The Pattern of Superficial Body Temperatures in Leisure Horses Lunged with Commonly Used Lunging Aids (original) (raw)
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Temperature range analysis (Tmax) on dorsal surface of sporting horses
TURKISH JOURNAL OF VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES, 2015
The aim of this study was to determine temperature differences on the dorsal surface of 32 clinically healthy show jumping horses. Temperature was measured using a Thermovision 550 (FLIR) camera, determining maximum temperature (T max ). The horse's body was divided into the following regions: neck, withers, cranial back, caudal back, loins, and hindquarters. Those regions were subdivided into middle, left, and right parts. Statistical methods used for calculations consisted of Wilcoxon's signed rank test and Dunn's post hoc comparison test. Temperatures on the dorsal surface ranged from 19.5 to 31.5 °C, with the lowest indicated in the withers area and the highest in the caudal back and hindquarters area. Temperatures on the sides tended to be symmetrical except for the caudal back region, where the temperature of the right side was higher than of the left side. The data can be used for determination of unfavorable stimulation of the back and loin region by the rider and saddle, as well as for diagnosing conditions that result in increased temperature in the dorsal area.
2020
A previous thermographic study of racehorses identified thirteen regions of interest (ROIs) for monitoring the impact of training. However, that investigation did not consider the influence of breed, age, gender, or training intensity level on the temperature of ROIs. The present study adopted a multivariate analysis approach to determine whether the aforementioned factors, along with ambient temperature, significantly influenced ROI temperature in the key body regions. Thermography measurements were obtained from 53 racehorses of three breeds. Horses were in regular training for over ten months, having 13 thermographic examinations in each racing season. Backward stepwise multiple linear regression indicated that ambient temperature and breed contributed significantly to the model for predicting ROI temperature at all 13 ROIs. Training intensity level contributed significantly to the model only at the thoracic vertebrae, the left third metacarpal bone, and left fetlock joint. Neith...
Thermographic Assessment of Saddles Used on Jumping Horses
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2011
In this study, 62 saddles used on 129 jump horses were evaluated. Data such as age, breed, gender, body score, competition level, changes in performance and reaction at saddling, resistance in performing exercises, and back pain were obtained from the horses. Years of use, number of horses and riders using the saddle, and riders' level of experience were also registered. Before and after a training session, horses were subjected to thermography of their thoracolumbar region. Saddles were evaluated by thermography soon after their withdrawal from the animal after training. The image obtained identified the area of interaction between the saddle panels and the back of the horse, asymmetry between panels, and the possible presence of contact with the column. Each saddle was used on an average of 4.6 AE 3.7 horses. Asymmetry between panels was identified on 62.8% of saddles and central contact with the thoracolumbar column was found on 37.2% of the saddles. Heat points on the column and withers were found on 28.7% and 33.3% of the horses, respectively. The thermographic image of the thoracolumbar column after the training session was asymmetric on 55.8% of the animals. Only the panels of 51.2% of the saddles had an interaction of 76% to 100% with the back of the horse. At rest, 39.5% had a heat point compatible with a pressure area from the saddle. Thermography proved to be a useful tool in evaluating the adjustment and position of saddles used on jumpers.
Thermographic Evaluation of Racehorse Performance
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2014
Thermography has found a broad range of applications in equine sport and veterinary medicine. Thermographic diagnosis is useful in monitoring changes of horse surface temperature resulting from exercise allowing evaluation of the work of individual parts of the body in racing performance. Regular assessment of body surface temperature allows the detection of training overloads and identification of pathological conditions of the musculoskeletal system during the racing training cycle. The usefulness of thermography in veterinary medicine has been proved in detecting pathological conditions associated mainly with inflammation processes of the distal parts of the limbs and back. The main advantage of thermography is the detection of subclinical signs of inflammation before the onset of clinical signs of pathology, providing great value in veterinary medicine diagnosis. Thermography has also found application in detecting illegal performance procedures to improve horse performance and in assessing the saddle fit to the horse's back.
