Thermal imaging technology is making significant strides in equine care, particularly in evaluating saddle fit. This innovative approach provides detailed insights into how a saddle interacts with a horse’s back, helping to identify pressure points, discomfort, and potential risks of injury.

A well-fitting saddle is essential for a horse’s comfort and performance. Poor saddle fit can lead to a range of issues, from muscle soreness to long-term back problems, and may even affect a horse’s gait and movement. Traditional methods of assessing saddle fit, such as manual inspection or rider feedback, can miss subtle yet important details. This is where thermal imaging steps in, offering a visual representation of heat distribution on the horse’s back after riding.

Thermal imaging works by detecting temperature variations on the horse’s body (which is transferred to the saddle). Areas of higher temperature often indicate increased pressure, while cooler areas may suggest inadequate contact or *uneven weight distribution. These images can help saddle fitters, trainers, and veterinarians identify areas where adjustments are needed to reduce discomfort and prevent injury.

In addition to preventing pain and injury, thermal imaging can also enhance a horse’s performance. A horse that is comfortable and pain-free is likely to move more freely and perform better during training or competition. By using thermal imaging to identify pressure points, riders can make necessary adjustments to ensure a more even and comfortable saddle fit, ultimately improving the horse’s overall movement and responsiveness.

Thermal imaging has become an invaluable tool for equine professionals, providing a clear, non-invasive way to assess saddle fit. With its ability to pinpoint potential problems before they become serious, it helps to ensure the long-term health and well-being of horses, while also enhancing their performance and comfort under saddle.


* "It's not you, it's me"
Meaning, that the saddle may be just fine but the rider is placing pressure where they may be off balance while riding.


DIFFERENCES IN VARIOUS THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS IN VETERINARY USE.

As I've embarked on my very passionate and sometimes difficult and confusing journey into thermal imaging, I've encountered interesting responses to the work.  The days of technology are upon us and the sophisitication of equipment is varied and abundant!

 

I always say, "the more I learn, the more I know I need to learn"!  The love of lifelong learning has spurred me on to continue that journey.  Thanks to my mentors in AAT for encouragement and knowledge.  These mentors have decades of experience not only with the technology but with the nuances of understanding what is "normal" and what is not.  I appreciate their support beyond expression!

 

A few times, I have lit the fire of excitement and desire to learn in my clients (yay!).  Just a caution however that you will also be caught in the very many nuances of this work.  Important to remember the two points of the below research article as you endeavor to understand the work.  
​Enjoy!

1)Use of “low -cost” “entry level” imagers (i.e.”I used my iPhone attached camera”):
In addition, the FLIR ONE device, although operating within 
specification, did not prove to be suitable for clinical equine work due to its
poor accuracy, stability and optics. The manufacturer makes clear that
the device is a low-cost entry-level camera, but this has not stopped a
number of research groups employing it for data collection in medical research [22–24]. 
We would comment that, while low-cost mobile phone devices may have a role to play in “proof-of-principle” exploratory research, their performance is currently not sufficient for the collection of critical data [25]

2)Comparing the same area/horse to different cameras (i.e.  Why does my camera say something different than yours?)
 
The apparently different thermograms presented in Fig. 7 (above) represent 
the same horse, recorded by our five cameras just minutes apart. This 
shows clearly the practical limitations of gathering thermographic data 
with more than one imager, when camera performance is variable. This 
would have particular implications for research studies that pool data 
captured by more than one camera, or for a clinical veterinary practice that
​uses several cameras for imaging. 
The difference in image presentation between thermal camera 
manufacturers also poses a challenge. The use of “rainbow” palettes is 
widely adopted across veterinary and medical thermography [26]. At 
present, however, there is no universally agreed and employed rainbow 
palette, and this can mean that a thermogram can appear quite different 
when presented in the software of different manufacturers [27].A 
simple solution to this problem would be to employ a linear grayscale 
palette to all images when thermograms from different software 
packages are compared.

SOURCE: 
Excerpt from:  
Thermal camera performance and image analysis repeatability in equine thermography 
Kevin Howella, Krzysztof Dudekb, Maria Sorokoc,⁎ a Microvascular Diagnostics, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK b Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Wroclaw University of Technology, Lukasiewicza 7/9, 50-231 Wroclaw, Poland c Department of Horse Breeding and Equestrian Studies, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Kozuchowska 5A, 51-161 Wroclaw, Polan
https://www.academia.edu/88533560/Thermal_camera_performance_and_image_analysis_repeatability_in_equine_thermography?email_work_card=abstract-read-more  Type your paragraph here.