Preparing Your

Consultation Package

Optimize the Quality of Your Review
REQUEST A CONSULTATION

The quality of the materials that you provide us will likely reflect the quality of the consultation that you receive in return. The more information that we can glean from a video clip, for instance, the deeper into your horse’s problem we can see. Therefore, it’s important that you prepare your consultation package in a way that advances our chances of accurately assessing and successfully treating your horse.

 

Every submission should comprise the following elements (at minimum):

 

  • Your horse’s General Information and History (in Writing)
  • A Detailed Depiction of the Current Issue (in Writing)
  • Photographic and/or Cinematographic (Video) Images Highlighting the Issue
Your Horse’s Signalment & General History

Please include the horse’s name, age, breed, gender, color, current weight (approximate), and discipline. At the very least, we’ll want to know the answers to the following questions:

 

  • How long have you owned the horse?
  • At what level does your horse perform/ compete?
  • Are your horse’s vaccinations current?
  • When was your horse last dewormed?
  • When were your horse’s teeth last examined/ floated?
  • Does your horse wear shoes?
  • How often is your horse trimmed/ shod?
  • Does your horse receive regular supplementation and/or medication?
  • Has your horse received injections (e.g. hock injections, etc.)?
  • Who is your regular (attending) veterinarian?
  • Who is your farrier?
  • Does your horse receive regular alternative care (massage therapy, acupuncture, chiropractics, body work, etc.)?
  • Is there anything in the horse’s history that could be significant with respect to the current issue?
A Detailed Description of the Current Issue

Tell us what’s going on. At the very least, we’ll want to know the answers to the following questions:

 

  • What (exactly) is the presenting complaint (i.e. why are you seeking telemedical guidance)?
  • What are your horse’s current symptoms?
  • When did you first notice your horse’s problem?
  • Was the onset of the problem sudden or did it develop gradually over time?
  • Is this issue new or has it recurred?
  • Can you associate the onset of the problem with a single event (such as a race or an accident)?
  • Is the issue progressing (getting worse) or regressing (getting better) over time?
  • Are there any (specific) activities that make the problem better or worse (e.g. exercise, cold weather, stall rest, etc.)?
  • Has your local veterinary team evaluated your horse for this issue?
  • Has your horse already been treated for this issue?
Photographic and/or Cinematographic Images

For non-lameness issues, please try your best to capture your horse’s symptoms on video tape. If you’re requesting soundness evaluation (of your horse in motion), please include the following items:

 

PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES of the horse standing square on a level surface:

  • Front view of both front feet together (1 image).
  • Front view of both front legs together (1 image).
  • Lateral (from the side) views of each front and each back foot individually (4 images total).
  • Side view of the entire horse (from both right and left sides; 2 images total).
  • Rear view of both back legs together (1 image).

CINEMATOGRAPHIC (VIDEO) FOOTAGE…

 

Of the horse moving on a flat and hard (e.g. grippy asphalt or firm grass) surface:

  • Walking in hand on a loose lead (straight line).
  • Trotting in hand on a loose lead (straight line).
  • Longeing (or free longeing) in both directions at a walk and trot (if feasibly safe for the horse).

Of the horse on a flat and soft (e.g. arena) surface:

  • Longeing (or free longeing) in both directions at a walk, trot, and canter.
  • Under saddle at all gaits (if applicable).
  • Jumping (if this is a normal activity for the horse).

OPTIONAL FOOTAGE

 

If possible, we would like to observe the video highlighted above in two settings: one set of clips when the horse is “cold” (e.g. first thing in the morning) and one set of clips after the horse is warmed-up. This enables us to compare your horse’s performance within two distinct settings.

 

Submission of any further video clips of the horse in hand, on the longe, and/or under saddle (such as during heavy collection) is also highly encouraged.

Video Acquisition

Please note that it is not critical where you stand relative to the horse when acquiring the footage; only that you keep the horse’s entire body in the frame at all times.

Please preview your footage prior to submission to keep your file size(s) at a minimum:

  • Discard frames that are not focused on your horse
  • Trim extra footage where appropriate
  • Avoid acquiring footage in slow motion (we can adjust clip speed during analysis) 

We suggest that you employ these handy FILMING TIPS when acquiring video footage of your horse.

Depending on the nature of the consultation, your package may also include the following (additional) elements:

 

  • Diagnostic Images
  • Medical Reports and Blood Work Results
Diagnostic Images

We always enjoy the opportunity to review diagnostic (radiographic, ultrasonographic, scintigraphic, thermographic, MR, etc.) studies in conjunction with our assessment of photographic and cinematographic images. Such studies serve to both supplement and clarify our cinematographic findings, because they enable us apply clinical significance (or insignificance) to any abnormalities that we may be observing in the footage. This approach becomes particularly constructive during prepurchase assessment, when there may not be sufficient history off of which to rely.

 

In the case of standard Prepurchase Assessment, we typically request the opportunity to analyze the following studies:

  • Full studies of the thoracic (front) feet.
  • Full studies of the thoracic (front) fetlocks.
  • Lateral and dorsoplantar views of the pelvic (hind) fetlocks.
  • Full studies of the tarsi (hocks).
  • Lateral, obliqued, and caudocranial views of the stifles.
  • Cervical spine (neck).
  • Thoracolumbar spine (back).

In a juvenile horse being considered for purchase, we would recommend the following abbreviated (but somewhat comprehensive) radiographic study:

  • Dorsopalmar and lateral views (2) of the front feet; 4 images total.
  • Obliqued views (2) of the thoracic fetlocks; 4 images total.
  • Obliqued views (2) of the pelvic fetlocks; 4 images total.
  • Lateral and lateral obliqued views (2) of the tarsi (hocks); 4 images total.
  • Lateral and caudocranial views (2) of the stifles; 4 images total.

Further diagnostic images should or may be acquired if:

 

  • An abnormality was detected during pre-emptive video review that requires further investigation.
  • A potential lesion was discovered during acquisition of the standard studies and additional views are indicated for further scrutiny.
  • The on-site veterinarian deems further imaging (via any modality) is warranted based on hands-on clinical impressions.
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