New Tech Sparks Call To Redefine Lameness

New Tech Sparks Call To Redefine Lameness

- Rachael Turner

THE term “lameness” should be redefined to reflect new digital assessment techniques, according to a recent paper published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.

The traditional method for detecting lameness uses visual evaluation of the horse’s gait to identify the presence or absence and degree of asymmetries.

Professor René van Weeren, who wrote the paper with others, said those using this subjective method describe the lame horse as having a “disorder, defect or loss of function” and this clinical diagnosis has associated welfare implications if the horse concerned is still being asked to carry out his usual job.

But advanced computer technology is starting to change the process of determining lameness, using sensors on a horse’s body to record minuscule variations in movement, for example, to enable detailed study of gaits.

SUBTLE CHANGES

ALTHOUGH such methods can detect more subtle asymmetries than the human eye can, this does not necessarily mean a horse is lame in a traditional sense.