Lameness locator experiences?

ycbm

ycbm

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I was out with a friend last year and her horse was clearly lame behind. The vet who she called put a lameness locator on him and said he wasn't lame. I've read two posts on this forum in the last month which have said basically the same thing - the horse is 'not right' behind but the lameness locator says it's fine.

My vet has one but charges extra to use it. I don't have any issues I want him to explore at the moment, but I'm interested for the future whether it's worth it or not.

Does anyone have any experience of lameness locator devices. How effective were they for your horse?
 
I've seen it used with some interesting results (not on my own obviously).

It's not going to work if they are evenly lame though but I don't think it's ever claimed to. I can only vaguely remember the outputs but although it is supposed to remove human error it would be interesting to know how operator dependent some of the conclusions given to owners are. I'd definitely want to see the actual outputs myself.
 
I’ve used it 3 times for 2 different issues. First time was intermittent lameness in front - clearly identified the issue, with blocking the pinpointing the foot. It did get to the issue quicker than the usual work up. Then used twice to try and diagnose an issue with back end. She’s been shuffly and not pushing through - locator showed nothing more than a very slight issue with left hind (which was there when we did fronts). She looks off at the back but not lame (unless I watch her too long!) so I think it’s consistent if not necessarily the answer I wanted. Thing is it can’t be used in isolation- it has to be used as part of a work up.
 
Thing is, if working with bilateral,would you not need a baseline reading when you know the horse is fully sound, to compare too?
 
I was lucky (or unlucky) in that I had a baseline for hinds to compare against when she had no hind issue. My vet says they find it very useful, especially for hinds as it’s just so sensitive. It doesn’t give you the answer though it just pinpoints the question.
 
I’ve had about 15 lameness assessments with lameness detector at RVC (over 2 visits and 5 days). Sometimes you assess, block, reassess after x minutes and then resassess after more time, then block elsewhere and repeat.

I think it gives information, and is interesting and is objective. But it’s not better than a good eye. RVC only use it for trot on straight line in firm surface. Do you have to look at lunging on hard and soft too.

If you take measurements, block somewhere and repeat measurements and there’s a statistically significant difference in readings, it means block definitely caused a change.

Though IME lameness workups and success rely on working out layers of the onion and what is primary, secondary and unpeeling layers onion and the reasons. Machine doesn’t help with that.

RVC didn’t charge extra for it, I think they wanted to build up data for it. They also videoed all lameness workups.
 
My vets used one when I took my mare back after her annular ligament surgery. It was interesting to see the results on the iPad. They didn't ask me if they could use it, presumably as she was insured but it did put quite a bit on the final bill. Not sure I would pay for it myself when the horse is obviously lame
 
The Lameness Locator reckoned Max was sound. The vet who used it agreed he looked sound. The livery sales person who was riding him begged to differ. 2 days later Max was 2/10th lame. A second vet (lameness expert who used to work at Newmarket) came out and said he did not rate the Lameness Locator and thought a good eye was better. And a good ar$e to feel what is happening when riding better still!
 
Well the first vet said the lameness locator was more reliable than the human eye and that the research supported its use. Which is why he used it. It did not pick up Max's lameness but I appreciate N=1 is not very good evidence.
 
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