Investigation of the Reliability of Saddle Fitters to Determine the Position of the Last Thoracic Vertebra of Horses Using Palpation Techniques: A Pilot Study.

The research article presents a pilot study on the reliability of saddle fitters in identifying the position of the last thoracic vertebra (T18) in horses using palpation techniques. The study finds that counting five spinous processes (SPs) from the lumbosacral joint along with observation of the rib position and curvature enhances saddle fitting accuracy.

Study Design and Process

• The study was designed to investigate the agreement between three Saddle Fitters (SFs) and a veterinary surgeon (VS) in the identification of the T18 vertebra using palpation and radiography techniques respectively. The study was divided into two parts.
• In the first part of the study, two SFs (SF1 and SF2) identified the T18 vertebra by palpating the lumbosacral joint and counting six SPs cranially. The third fitter (SF3), however, followed the curvature of the rib towards the dorsal midline to identify the T18 vertebra.
• In the second part of the study, SF1 and SF2 identified T18 by counting five SPs cranially on two different occasions.

Statistical Analysis and Results

• The agreement between the identification techniques of SFs and the VS was assessed using t-tests and Bland-Altman plots.
• The interrater and intrarater reliability were estimated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs).
• The results revealed SF1 and SF2 found T18, on average, 4.3 cm cranially to the position identified by the VS. The mean difference between the position identified by SF3 and VS was only 0.1 cm.
• When counting five SPs cranially, the average difference between the positions identified by SF1 and VS was -1.5 cm, and between SF2 and VS it was -0.3 cm.
• The interrater reliability was found to be good with an ICC of 0.798. The intrarater reliability was rated as excellent for SF1 (ICC = 0.905) and good for SF2 (ICC = 0.847).

Conclusion

• The study concluded that counting five SPs cranially from the lumbosacral joint, combined with observations of the rib position and curvature, improves the saddle fitting accuracy, ensuring the saddle is not placed beyond the T18 vertebra.