The lack of standardization of sedation scales in horses limits the reproducibility between different studies. This prospective, randomized, blinded, horizontal and controlled trial aimed to validate a scale for sedation in horses (EquiSed). Seven horses were treated with intravenous detomidine in low/high doses alone (DL 2.5 μg/kg + 6.25 μg/kg/h; DH 5 μg/kg +12.5 μg/kg/h) or associated with methadone (DLM and DHM, 0.2 mg/kg + 0.05 mg/kg/h) and with low (ACPL 0.02 mg/kg) or high (ACPH 0.09 mg/kg) doses of acepromazine alone. Horses were filmed at (i) baseline (ii) peak, (iii) intermediate, and (iv) end of sedation immediately before auditory, visual and pressure stimuli were applied and postural instability evaluated for another study. Videos were randomized and blindly evaluated by four evaluators in two phases with 1-month interval. Intra- and interobserver reliability of the sum of EquiSed (Intraclass correlation coefficient) ranged between 0.84–0.94 and 0.45–0.88, respectively. The criterion validity was endorsed by the high Spearman correlation between the EquiSed and visual analog (0.77), numerical rating (0.76), and simple descriptive scales (0.70), and average correlation with head height above the ground (HHAG) (−0.52). The Friedman test confirmed the EquiSed responsiveness over time. The principal component analysis showed that all items of the scale had a load factor ≥ 0.50. The item-total Spearman correlation for all items ranged from 0.3 to 0.5, and the internal consistency was good (Cronbach's α = 0.73). The area under the curve of EquiSed HHAG as a predictive diagnostic measure was 0.88. The sensitivity of the EquiSed calculated according to the cut-off point (score 7 of the sum of the EquiSed) determined by the receiver operating characteristic curve, was 96% and specificity was 83%. EquiSed has good intra- and interobserver reliabilities and is valid to evaluate tranquilization and sedation in horses.

马镇静量表缺乏标准化限制了不同研究之间的可重复性。这项前瞻性、随机、盲法、水平对照试验旨在验证马镇静量表 (EquiSed)。七匹马单独接受低/高剂量静脉注射地托咪定（DL 2.5 μg/kg + 6.25 μg/kg/h；DH 5 μg/kg +12.5 μg/kg/h）或联合美沙酮（DLM 和 DHM，0.2 mg/kg + 0.05 mg/kg/h）以及单独使用低剂量（ACPL 0.02 mg/kg）或高剂量（ACPH 0.09 mg/kg）乙酰丙嗪。在施加听觉、视觉和压力刺激之前，对马匹在（i）基线、（ii）峰值、（iii）中间和（iv）镇静结束时进行拍摄，并评估姿势不稳定性以用于另一项研究。视频由四位评估员分两个阶段进行随机盲评估，每个阶段间隔 1 个月。 EquiSed（组内相关系数）总和的观察者内和观察者间可靠性分别在 0.84-0.94 和 0.45-0.88 之间。标准有效性得到了 EquiSed 和视觉模拟 (0.77)、数字评分 (0.76) 和简单描述量表 (0.70) 之间的高 Spearman 相关性以及与头部离地高度 (HHAG) 的平均相关性 (−0.52) 的认可。 。 Friedman 测试证实了 EquiSed 随着时间的推移的响应能力。主成分分析显示，量表所有项目的负荷因子均≥0.50。所有项目的项目总 Spearman 相关性范围为 0.3 至 0.5，内部一致性良好（Cronbach's α = 0.73）。作为预测诊断指标的 EquiSed HHAG 曲线下面积为 0.88。 根据受试者工作特征曲线确定的截止点（EquiSed 总和的分数 7）计算出的 EquiSed 的敏感性为 96%，特异性为 83%。 EquiSed 具有良好的观察者内和观察者间可靠性，可有效评估马匹的镇静和镇静效果。