Objective: To compare the quality of recovery in horses emerging from general anesthesia with or without the assistance of a novel device (recovery-enhancing device [RED]) designed to minimize high-energy falls.
Animals: 20 mixed-breed horses, between July 1, 2023, and January 24, 2024.
Methods: A computer-controlled belay system designed to slow the acceleration of a horse during a fall was evaluated in this study. Horses were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatment groups: RED (belay, assisted) or FREE (unassisted). An inertia-measuring unit was fitted to all horses and data were live streamed and recorded onto a computer for further analysis. Recoveries were scored using the composite grading scale (CGS; 0 to 100) by 3 independent observers. Two additional unitless recovery scores (RS and RS'), based on accelerometry values (high accelerations, less desirable), were calculated for each recovery. All the recovery scores were compared between the 2 treatment groups.
Results: Composite grading scale scores were 26 ± 10 and 46 ± 13 in the RED and FREE groups, respectively (P = .001). The RS was 120 ± 79 and 198 ± 34 for the RED and FREE treatment groups, respectively (P = .015). The RS' was 32 (7 to 50) and 46 (28 to 44) for the RED and FREE treatment groups, respectively (P = .038).
Clinical relevance: The RED improves the recovery scores compared with unassisted recoveries. This device may lead to a potential reduction in the number and severity of injuries in horses and personnel involved during the recovery period.
Keywords: acceleration; equine; general anesthesia; recovery; recovery scores.