A novel approach to thermographic images analysis of equine thoracolumbar region: the effect of effort and rider's body weight on structural image complexity.
Authors: Masko Malgorzata, Borowska Marta, Domino Malgorzata, Jasinski Tomasz, Zdrojkowski Lukasz, Gajewski Zdzislaw
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Back pain remains one of the most prevalent yet preventable conditions in ridden horses, predominantly driven by excessive saddle load and rider weight exceeding the widely accepted 20% threshold of bodyweight. To address limitations in current thermographic assessment protocols—which fail to differentiate thermal patterns in horses carrying loads within the acceptable 10–20% range—researchers analysed infrared images of the thoracolumbar region using novel image complexity analysis (fractal dimension and entropy measurements) across varying exercise intensities and rider weights. The method successfully distinguished thermal complexity changes associated with both increased effort and rider load within the clinically significant 10–20% zone, demonstrating that thermal patterning becomes measurably more complex as load approaches the upper safe limit. These findings suggest that refined thermographic analysis could provide practitioners with a more sensitive, objective tool for detecting early compensatory responses and subclinical load-related stress before structural damage develops. For farriers, physiotherapists, and veterinarians, this advancement offers potential to strengthen evidence-based recommendations regarding rider-to-horse weight ratios and guide intervention timing, particularly in performance horses or those showing subtle signs of back dysfunction.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Thermography with complexity analysis offers a new tool to objectively assess whether a horse is being overloaded during ridden work, going beyond simple temperature readings
- •The 20% body weight threshold may need individual assessment—this method could help identify critical load points for specific horses
- •Regular thermographic monitoring using this technique could help catch early signs of back stress before clinical lameness or pain develops
Key Findings
- •Thermographic image complexity analysis can differentiate horses under varying rider body weight loads (10-20% of horse body weight)
- •Structural image complexity of the thoracolumbar region increases with both effort and rider weight, providing a novel quantitative assessment method
- •Current thermography analysis methods fail to distinguish loaded horses across the clinically relevant 10-20% body weight range