EquuSys
Upon working with an equine veterinarian who specializes in lameness of performance horses, I've seen many horses with issues really difficult to diagnose including my own ex-race horse with his fair share of problems. It always interests me to hear about new technologies and diagnostic techniques. The mathworks, a software company my mother works for, often brings in guest-speakers who use their products. A few months ago my mother was able to attend a seminar with the inventor of EquuSys and forwarded me the website which I will now share with all of you.
EquuSys is a sensor system that uses telemetry and informatics to help diagnose, and rehabilitate equine lameness. By attaching these tiny sensors to boots (already normally worn by the horse) data is taken and interpreted to evaluate a horses movement which can in turn be used to help diagnose even subtle lameness or narrow down the main cause of a multiple-leg lameness. A multiple leg lameness is sometimes extremely difficult to diagnose in that an injury in one leg can set off an even more visible lameness in another leg. When the secondary lameness is treated without the primary treated first the cycle is hard to break and both will continue to aggravate each other.
Not only can EquuSys be used in diagnostics, it can also assist in conditioning the performance horse which can in turn help prevent injury from happening in the first place. Although extremely helpful in understanding equine injuries, EquuSys is still mainly only used in research and extremely costly for you average practitioners. Seems I'll be keeping with the old fashioned techniques for my own horse's issues.
UPDATE:
Lameness is indeed a term used to describe a condition where the horse moves irregularly. It is a general term and can be caused by many different things. Normally an equine veterinarian's time diagnosing and treatment is already extremely expensive. The average horse is either not insured or only covered for major medical. So in answer to many of your questions, I am doubtful this will be something that becomes more popular in the future for the average horse owner. Not only is it expensive equipment, its use is time consuming which will also add to the cost.
Posted by Emily Bell (1)
posted by PWH @ 9:59 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
The EquuSys technology sounds like it could be very useful for treating lameness in horses. I don't know much about performance horse training, what were the "old fashioned" techniques for treating these injuries?
(Jane de Verges)
That is very neat! I wish they would make it more affordable so people could actually use it (like vets). Do they have anything like this for any other animals? I haven't heard of this ever, do you think it will be more popular once the price goes down and vets start using it? Do you know how accurate it is? I am impressed with this, and I am surprised that it isn't more popular. Good topic!
-Alyson Paige
It's great to see interesting advances to help find the cause and end the cycle of lameness in the horses leg. Its expensive but i guess thats what comes with the territory when dealing with performance horses. its also real world, real time quantitative data to enhance the analysis, care and performance development of elite horses. That just sounds expensive
posted: Samantha DeBiasio
Interesting topic. I am not surprised to see much money and technology invested in this field. A lot of money is invested in race horses and also bet on them. These technological advances must make it a lot esiaer for horse trainers when they are trying to determine if and what their horses injury is. I wonder actually how much money was put into developing this technology.
-Alex Pavidapha
Really interesting article. Considering how much people pay to train, care-for, and race horses, I'm not surprised that a technology like this been in the works. Horse racing is a very lucrative business and people want to ensure they aren't losing money! I was curious to know what exactly telemetry is? Is it just a process where you gather data from movements?
Posted by Maura Mulvey
Is this something that you knew about previously? It seems like a very practical way to apply technology that is regularly used in other fields to something like horse racing. How do you feel about attempts by animal rights organizations to ban the right to race horses? I used to own a greyhound and was upset when they banned racing in MA this past election.
Nick Cline
This is really interesting. I didn't know that they had technology like this out. I was really confused though because the term lameness wasn't clearly explained. By the end I assumed it was some kind of leg problem, but it would've been more helpful to define the term in the beginning.
-Katie Cyr
Interesting, a technological advancement that helps horses reap in more profits. How much would it cost for a system? Would this technology only be limited to trainers who are able to pay? Do you know if there are systems for dogs too? In the future if this technology were to be developed would it be possible to increase the performance of human racers.
By: Peter Lau
I'm glad that medical diagnostic technology has come so far for horses - is there any information about whether this will become more affordable and practical in the future?
(Nicholas Skvir 21798087)
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