Our clinic was one of the first in the area to utilize the lameness locator, and it continues to prove itself a great asset to complicated lameness examinations. The lameness locator is a wireless motion analysis system that uses sensors to give a gait analysis based on highly technical motion algorithms.

Three inertial sensors are placed on the horse, on the poll, the right pastern, and along the top of the pelvis. As the horse is trotted in a straight line or longed on a circle, data is transmitted to the software system and immediately a detailed gait analysis report is provided to the clinician. The report not only identifies which legs are contributing to the lameness, but also estimates the timing of the lameness in the stride cycle, pin-pointing the pain to the impact, push-off, or swing cycle of the stride.

Utilization of this un-biased lameness assessment is particularly helpful when presented with a multi- limb lameness or a very subtle lameness that is felt more than visualized. It does not replace a routine clinical examination, rather it gives us additional data to prevent confounding variables and allow us to identify subtle problems before they become visible to the naked eye.