The Horse First: A Veterinary Sport Horse Podcast

Dr. Audrey DeClue and Dr. Gabrielle Martel discuss the rejection of three "How To" papers by the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) as a positive indicator and evidence that practical, science-based solutions based on patient results should be the priority for helping sport horses with undiagnosed injuries. They highlight the need for change in the veterinary profession to address the rejected "How To: issues like trigeminal mediated idiopathic head shaking, sleep-deprived collapsing, and sciatica in sport horses, which can occur in all equine species.

Both doctors emphasize the importance of recognizing pain and biomechanical dysfunction in horses.

Despite rejections, they plan to launch an online magazine ("The Horse First") to share their findings and improve horse welfare through practical, science-based solutions for trainers and owners, including diagnostic and treatment protocols of veterinarians. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of understanding and the recognition of normal and abnormal pain behaviors in horses with the potential for collaborative efforts by all equine professional through publications like "The Horse First" magazine to share research and solutions.

Dr. Audrey DeClue discusses a severe sciatica case in a high-performance sport horse. The horse, initially winning big, suddenly developed severe sciatica, head shaking, and sleep deprivation. Dr. DeClue highlights the horse's abnormal gait, muscle atrophy, and behavioral change, emphasizing the lack of published papers on equine sciatica and the need for advanced ultrasound skills for treatment. She notes that 40% of humans worldwide have clinical signs of sciatica and that she sees a similar percentage in her equine patients. Dr. DeClue advocates for better veterinary education and awareness, sharing her success in treating similar cases with proper rehabilitation.

Dr. Audrey DeClue brings her blog posts to the podcast with commentary as she discusses the importance of understanding body lameness in horses. 85-90% of lameness has historically been focused on limbs and feet instead of looking a the horse as a whole body. She highlights common performance issues caused by body lameness and explains these issues in terms of biomechanics.

[Description from the EquiScience Podcast #21 with Elisa Walfish]

In this episode I sit down with Dr. Audrey DeClue, an equine veterinarian known for challenging long-standing assumptions in equine medicine. Together, we explore the concept of body lameness, why biomechanics should play a central role in every lameness examination, and how collaboration between veterinarians, bodyworkers, farriers, saddle fitters, trainers, and owners can dramatically improve outcomes for horses.

Dr. DeClue shares the experiences that transformed her approach to veterinary medicine, the importance of questioning accepted ideas, and why observing the horse as a whole, not just individual body parts, is essential for finding the root cause of dysfunction.

Dr. Audrey DeClue welcomes Dr. Gabrielle Martel to discuss the complexities of treating body lameness in horses. Dr. Martel, a veterinarian from Montreal, shares her journey of treating horses with body lameness, emphasizing the importance of understanding horse biomechanics and the need for a comprehensive approach. They discuss the challenges of treating horses with conditions like sleep deprivation, idiopathic head shaking, and sciatica, highlighting the veterinary profession's slow acceptance of these issues. Dr. Martel shares her experience of working with Dr. DeClue and learning the importance of slowing down and being present with the horses.

Dr. Audrey DeClue and Dr. Sue Dyson discuss the importance of a rider's checklist from the stall, tacking up, and under saddle for assessing a horse's physical well-being with considerations to determine if your horse is lame. They emphasize the need for veterinarians to better understand that a horse's consistent behavior is indicative of pain. They stress the significance of proper saddle/equipment fit, gait analysis – including how a normal and abnormal horse "feels" in its body while ridden under saddle – and the impact of these abnormalities that can impact pain not previously diagnosed in sport horses.

Dr. Audrey DeClue and Dr. Kate Workman discuss Equine Cervical Vertebral Malformation (ECVM) in horses, emphasizing its clinical significance. They critique various research papers, noting discrepancies, limitations, and methodological issues. Dr. DeClue and Dr. Workman stress the importance of accurate grading and understanding the practical implications of ECVM for horse owners and veterinarians. They advocate for better education and documentation to prevent injuries and ensure safe horse management. They also discuss the need for better communication and data sharing among practitioners to advance the field.

Dr. Audrey DeClue, Dr. Brandy Ashman, and Dr. Ellen Hillyer discuss the top reasons sport horse owners jump between vets. This includes a lack of agreed answers, poor pain recognition, and failure to link behavior with pain/rideability. They cite Sue Dyson's pain ethogram and note axial lameness is complex, non-limb, and often pelvic dysfunction. Education gaps persist as well, including only one hour of axial lameness in vet school and overlooking saddle fit issues. They emphasize collaboration (vet–owner–trainer–farrier), realistic expectations, and 2026 as a pivotal year for change.

Dr. Audrey DeClue discusses the impact of stray voltage on livestock and its parallels with sciatica in sport horses. She highlights a 2023 study on stray voltage in cattle farms, noting its effects on animal behavior and productivity. Dr. DeClue emphasizes the lack of research on sciatica in horses compared to humans and other species, where it affects 40% of the population. She describes clinical signs of sciatica in horses, such as hind limb lameness and reluctance to move, and advocates for better recognition and management by veterinarians.