HBPA Panel Outlines Tool That Can Help Spot Lameness

Horse racing continues to receive tools from the scientific side that have the potential to identify lameness issues that could lead to a catastrophic breakdown.

The latest such tool, the Equinosis Q with Lameness Locator, was unveiled during the final panel session at this year's National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association conference March 4 at the Oaklawn Park hotel in Hot Springs, Ark.

The Equinosis Q with Lameness Locator measures differences in a horse's head height and pelvis height while the horse trots. Kevin Keegan, professor of veterinary medicine and surgery at the University of Missouri, said taking these measurements can help detect lameness in a Thoroughbred in training.

Picking up on lameness early could allow for a horse to receive time off or a CT scan to see if the lameness is being caused by microfractures. While lameness can be caused by a number of issues, microfractures would be an important finding because they have been linked to catastrophic breakdowns. 

The tool includes sensors that are placed on the horse's head and back, and sometimes on the right front foot but that foot sensor is optional. The sensors produce data that can be examined that picks up irregularities in how much the horse's head is rising and falling during its stride and how much the pelvis height is changing. Keegan noted that these are things trained horsemen already look for but the sensors are much better at picking up the differences.

Keegan outlined some encouraging findings from initial studies using the Equinosis Q with Lameness Locator at Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course, Thistledown, and Prairie Meadows. In the initial studies, data was collected on 73 horses at the two Ohio tracks over 16 weeks of racing and of 36 horses in Iowa over 18 weeks. There were 79 horses that were evaluated at least five times. 

In the trial run, some horses were given time off and the lameness issue resolved itself by the next time they were evaluated. One horse flagged was further examined and a tibial stress fracture was discovered. The horse was pulled from training.

In the studies at the tracks, horses were tested a few days after workouts and a few days before race day while being trotted by an assistant walking alongside them—a standard practice already at the track. The sensors then produce data that can be measured. Keegan notes it's especially advantageous to have that record on file for each horse as changes can be noted and action can be taken if needed.

Increasingly such tools are being embraced by racing as it continues to further target the already rare instances of catastrophic breakdowns in the sport. NYRA is using gait sensors during races that could indicate a horse that has suffered one of these minor bone injuries that have been found as contributing factors ahead of catastrophic breakdowns. Horses of concern can receive a CT scan or close examination before they continue in training.

EHALT: Gait Sensors at NYRA Could be Game Changer for Injuries

In developing the Equinosis Q with Lameness Locator, Keegan said researchers initially used sensors on many areas of the horse before determining that differences in head height and pelvis height were the best at determining lameness. He said the technology is capable of some detection of a horse galloping on the track but they found the best results were in trotting a horse on a non-raceday. Keegan said they found that on raceday horses were often too excited, resulting in less consistent readings.

Keegan envisions the technology as being a tool that could help horsemen further evaluate horses of concern. He hopes that as more horses are tracked, even better data indicators of lameness will be developed.

Compared with human monitoring, Keegan believes the Equinosis Q with Lameness Locator is a better option because it's more sensitive and may increase confidence in the human assessment. Importantly, he noted that the data creates a record that can be kept on file for evaluation over time. That can serve as a reminder of a horse's past issues and signal when things have changed. Also, it can be given to new owners if the horse is claimed or an ownership change occurs.

He emphasized that it only takes a couple of minutes to gather the data while trotting a horse. He said even in cases of bilateral lameness, the horse usually favors one leg more than the other and the sensors can pick that up.

Keegan encouraged all tracks to add a standing CT, which do not require a horse to be anesthetized and can be used in conjunction with such sensor studies.

"I suspect in 10-15 years this is going to be at almost every racetrack around the country," Keegan said of standing CT technology. "To me this is the future of scanning racehorses and trying to prevent catastrophic injury."

The opening panel Friday offered a discussion on labor issues at the tracks.

Reid McLellan, executive director of the Elite Program, which teaches people to work with horses, noted some of the recent trainers who have been sanctioned for labor violations. He outlined not only the requirements of trainers looking to avoid such a situation but also some suggested practices for horsemen looking to provide a safe and fair working environment.

McLellan noted that horsemen have the option to define a work week as any seven days and he suggested that they tailor that work week to the track they're based. McLellan said when he was training at Sam Houston Race Park, Monday was a dark day that required little work and the simple move of making his work week Tuesday through Monday eased many potential problems like limiting overtime or keeping it at a reasonable level.

As trainers look to compete in today's labor market, McLellan said they should consider all options, including workers who may have run into past legal problems. Some of McLellan's classes are taught at correctional facilities, turning out graduates who are ready to work with horses. He noted that many of these programs include grants for employers who hire someone out of one of these programs.

"It's about people who need a second chance," McLellan said. "They have that box on every license application, 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony?' Well, that's enough to disqualify somebody. But I believe that if you're talking about where our best investment can be made, yes, we absolutely have to keep an eye on the immigration side, H2B, 100%. But I also believe that we have to embrace the domestic worker. We have an amazing sport with an amazing opportunity for somebody to have a second chance."