated temporary lameness in a group of horses by tightening a screw in a shoe on a randomly selected foot, making the sole slightly sore. Then they filmed these lame horses, as well as clinically lame and sound horses, trotting in a straight line and circling on a longe line in both directions. A group of 86 equine orthope-dic clinicians of varying experience levels viewed the videos and commented on them. Their level of agreement with each other was very poor overall, Rhodin says, with the greatest differences noted among the less experienced clinicians. They disagreed about which limb was lame, and their evaluations of lame versus sound horses also varied. Those discrep-ancies were even more pronounced with subtle lameness cases.ISABELLE ARNONSource and degree of lameness can be dif\x05cult for even the most seasoned veterinarian to detect. Asymmetry vs. LamenessObjective systems dont measure lameness, per se. Rather, they measure S ometimes its painfully obvious. Yourmovement, providing objective data thatasymmetry. But is a lame horse an asym-horse takes a long step, then a shortveterinarians can use for diagnosis andmetrical horse and vice versa? one, then a long one, then a shortcomparison.Asymmetry isnt lameness, says one. His head bobs, and his ears pin.Objective measurement systems can bePaul Ren van Weeren, DVM, PhD, Dipl. Youre experienced enough to know hesprecise and highly sensitive. But so canECVS, professor in the department of lame on the front leg thats down whenwell-trained veterinarians carrying outequine sciences at Utrecht University, in his head bobs up, or the opposite hind. subjective evaluations. As objective sys- the Netherlands. It can be a sign of pos-But what if its two limbs, or three?tems start filtering into the 21st centurysible lameness, but its presence doesnt What if your horse isnt overtly lame but iscommercial market, the question arises:mean a horse is lame. not performing well or has developed de- For lameness exams, which is better Such confusion can create issues for a fensive behaviors like biting or bucking?human, machine, or both?competitive rider, for example, who might Recognizing lameness is no easyface penalties, disqualifications, and task. Thats why some equine veterinar- The Challenge: Finding the Sourcepublic criticism for riding a horse thats ians train for years to become lamenessLameness isnt easy for us to pre- asymmetrical and, therefore, assumed to experts, evaluating horses with their eyes,cisely detect. Its not even easy for equinebe lame.hands, knowledge, and experience. Thatsveterinarians to detect. Thats especiallyMovement asymmetry can occur for a also why various research groups acrosstrue for less experienced veterinarians,variety of reasons, Rhodin says. It could the globe have turned to technology tosays Marie Rhodin, PhD, Dipl. ACVSMR,be mechanicalmeaning its how the help quantify lameness where they cant.associate professor in equine clinicalhorse is naturally, without any pain. It These measurement systems detect thebiomechanics at the Swedish Universitycan also be induced by turning circles, slightest asymmetry in individual limbof Agricultural Sciences, in Uppsala. which by their very nature make horses 62November 2018The Horse|TheHorse.com'