Using infrared thermography for the evaluation of road transport thermal homeostasis in athletic horse.
Authors: Aragona Francesca, Arfuso Francesca, Rizzo Maria, Fazio Francesco, Acri Giuseppe, Piccione Giuseppe, Giannetto Claudia
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Infrared Thermography in Transported Athletic Horses Road transport presents a significant physiological challenge to athletic horses, yet objective assessment of thermal stress during journeys remains underdeveloped in equine practice. Aragona and colleagues used infrared thermography (FLIR T440 camera) alongside rectal thermometry to track thermal changes in six Italian Saddle horses during 100 and 300 km transports conducted at different times of day, measuring cutaneous temperatures at the jugular region, shoulder, croup and inner thigh at baseline (T0), immediately post-transport (T1) and one hour recovery (T2). Notably, jugular temperature proved significantly more sensitive to transport distance, remaining elevated across all time points following the longer 300 km journey compared to 100 km (P < 0.0001), with shoulder and croup temperatures also showing delayed elevation at T2 post-300 km transport; conversely, rectal temperature and inner thigh measurements showed no significant variation between distances. The time of day substantially influenced baseline cutaneous temperatures—morning transports showed systematically lower jugular and shoulder temperatures at baseline than afternoon journeys—suggesting environmental factors may obscure transport-specific thermal stress if not controlled for. These findings indicate that infrared thermography of the jugular region offers a practical, non-invasive monitoring tool for transport-associated thermal stress in field conditions, though practitioners should standardise measurement timing and account for ambient temperature when interpreting results; the 300 km distance appeared a meaningful threshold for detectable thermal elevation in athletic horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Longer transport distances (300 km) cause sustained elevations in superficial body temperature (jugular, shoulder, croup regions) even 1 hour after arrival; monitor recovery carefully and allow extended cool-down periods
- •Thermal imaging can detect regional temperature changes that rectal thermometers miss; consider infrared thermography as a non-invasive tool for assessing transport stress in athletic horses
- •Time of day significantly influences baseline and post-transport temperatures; afternoon transports may present different thermal challenges than morning transports, requiring adjusted management strategies
Key Findings
- •Jugular temperature was significantly higher following 300 km transport compared to 100 km at all time points (P < 0.0001)
- •Shoulder and croup temperatures showed greater increases 1 hour post-transport (T2) after 300 km journeys compared to 100 km journeys (P < 0.0001)
- •Time of day had comparable effects on cutaneous temperature as transport distance, with pm baseline temperatures higher than am across multiple body regions
- •No significant differences in rectal or inner thigh temperatures between transport distances or times of day