Equinalysis is focused on bringing established human and equine sports products to the wider equine industry to aide diagnosis, promote health and enhance performance. Further focus will be on products and services that are non-invasive (and therefore easy-to-use and can be applied "in the field") and support EBVM.

Currently the assessment of equine locomotion and lameness is carried out visually and cannot be reliably or consistently quantified. Equine practitioners often disagree on the extent of lameness. In addition the assessment cannot easily be communicated and has very little or no historic value. The objective measurement of lameness and changes in locomotion are the missing pieces of critical information needed to make key decisions related to equine health and performance.

For the last two years Equinalysis has been developing a video based equine gait analysis system in partnership with leading human biomechanics specialists. The system has been developed to address the need for lameness diagnosis, treatment monitoring and performance enhancement. It is currently being utilised within the elite sport of dressage as a method of objectively analysing equine gait as a performance enhancing technique. The application of the system is not limited to dressage, providing similar benefits for performance horses in general.

Equinalysis' first marketable product is a unique system, specifically designed and developed to visually track, measure, quantify and display accurate biomechanical data. It is currently the only equine dedicated biomechanical system available. System development occurred over a 24 months in consultation with leading practitioners from the veterinary, farriery and biomechanics disciplines. The system is already in daily use with equine specialists across the UK, USA and Nordic regions.

Background and Origins

Well known British Olympic team farrier, Haydn Price, had been using video in his work since 1999. Initially, this was in the form of a hand held camcorder capturing the hind movement of horses. The quality of the clips was not of the highest but allowed him to analyse movement in more detail and to highlight areas of concern. Haydn, however, wanted more quantifiable data to more accurately measure biomechanical changes in gait. In 2003 Haydn met and teamed up with leading Sports Physician, Professor John E. Davies, Visiting Professor in Sports Medicine at University of Wales Institute, Cardiff and Consultant Physician in Sports Medicine at Guys Hospital, London. Professor Davies has held a number of senior positions including Honourary Physician to the Welsh Rugby Union, representing the latter on the IOC Commission and the International Rugby Board. His areas of expertise in clinical research have included muscular skeletal disorders and epidemiological studies

Investigations suggested that existing human video analysis systems could be used in the equine industry and that valid kinematic data can be collected away from a lab based environment. This was critical to Haydn as he wanted a system that could be used by other equine clinicians, quite literally 'in the field'.

Through a series of 'on location' filming sessions, Equinalysis have devised protocols for assessing changes in movement due parameters such as shoeing, training and clinical treatment. Data is collected pre and post the intervention and then compared. Equinalysis has filmed in many different locations around the UK and collected data on 100's of horses including the British Dressage Squad. They have also presented their methods at numerous equine professional forums in both the UK and America.

The Equinalysis concept has been an opportunity for Haydn to pursue his goal of shoeing to assist the horse's capabilities. After an initial analysis of a horse's movement, video analysis provides more information about its locomotion. This meant that Haydn could take into account the needs of the limb, if required, instead of just shoeing the foot. This is important, because as well as fitting a shoe to accommodate the horse's movement there is a growing awareness that shoeing should take into account the amount of "loading" on a limb. Loading is directly related to the effectiveness of the joints and can affect tendon and ligament health.

Towards the end of 2003, Equinalysis teamed up with a specialist sports analysis software company and began developing motion analysis software tailored to the equine industry. This software would allow reliable biomechanical data to be collected by practicing vets and farriers and so could contribute towards a more evidence-based approach to equine gait analysis. It would also allow slow motion and frame-by-frame viewing of video clips. Equinalysis believe the benefits for lameness and pre-purchase examinations to be far-reaching. The software, also called Equinalysis, has been designed above all to be user friendly. Hence the system can be used by experienced horsemen and women, vets, farriers and large equine practices.

Finally, in 2005 Equinalysis engaged the services of Business Consultant, Walter May, to advise them on how best to structure the company for growth. The "Business and Referral Partner" concept was proposed and accepted as the way forward. Walter was so convinced by the Equinalysis concept he become an equal shareholder in the company, along with founder directors, Haydn and Professor Davies.

All three Directors are involved in the day-to-day running of the business.