A Systematic Approach to Comparing Thermal Activity of the Thoracic Region and Saddle Pressure Distribution beneath the Saddle in a Group of Non-Lame Sports Horses

Abstract

Thermography is a non-invasive method for measuring surface temperatures and may be a convenient way of identifying hypo/hyperthermic areas under a saddle that may be related to saddle pressures. A thermal camera quantified minimum/maximum/mean temperatures at specific locations (left/right) of the thoracic region at three-time points: (1) baseline; (2) post lunging; (3) post ridden exercise in eight non-lame sports horses ridden by the same rider. A Pliance (Novel) pressure mat determined the mean/peak saddle pressures (kPa) in the cranial and caudal regions. General linear mixed models with the horse as the random factor investigated the time point (fixed factor: baseline; lunge; ridden) and saddle fit (fixed factor: correct; wide; narrow) on thermal parameters with Bonferroni post hoc comparison. The saddle pressure data (grouped: saddle width) were assessed with an ANOVA and Tukey post hoc comparison (p ≤ 0.05). Differences between the saddle widths in the cranial/caudal mean (p = 0.05) and peak saddle pressures (p = 0.01) were found. The maximum temperatures increased post lunge (p ≤ 0.0001) and post ridden (p ≤ 0.0001) compared to the baseline. No difference between post lunge and post ridden exercise (all p ≥ 0.51) was found. The thermal activity does not appear to be representative of increased saddle pressure values. The sole use of thermal imaging for saddle fitting should be applied with caution.

Use of thermography and pressure sensors to evaluate the effect of load on pack mules

“…No association was found between the thermographic images and the pressure obtained by the sensors. Only one previous study was found where the relationship between thermal activity and pressure on the back was evaluated with sensors and, with similar results as in this study (Mackechnie-Guire et al, 2021). Thermography and pressure sensors have been used as a practical tool to assess saddle fit in equines, by measuring the magnitude, pressure distribution, increased metabolic activity, and skin blood flow (Desbrosses-Déléage et al, 2019;Soroko et al, 2018).…”

The Effect of Rider:Horse Bodyweight Ratio on the Superficial Body Temperature of Horse’s Thoracolumbar Region Evaluated by Advanced Thermal Image Processing

“…Such assessment, following Dyson et al [ 30 ], should be useful in the everyday equine practice, where a horse performs the under-rider overground exercise with turns and circles. As the practical application of modern technologies is developing dynamically both in the field of equine thermal imaging [ 62 , 63 , 64 ] and DIP of medical images [ 31 , 33 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], each new approach can ultimately reach every horse owner.…”

“…Therefore, the main limitation of this study is disregarding the evaluation of horse’s emotions and horse’s experiences and therefore should be considered as preliminary. In further research, the rider position in the saddle, as a function of rider size and skill [ 30 ], the effect of inappropriate saddle fit [ 42 , 64 , 68 ], the impact of different environmental conditions [ 21 , 54 , 55 ], and most importantly an evaluation of the equine behavior indicative of underlying mood state and general well-being of horses [ 9 , 15 , 16 ] should be considered to explain the role of this horses:human interaction assessment in the overall improvement of the equine quality of life.…”