Biomechanics and Physical Training of the Horse
Authors: Denoix Jean-Marie
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Biomechanics and Physical Training of the Horse Overloading of the thoracolumbar spine remains a widespread concern in sport and school horses, with potential consequences for performance and welfare, yet reliable field-based assessment methods have been limited. Jean-Marie Denoix's 2014 investigation evaluated whether entropy-based analysis of infrared thermography could objectively quantify rider-induced spinal loading by measuring thermal irregularity patterns across the withers and thoracic spine in twelve horses worked by six riders of varying bodyweight ratios (light, moderate, and heavy). Of the forty thermal measures examined, thirty demonstrated sensitivity to exercise effects, whilst eight specifically correlated with rider bodyweight ratio; notably, dispersion entropy applied to red colour components proved superior to previous texture analysis methods for distinguishing between light and heavy rider groups. This work supports the integration of thermographic assessment into routine equine practice, offering farriers, veterinarians, and coaches an objective, non-invasive tool to identify problematic load distribution during training—enabling timely intervention through saddle fit adjustment, conditioning protocols, or rider-horse matching before chronic overload injuries develop. The methodology's reproducibility and field applicability position entropy-based thermography as a practical adjunct to conventional clinical assessment, particularly valuable for early detection of load-related compensation patterns that might otherwise progress unnoticed.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Infrared thermography with entropy analysis could become a practical tool for assessing saddle fit and rider weight appropriateness in everyday equine practice
- •Thermal imaging patterns are sensitive enough to detect overloading effects, providing objective data for rider-horse matching recommendations
- •Monitor thermal changes in the withers and thoracic spine regions before and after work to identify horses at risk from excessive rider load
Key Findings
- •30 out of 40 entropy measures derived from infrared thermography were sensitive to exercise-induced changes in back thermal patterns
- •8 entropy measures correlated with rider-to-horse bodyweight ratio, enabling differentiation between light and heavy rider groups
- •Dispersion entropy (DispEn) applied to red color components achieved higher accuracy than previous texture analysis methods for detecting heavy rider load
- •Thermal image texture showed higher irregularity and complexity in horses ridden by heavier riders, indicating greater back stress