Vertical dimensions of suspended horses.

The research study focuses on measuring certain body parts of hobbled, anaesthetized horses that are suspended and about to undergo surgery. These measurements are crucial for designing cost-efficient and suitable equine surgical facilities. The data collected for research is compared and correlated with factors such as body mass, and sizes of several parts of the body, to formulate an “Equine Morphological Index”. The study provided valuable findings that will assist in better planning and construction of equine surgical facilities.

Objective and Methods

• The primary objective of the research was to measure the distance from the toe of anaesthetized suspended horses to the dependent back margin (Bsusp) and poll (Psusp). The information is required to plan and construct equine surgical facilities in a cost-effective manner.
• The research used digital photographs of suspended horses taken from a fixed position for measuring Bsusp and Psusp. Trigonometry was employed to calculate these values.

Data Correlation and Analysis

• The researchers linked the measured values from the suspended horses to their body mass, height at the withers (Wstand), and length of the horse’s back from the withers to the crop.
• An Equine Morphological Index (EMI) was derived using the Principal Component Analysis technique. This index was further used in a single-variable regression analysis along with other linear variables.

Results and Conclusions

• The Equine Morphological Index (EMI) has been formulated as: EMI = 0.531*mass(kg) + 0.528*Wstand(cm) + 0.469*crest(cm) + 0.468*back(cm).
• The Bsusp value could be most accurately estimated using a formulated mathematical expression: Bsusp= 118.71 + 0.128*EMI.
• The Psusp value was found to be most significantly associated with the height at the withers (Wstand). The calculation hence used was: Psusp= 46.9 + 1.01*Wstand(cm).
• The study concluded that it is possible to estimate the height of the most ventral margin of the back and the poll of suspended horses using measures taken from the standing animal. This finding will aid in the better planning and construction of equine surgical facilities, specifically those which use mechanical hoists.