Equine

Improving Saddle Fit Through Thermographic Exams

Proper saddle fit is of utmost importance to both horse and rider. If a saddle does not fit the horse correctly, it can lead to reduced overall performance, poor disposition and health issues. Saddles should be fitted and checked according to the rider’s training and performance level to promote a healthy and harmonious team. As horses either advance or have lapses in their training, their body conformation changes in both musculature and fat deposition by increasing or decreasing. Possible symptoms of an ill-fitting saddle include: adverse behavior while being saddled or mounted, the horse travels inverted, grinds its teeth, has lameness issues, or the riders position is compromised by either being pitched forward in the saddle or in a chair position with legs out front.

Thermography has the ability to enhance traditional saddle fitting by providing a more resolved picture of pressure points and abnormal wear patterns which may not have been as obvious by other means. Current methods for adjusting and fitting saddles involves careful determinations of saddle wear patterns, assessments of sweat or hair-coat pressure points, observing the response of the horse to rider directions (i.e., identifying delayed responses or protests by the horse to direction), or rider complaints of discomfort during riding. Remote Animal Monitoring Solutions will offer as a service to saddle fitters and riders thermal imaging of the saddle and horse to characterize the "fit" of a saddle and diagnostics for saddle adjustments.

Thermography shows changes in the thermal (heat) distribution on the saddle, and on the horses back, after a 20 to 30 minute period of exercise. Remote Animal Monitoring Solutions will provide thermography services with the aim of improving saddle fit, from which the benefits may include: (1) reduced animal health care costs to the equine owner from the use of thermography in the early detection of ill-fitting saddles; (2) improved rider-horse communication leading to enhanced responsiveness to direction and decreased incidences of malbehavior; and (3) improved horse/rider performance. We will work closely with clientele and saddle fitters to assure appropriate interpretation of the image analysis and findings, and will provide detailed follow-up reports for comparison to saddle fittings in the future.

The co-owners of Remote Animal Monitoring Solutions, Dr. Scott Willard and Anna Chromiak, have 49 years of combined experience in the field of animal science, more than 6 years of thermal imaging experience, and Anna Chromiak is an accomplished equestrian with 37 years of equine ownership and competition experience.

If you are interested in more information regarding the use of thermal imaging for saddle fit, or would like to have a representative contact you about our services, please e-mail us at: info@rams-online.com

Equine Thermal Imaging

We believe that thermal imaging is a unique way in which to represent the equine in both performance and as a companion animal. We encourage you to visit our Thermal Art link and browse our collection of thermal prints dedicated to the equine. We also do custom thermal photography at horse shows and events in conjunction with our thermal saddle fitting assessments, and welcome inquiries for scheduling a thermal imaging session.