“ in the field” health and performance analysis thursday, 22 october 2015equinalysis: supporting...

Friday, April 21, 2023 Equinalysis: Supporting Equine Excellence

“ In the field” health and performance analysis

Presentation

EquiStepWhere tradition and technology meet



What is Equinalysis?

• Equinalysis is a video based equine gait analysis system developed originally by Haydn Price, a very experienced and respected farrier

• Partnership with leading human biomechanics specialists

• Currently being utilised to assist in performance enhancement in the sport of dressage

• Also as a diagnostic aid for the accurate measurement of improvement after injury

• Also provides an accurate reference point which is permanently recordable

• Invaluable in pre purchase examination and assessment of sport horses



What is EquiStep?

• Equinalysis is a software programme which will allow video footage to be edited and viewed in slow motion whilst maintaining clear definition.

• It also allows measurements of various items to be taken and recorded.• However there is much more to Equinalysis gait analysis than simply filming

and noting numbers.• The company relies on a network of national Business Partners who are

fully trained and accredited on an annual basis.• Training is constantly evolving as we work closely with the core

professionals such as Haydn Price (Farriery), Prof. John McEwan (Sports Science and Veterinary) and Prof. Bob Colborne of Bristol University who is a leading authority on Equine Biomechanics.

• EquiStep is the Eastern Region business partner, covering much of South East England.

• We screen horses either at their own yard if facilities suitable • Or at home in Hockley, Essex



What we do: Seeing is Believing, or is it?

• The eye operates at 12 frames per second (1 frame every 83 milliseconds)• Video cameras operate 50 – 1,500 frames per second (1 frame every 20 –

0.6 milliseconds)



State of the Art

• Currently the assessment of equine locomotion and lameness is carried out visually and cannot be reliably or consistently quantified

• Equine practitioners often disagree on the extent of lameness• The assessment cannot easily be communicated and has very little or no

historic value

The objective measurement of lameness and changes in locomotion are the missing pieces of critical information needed to make key decisions related to equine health and performance



Who is Equinalysis?

• Founded 4 years ago by Haydn Price and Professor John Davies• Vision: to introduce applicable Human & Equine Sports Science products

and Services to the wider Equine world• Equine Gait product developed with input from Vets, Farriers and other

equine practitioners• Products and Services provide by Equinalysis, their “Business Partners”

and leading Equine Practitioners• Recruiting nationwide network of “Business Partners” to compliment

existing referral network• Individuals Trained and Accredited by Equinalysis and the appropriate

Academic institution• Engaged in research to determine “Normal Parameters / Envelope”• Working closely with Bristol University and University College Worcester’s

Motion Analysis Research & Rehabilitation Centre unit (MARRC to further explore Equine Biomechanics

• Professor Bob Colborne • International interest from USA, Norway, Italy, Netherlands, India &

Australia



Research and Development

In the future:• Ever closer links with Horse owners and practitioners• Working with major veterinary colleges and practices on a

‘shopfloor’ level• Help owners and insurance companies to develop better

communication and products• Assist in maintaining sport horses’ working lives • Collaborative research with MARRC e.g: horse and rider interaction• Future products undergoing clinical evaluation

– saliva based testing– liquid oxygen (enhance performance / aid rehabilitation)



Equine Insurance Industry

• Grow Revenues and increase profitability– Attract more customers– Increase customer loyalty– Appropriate premiums– Reduce Fatalities and Loss of Use– Minimise Vet Fee inflation

• Improved Risk Management “Decision Support”:– Insure or Exclude?– Premium Setting– Monitor Risk and adjust Premium during Insurance

Period– Prevent irreversible breakdown– Maximise long term performance and athleteability– Minimize Cost and Time of treatment– Return to Work / Fit to Compete?



Gait Analysis - Aims and Objectives

Prevention, Prevention, Prevention!!!!

• Provide a baseline reference of Equine Gait• Capture baseline data at Optimum Performance• Periodic reference points e.g:

– annually for insurance purposes– monitor and enhance performance– measure the effectiveness of treatment– categorise characteristics & match to equine use

• Determine alignment with normal gait parameters



Gait Analysis - Applications

• Pre-purchase Examinations– reference point

• Sport Horse assessment – Allows in depth analysis of elite horses by interested parties at

remote locations• Thoroughbred Sales

– provide video of each horse to potential purchaser prior to Sale– minimises the number of times the horse is trotted up– saves time on the day of sale as horses of interest already assessed

• Dressage Health Check – Assessment for Optimum Performance especially at high levels

• Remedial and Everyday Farriery– pre & post treatment for recovery or performance enhancement– Farrier Health Check and advice

• Veterinary Diagnostic / Monitoring– evidence based diagnostic tool– Some insurance companies now set a limit on cost of diagnosis– In difficult to assess cases gait analysis can significantly reduce the

need for multiple nerve blocks by narrowing down areas of discomfort

– monitor the effectiveness of treatment



Equinalysis Screening – Features & Benefits (1)

• Equinalysis Screening process provides:– Greater insight into a horses movement

• aids diagnosis of existing problems• assists in the identification of sub-clinical lameness

– Measurable data and information• biomechanical data can be measured and compared over

time• chart changes in carpel flexion, asymmetry etc

– A permanent reference in time• at peak performance• monitor effectiveness of treatment• compare shoeing options



