Preliminary computational analysis of gait data collected from xylazine-induced ataxic horses

Abstract

There is a need for more reliable assessment of equine neurological disease. To score ataxia (incoordination), veterinarians currently use a grading scale from 0 to 5; however, this scale lacks discrimination and there is poor assessor agreement. In this study, data were collected from fourteen horses using inertial measurement unit (IMU) devices under normal and sedated conditions. Custom computer scripts were used to evaluate gait factors, such as pace and stride length consistency, in control and sedated data. This will aid in creating a computational program to objectively diagnose equine gaits which do not fall within normal parameters.