Evaluation of thermal pattern distributions in racehorse saddles using infrared thermography

Abstract

The impact of a rider’s and saddle’s mass on saddle thermal pattern distribution was evaluated using infrared thermography (IRT). Eighteen racehorses were ridden by four riders with their own saddle. Images of the saddle panels were captured at each of six thermographic examinations. On each image, six regions of interest (ROIs) were marked on the saddle panels. The mean temperature for each ROI was extracted. To evaluate the influence of load on saddle fit, 4 indicators were used: ΔT max (difference between the mean temperature of the warmest and coolest ROI); standard deviation of the mean temperature of the six ROIs; right/left; bridging/rocking and front/back thermal pattern indicator. Incorrect saddle fit was found in 25 measurements (23.1%) with ΔT max greater than 2°C. The relationships between rider and saddle fit as well as saddle fit and horse were significant (p<0.001). An average ΔT max in rider A was significantly higher than in other riders (p<0.001). The right/left thermal pattern differed significantly from the optimal value for riders A and B; while the bridging/rocking thermal pattern differed significantly from this value for riders A, C and D (p<0.05). Front saddle thermal pattern was most frequent for rider A (41.5%), whereas back saddle thermal pattern was most frequent for rider C (85.7%). Measurement of the mean temperature in 6 ROIs on saddle panels after training was helpful in assessing the influence of rider and saddle mass on saddle fit. IRT offered a non-invasive, rapid and simple method for assessing load on thermal pattern distribution in race saddles.

Infrared Thermography Correlates with Lactate Concentration in Blood during Race Training in Horses

“…However, in horses, only a few studies exist that evaluated IRT usefulness during training monitoring. Most of this research was performed to identify the source of lameness [29,30], as well as the influence of the rider and saddle mass on the saddle fit [31]. One publication discussed thermographic horse and rider matching during leisure riding [32].…”

Comparison of the Surface Thermal Patterns of Horses and Donkeys in Infrared Thermography Images

“…However, the authors speculate that many imaging approaches applied successfully in equine veterinary medicine [1,25] can also be used for donkey IRT imaging, subject to the visualization conditions presented here. The IRT may become a useful diagnosis tool in donkeys, particularly in the field of orthopedics [5][6][7]14] or effort assessment [21,22,24], but even in the field of animal welfare [2,18,33]. Given the increase in general interest in donkeys, as milk producers, companion animals [33], and working animals under a saddle and in a harness [47], the new noninvasive imaging approaches in donkeys are in demand.…”

“…Infrared radiation is often presented as a thermogram, which is an image where the color gradient corresponds to the distribution of surface temperatures [1]. Furthermore, the relationship of temperature gradients may create specific thermal patterns, which may be used, e.g., for assessing the influence of load on saddle fit in horses [2] or the horses' response to the training [3].…”

“…IRT also enables the identification of continuing subclinical changes and allows the verification of the complete clinical healing and, hence, if the horse may return to exercise after required rest [13]. In recent studies, IRT was also applied to interpret changes in the surface temperatures of the thoracic region in the case of back pain diagnosis of equine athletes [14,15], as well as the results of the impact of a load on a saddle [2] or incorrect saddle fit [16]. Moreover, the usefulness of equine IRT in the assessment of transient stress response during training [17,18] and competitive sport [19,20] has been demonstrated.…”

Evaluation of two models of saddles on the back of Arabian horses through thermography

“…Other studies have found infrared thermography to be a valuable tool in non-invasive evaluation of saddle thermal pattern distribution (Arruda et al, 2011;Soroko et al, 2018). Soroko et al (2019) evaluated 18 racehorses that were ridden by four riders with their own saddles and concluded that infrared thermography offered a non-invasive, rapid and simple method for assessing load on thermal pattern distribution in race saddles.…”