Are degrees of lameness subjective?

[seabiscuit]

So if a vet says your horse is, for example, 3/10ths lame, would another vet also say that horse was 3/10ths lame, or would he have a different opinion and say that it was 5/10ths ?

What I mean is, among vets, are there set, written guidelines stating exactly what the horse should be showing in its lameness in order to certify the exact degree of lameness, or is lameness evaluation completly 100% subjective and is just the opinion of the vet, on the day?

 

[Guinness]

Coming from a science point of view I would say they are subjective, depending on the experience and opinion of the vet. There are obviously guidelines to try and make them more objective (linear scales) but there have actually been studies into lameness scoring that have found quite large differences between vets.
I do research into biomechanics, and I would say that the only real way to get a completely objective assessment of lameness is to use motion analysis software (but then I am slightly biased!!)

 

[seabiscuit]

Oh dear- thank you giggle_pig. Really interested to hear about the studies they've done !
I think that it is a pretty bad state of affairs really, TBH, and the RCVS should have stricter control over it! Oh well.

 

[Guinness]

I can probably get hold of the studies if you want to read them? I think the RCVS do have very definite guidlines, but if you give a horse a score then it is ultimately going to be subjective. I suppose they argue that all vets are trained to the same very high standard therefore subjectivity is going to be less...part of the research I am doing will hopefully lead onto objective scoring of conformation, gait quality and soundness

 

[Guinness]

The intra- and inter-assessor reliability of measurement of functional outcome by lameness scoring in horses

Catherine J. Fullera, , , Bruce M. Bladonb, Adam J. Driverc and Alistair R.S. Barrd

aDepartment of Anatomy, Equine Centre, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK

bDonnington Grove Veterinary Surgery, Oxford Road, Newbury, RG20 8SH, UK

cDubai Equine Hospital, P.O. Box 9373, Dubai, UAE

dDepartment of Clinical Veterinary Science, Equine Centre, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK


Accepted 8 October 2004. Available online 1 December 2004.

Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the reliability of lameness scoring in horses. One veterinary surgeon examined nineteen lame horses on four occasions. Gait was recorded by camcorder, and scored from 0 to 10 ranging from sound to non-weight bearing lameness. A global score of overall change in lameness during the study was also determined for each horse. To measure intra-assessor reliability of the scoring systems, one veterinary surgeon scored videotapes of the horses’ gaits on two occasions. To measure inter-assessor reliability, three veterinary surgeons viewed the videotapes, assigning individual lameness scores plus global scores to each horse.

Reliability of individual lameness scoring was good intra-assessor, but only just within our acceptable limit inter-assessor. However, global scoring of change in lameness throughout the study was found to be reliable overall. Since clinician scoring is commonly used to assess lameness in horses, this is an important finding, fundamental to future clinical studies.

Keywords: Horse; Lameness; Scoring; Reliability; Clinical study

Just done a quick search and found this, I can email you the full article if you want