Comparison of tri-axial accelerations of distal limbs at the walk in horses with different head positions and different optical input.

Abstract

Abstract A component of the neurological exam in horses includes walking the animal while elevating the head, which often exaggerates a subtle problem. Another way of changing the optical input is by blindfolding the horse. Our hypothesis is that elevating the head in a neurological exam can be replaced by blindfolding the horse. For this study a randomized, two-way crossover design was used. Fourteen clinically sound horses from different breeds were used (age range, 4 to 17 years, body weight, 523.8 ± 38.7 kg, height at the withers, 1,56 ± 0.05 m). Each day all 14 horses walked a course that included walking a section with the head in a neutral position, the head in an elevated position and blindfolded. The acceleration data of all 3 axes ,the Ax-axis (cranio-caudal direction), the Ay-axis (dorso-ventral direction) and the Az-axis (medio-lateral direction), were extracted and opened in Gulf Coast Data Concept XLR8R (Waveland, MS, USA). Results from this study show that in horses with a normal gait head elevation in a neurological exam can be substituted by blindfolding the horse when evaluating the Ax (craniocaudal) and the Az (mediolateral) direction. However, based on this study, the horse should be given some time to adjust to walking while blindfolded.