EquiStep

1
Presentation

• EquiStep
• Where tradition and technology meet

2
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

3
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

4
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)

5
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

6
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 Worcesters Motion Analysis
  Research Rehabilitation Centre unit (MARRC to
  further explore Equine Biomechanics
• Professor Bob Colborne
• International interest from USA, Norway, Italy,
  Netherlands, India Australia

7
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)

8
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?

9
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

10
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

11
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

12
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

13
Summary

• Providing Evidence to replace Subjectivity
• Enhancing Performance
• Reducing Time
• Reducing Cost
• Managing Risk
• Sharing Information
• Extending Knowledge
• Facilitating Research

14
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 horses 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

15
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

16
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

17
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.

18
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

19
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

20
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.

21
Mechanics of the Foot
This is a diagram of a horses 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
22
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
23
Dynamics - right

• This diagram shows how correcting the front foot
  balance and supporting the forelimb can
  dramatically alter and correct the dynamics

24
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, wouldnt you cross??

25
Dynamics in real life
26
Real life feet
Heels distorted due to lack of support
The Load line should meet the back of the shoe or
foot
Toes too long, will cause tripping, forging and
overreach injury
Shoe too short for hoof, Heels collapsed.
27
Leah
Note here the clear difference in length of
segments of each leg. to compensate the
horse has grown front feet of different shapes
and sizes. This horse appeared to be lame until
remedial farriery adjusted the feet so that step
lengths became even and the horse no longer
appeared unlevel.