Equinalysis Screening – Features & Benefits (2)

– A vehicle for data sharing with other Equine professionals and interested parties

• easy to get second opinion quickly at low cost• always have access to the leading expert(s) whenever,

wherever• reduces time taken to reach an accurate diagnosis

– An opportunity to Partner with the Horse Owner• emphasis on prevention and improvement• participation in screening process and reviewing data

– Add value to the horse when selling on– Avoid litigation – especially important in Loan or Lease situations



Summary

• Providing Evidence to replace Subjectivity– Enhancing Performance– Reducing Time– Reducing Cost– Managing Risk– Sharing Information

• Extending Knowledge• Facilitating Research



The nuts and bolts: What we do

• Horse is marked up with high viz markers which can be readily picked up by the system

• Horse is then walked and trotted in front of the cameras

• Video footage is taken from the front, back, and each side.

• Raw footage is then edited (later, not at the time)

• At least five clips are produced of each view

• This is to eliminate as far as possible the random elements of the horse’s strides

• Information is then extracted and used to build a numerical picture of how the horse is moving

• Averages are used to provide a reliable pattern



Nuts and bolts: What the Owner gets

• Once all relevant data is collected a portfolio is produced for each horse screened.

• Recommendations can be made by the attending technician

• If required further consultations can be obtained from the clips by

– Senior Farrier

– Veterinary consultant

– Bio mechanist

• Additional cds are produced for the practitioners involved with the horse such as chiropracter, farrier, vet, trainer, rider etc.

• If required further follow up support can be provided in terms of farriery or veterinary consultation or treatment / monitoring



Nuts and bolts: What does it cost?

• At present there are three levels of screening available.– EquiStep Basic Farrier Healthcheck

• This is a basic filming involving no marking up of horse, provides clips to show how the horse places his feet and to more closely examine balance of feet. This is a stand alone screening and cannot be added to later as only minimal markers are used. Provides useful reference

Price: £70.00– EquiStep Level One Screening

• Horse is fully marked up and videod from all aspects as in a full screening but no biomechanical information is developed.

• Basic portfolio provided with cds for practitioners as required• Can be added to at a later date if required

Price £150.00– EquiStep Level Two Screening

• Full mark up• Video footage of front, back, both sides in walk and trot• Still photos of hooves for record• Spreadsheet of collected information • Portfolio includes any recommendations based on information extracted

Price: £250.00



Extras

• Farriery consultation can be provided at an additional cost of £50.00. Can be added to any EquiStep screening

• Veterinary or Biomechanical consultations can be added. Quotation required as price dependant on information required

• Follow up farriery – quotation provided on request

• Full set of digital xrays to accompany Pre Purchase Screening. Cost additional £100 + v.a.t. Work carried out at our yard in Hockley.



Foot Care and Gait Analysis

• EquiStep and Equinalysis are not only about Farriery and feet

• The following is just one area that can be of great interest

• Foot balance is crucial to the long term well being and muscular development of the equine athlete whatever discipline

• Low level discomfort can be covered up by a strong proficient rider

• Often sub clinical lameness is attributed to other factors such as napping, poor training, difficult temperament, poor conformation etc

• Although monitoring of hooves is important its not the whole story

• Data collected needs to be read as a whole picture



Accreditation

• The following illustrations are taken from ‘No Foot, No Horse’ by Gail Williams BA (Hons) PhD and Martin Deacon FWCF

• The book No Foot, No Horse is recommended reading for anyone involved with equines



Physics

This example shows how the

mechanics of a simple every day item work. If the base of this chair does not extend

as far as the back, the person seated will topple

backwards.



Mechanics of the Foot

This is a diagram of a horse’s hoof. In a perfect hoof the symmetry of the hoof has angles and placements which have proved efficient over millions of years.

When these angles become disrupted problems follow



Dynamics - Wrong

This diagram shows how the how the

dynamics of the horse change when the angles

and foot balance of the front feet are altered or allowed to change i.e.

collapsed heels, lack of support, too long toes

etc.The ‘engine’ of the

horse moves from the back to the front as he

tries to pull himself along rather than

pushing from behind



Dynamics - right

This diagram shows how correcting the front foot balance

and supporting the forelimb can

dramatically alter and correct the

dynamics



Dynamics in real life

Poor horse!

Over a long period of time this horse has developed a way of going to cope with its uncomfortable front feet. This has led to

•lack of muscle in his back, quarters and top of neck;

•Huge over developed pectorals

•Tension and spasm at

base of neck

•Long, sagging underline

•And probably an unhappy temperament.

•Well, wouldn’t you cross??



Dynamics in real life



Real life feet

Heels distorted due to lack of support

Toes too long, will cause tripping, forging and overreach injury

Shoe too short for hoof, Heels collapsed.

The Load line should meet the back of the shoe or foot



Leah

Note here the clear differencein length of segments of each leg. to compensate the horsehas grown front feet of differentshapes and sizes.This horse appeared to be lameuntil remedial farriery adjustedthe feet so that step lengths became even and the horse no longer appeared unlevel.

“ in the field” health and performance analysis thursday, 22 october 2015equinalysis: supporting...

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