BMC Veterinary Research, 2021
Background The horses’ backs are particularly exposed to overload and injuries due to direct contact with the saddle and the influence of e.g. the rider’s body weight. The maximal load for a horse’s back during riding has been suggested not to exceed 20% of the horses’ body weight. The common prevalence of back problems in riding horses prompted the popularization of thermography of the thoracolumbar region. However, the analysis methods of thermographic images used so far do not distinguish loaded horses with body weight varying between 10 and 20%. Results The superficial body temperature (SBT) of the thoracolumbar region of the horse’s back was imaged using a non-contact thermographic camera before and after riding under riders with LBW (low body weight, 10%) and HBW (high body weight, 15%). Images were analyzed using six methods: five recent SBT analyses and the novel approach based on Gray Level Co-Occurrence Matrix (GLCM) and Gray Level Run Length Matrix (GLRLM). Temperatures o...
Characterization of Thermographic Normality of Horse Extremities
VipIMAGE 2017, 2017
Proper use of thermography in equine in veterinary medicine to detect abnormality requires determination of temperature distribution. The aim of the study was to define basal temperature distributions in the region of hoof and sole in healthy horses. The study included 12 clinically healthy horses. The images were analysed numerically through statistical analysis defining temperature differences objectibly. The sensitivity of the analysis allowed to detect unexpected subclinical injures of the hoof, becoming a valuable diagnostic tool in early detection of inflammation. The study concluded that results are clinically relevant and that thermography is reliable diagnostic tool for early detection of abnormalities and subclinical injuries.
Use of Thermography in Clinical and Sports Evaluations of Equine Animals: A review
Research, Society and Development
Thermography in equine medicine is applied in the prevention, diagnosis and prognosis of diseases, as it can detect changes in peripheral blood flow. It can also act in the treatment by monitoring the instituted therapy. Skin infrared imaging thermometry is a method that detects, records, and produces images reflecting the microcirculatory dynamics of the skin surface in real time. The technique emerged from the studies of Hippocrates and has since gone through several advances, reaching significant milestones in the period of World War II, when it was effectively used in the tank's night vision system. In the 1970s, there was a big leap when it was possible to generate an image in five minutes. Several scientific studies point out its functionality both in human medicine and veterinary medicine with precision and practicality. It has been applied in equine sports medicine to clinical practice to assess musculoskeletal injuries as an indicator of physiological stress, assess res...
Animals, 2022
Appropriate matching of rider–horse sizes is becoming an increasingly important issue of riding horses’ care, as the human population becomes heavier. Recently, infrared thermography (IRT) was considered to be effective in differing the effect of 10.6% and 21.3% of the rider:horse bodyweight ratio, but not 10.1% and 15.3%. As IRT images contain many pixels reflecting the complexity of the body’s surface, the pixel relations were assessed by image texture analysis using histogram statistics (HS), gray-level run-length matrix (GLRLM), and gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) approaches. The study aimed to determine differences in texture features of thermal images under the impact of 10–12%, >12 ≤15%, >15 <18% rider:horse bodyweight ratios, respectively. Twelve horses were ridden by each of six riders assigned to light (L), moderate (M), and heavy (H) groups. Thermal images were taken pre- and post-standard exercise and underwent conventional and texture analysis. Texture a...
Assessment of Saddle Fit in Racehorses Using Infrared Thermography
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 2018
The aim of this study was to assess the influence of horse, saddle, and rider on saddle fit in racehorses by detecting pressure distribution using infrared thermography. In this study, 22 saddles used on 65 racing horses ridden by 21 riders were used. Data from horses including gender, breed, age, training intensity, and level of performance were collected. Type and mass of the saddle were also obtained, along with information about the rider's body mass and riding skills. Thermographic images of the saddle's panels were captured immediately after untacking the horse at each thermographic examination. On each thermographic image of the saddle panels, six regions of interest (ROIs) were marked, with mean temperature calculated within each ROI to indicate pressure distribution. Saddle fit was evaluated for right/left panel pressure, bridging/rocking pressure, and front/back pressure according to horse's: gender, breed, age, training intensity, level of conditioning, rider's skills, and load (saddle plus rider mass). There were statistically significant relationships (P < .05) between left/right asymmetry and age, training, intensity and load. In front/back pressure, there was a statistically significant relationship (P < .05) for load. No statistically significant relationships were observed between bridging/rocking pressure and the rest of the aforementioned variables. The study indicated that load, horse age, and training intensity influence pressure distribution in racing saddles. Therefore, animal age and load have to be considered in saddle fit. Infrared thermography has been confirmed as a useful tool in the evaluation of saddle fit in racing horses.