Can veterinarians reliably apply a whole horse ridden ethogram to differentiate nonlame and lame horses based on live horse assessment of behaviour?. (9th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dyson, S.; Thomson, K.; Quiney, L.; Bondi, A.; Ellis, A. D.
• Is Part Of: Equine veterinary education. Volume 32(2020)Supplement 10
• Page Start: 112
• Page End: 120
• Publication Date: 2019-04-09
• Subjects: horse -- muscle tension -- lameness -- saddle fit -- pain; Horses -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Horses -- Diseases -- Treatment -- Periodicals; 636.108905
• DOI: 10.1111/eve.13104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-7734

Abstract

Summary: A Ridden‐Horse‐Ethogram has been developed to differentiate between nonlame and lame horses, and lame horses before and after diagnostic analgesia has abolished musculoskeletal pain, based on video recordings. The objective of this prospective, observational study was to compare real‐time application of the Ridden‐Horse‐Ethogram with analysis of video recordings of the horses by a trained assessor and to determine whether veterinarians, after preliminary training, could apply the ethogram in real time in a consistent way and in agreement with an experienced assessor. Ten equine veterinarians (after preliminary training) and an experienced assessor applied the ethogram to 20 horse‐rider combinations performing a purpose‐designed dressage test (8.5 min). The horses were a convenience sample, in regular work, and capable of working 'on the bit'. Video recordings of the test were analysed retrospectively by the experienced assessor. Lameness or abnormalities of canter, saddle fit, the presence of epaxial muscle tension/pain and rider skill level were determined by independent experts. The results were that 16 horses were lame; 11 had an ill‐fitting saddle; 14 had epaxial muscle tension/pain. The expert determined total scores of 3‐6/24 for the nonlame horses; two lame horses scored 3 and 6; 14 lame horses scored 8–16. There was no significant difference in real‐time scores and video‐based scores for the experienced assessor. There was good agreement between the expert's scores and the mean test observer scores. There was excellent consistency in overall agreement among raters (Intraclass correlation 0.97, P<0.001). There was a significant difference between ethogram scores according to lameness status for real‐time (P = 0.017) and video (P = 0.013) observations by the experienced assessor and for the test observers' mean (P = 0.03). There was no effect of muscle pain, saddle fit or rider skill on behaviour. It was concluded that the ethogram was applied consistently by veterinarians with differentiation between nonlame and most lame horses. After appropriate training in its application, the ethogram may provide a useful tool for determining the presence of musculoskeletal pain in horses performing poorly.