In this episode, Sallie Hyman, VMD, DACVIM-LA, CVA, CVTP, MBA, discussed the objective lameness evaluation technology Equinosis Q. She explained different applications for this technology and how she’s incorporated it into her practice. She also briefly discussed some other objective lameness technologies currently on the market, including Sleip.
What Is Equinosis Q?
Hyman explained that Equinosis Q is an inertial sensor system that uses accelerometers and gyroscopes to help identify very subtle lamenesses that might not be noticeable to the naked eye. “The Equinosis gives us an objective, measurable way of identifying a lameness in horses,” she said.
While this technology doesn’t tell the veterinarian what is wrong with the horse, it can narrow down where the lameness is located, which can help inform diagnostic imaging decisions.
In addition to using the Equinosis Q for lameness examinations, Hyman also uses the technology to perform baseline soundness evaluations, which she recommends having done at least once per year.
“Getting that baseline once a year and seeing how things change or don’t change will allow us to be able to identify a problem much, much sooner,” said Hyman. She said her clients have been very receptive to this service, and she credits it with preventing a lot of horses from becoming lame.
Other applications for the Equinosis Q include following up with treatments and therapies to see how the horse is responding and evaluating shoeing changes. Hyman said there is also a rider sensor that allows her to evaluate how the rider is affecting the horse’s soundness.
Other Objective Lameness Technologies
Another objective lameness technology available to equine practitioners is Sleip. Unlike the Equinosis Q, which uses physical sensors on the horse’s head, pelvis, and right front limb, Sleip uses virtual markers to evaluate the horse’s movement.
Hyman has not used this technology herself, but she has heard reports that it can become less accurate if your internet connection is poor or if the horse is too far away. However, she still recommends trying this technology if it’s what you have available. “Just using these technologies, I think, is great, because it’s going to enhance the lameness evaluation for every horse,” she said. “At the end of the day, sometimes we are tired, sometimes we just can’t figure it out, and it’s great to have these objective measures that will keep us honest and help us figure things out.”
Hyman also briefly mentioned the StrideSAFE system, which is being used in the racehorse industry to evaluate lameness and help prevent catastrophic injuries. “It’s a much different system that is not as much identifying the up and down head and pelvis motion as it is figuring out forward acceleration and stride length,” she explained. “We’ll see if it works its way into the hunter/jumper, eventing, endurance fields, but right now it’s very useful in the racing population, and the Equinosis and Sleip are more practical in the show horse world.”
Incorporating Equinosis Q Into Your Equine Practice
For veterinarians interested in incorporating the Equinosis Q into their equine practice, Hyman recommended contacting the company to learn more about the classes and certifications they offer.
She said the upfront investment for the system is around $15,000 to $18,000, “but if you are putting that on every single horse you use, your return on investment is pretty quick,” she said.
In closing, Hyman said veterinarians should not be afraid to use this technology. “It’s not a replacement for a veterinarian,” she said. “You can’t just give it to a client and they’re going to do all their lameness evaluations themselves. It really does need the practitioner behind it to put it all into perspective.”
About Dr. Sallie Hyman
Sallie Hyman, VMD, DACVIM-LA, CVA, CVTP, MBA, has been practicing equine medicine and surgery nationally and internationally since 1996. She attended the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, and she received the George M. Palmar Prize upon graduation for excellence in equine medicine and surgery. After graduation, she completed a medicine and surgery internship at Reid and Associates in Palm Beach, Florida.
Following her internship, Hyman pursued a residency in large animal internal medicine at The University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center. Here, she gained extensive experience in endoscopy, ultrasonography, and radiology, in addition to complicated medical case workups. After her residency, she spent a year of research utilizing the high-speed treadmill. Her research projects included the investigation of a novel drug to prevent exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, the effects of mechanical muscle massage on lactic acid levels and muscle recovery post-exercise, and drug elimination studies. Hyman gained board certification in Internal Medicine in 2004.
Over the years, Hyman has continued to further her veterinary knowledge, becoming certified in equine acupuncture and Tui Na, attending multiple International Society of Equine Locomotor Pathology forums on advanced musculoskeletal imaging and lameness evaluation, and lecturing both nationally and internationally. Hyman has also earned her MBA in marketing.
After several years in solo practice in the northern Virginia area, Hyman sought to join a team that provided excellence in diagnostics, care, and education. She found this in Total Equine Veterinary Associates and is pleased to be part of a forward-thinking, progressive, and caring practice.
Related Reading
- Harnessing the Power of AI in Equine Practice
- AAEP Health Coverage: Prevalence of Lameness in FEI Horses and Its Correlation to Performance
- Disease Du Jour: AAEP’s Wearable Biometric Sensor Research Project
Stay in the know! Sign up for EquiManagement’s FREE weekly newsletters to get the latest equine research, disease alerts, and vet practice updates delivered straight to your inbox.
