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

Animals

卷:11

Russell MacKechnie-Guire¹  Thilo Pfau²  Vanessa Fairfax³  Helen Mathie⁴  Kat Kuczynska⁵  Diana Fisher⁶  Mark Fisher⁶ 

[1] Centaur Biomechanics, 25 Oaktree Close, Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire CV35 9BB, UK;

[2] Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Brookman’s Park, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK;

[3] Fairfax Saddles, The Saddlery, Fryers Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands WS3 2XJ, UK;

[4] Helen Mathie Physiotheraphy, Estate House, Matfen NE20 0RP, UK;

[5] Vet-IR, 83 Ducie Street, Manchester M1 2JQ, UK;

[6] Woolcroft Saddlery, Mays Lane, Wisbech PE13 5BU, UK;

关键词: magnitude;    hyperthermic;    hypothermic;    degree;    symmetry;    asymmetry;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ani11041105

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

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.

【 授权许可】

Unknown