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Vertical dimensions of suspended horses
Author(s) -
CLUTTON R. E.,
CHASETOPPING M.,
SQUIRES R.,
LAWSON H.,
MINARD H.,
ROSE S.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00167.x
Subject(s) - withers , mathematics , horse , crest , statistics , orthodontics , medicine , biology , physics , body weight , paleontology , quantum mechanics
Summary Reasons for study: The dimensions of anaesthetised hobbled horses during suspension and transfer onto the operating table are unknown. These data are required for the cost‐effective construction of equine surgical facilities. Objectives: To measure the distance from the toe to dependent back margin (B susp ) and poll (P susp ) of anaesthetised suspended horses and correlate them with readily obtained measures from standing animals. Methods: Digital photographs of suspended horses were taken in the anaesthesia induction box at a fixed position that allowed trigonometric determination of B susp and P susp . These values were linked with body mass, height at the withers (W stand ), the length of the crest from the poll to the withers (crest) and of the back (back) from the withers to the crop, by deriving an equine morphological index (EMI) using principal component analysis. The EMI and other linear variables were then subjected to single variable regression analysis. Results: EMI was 0.531mass (kg) + 0.528W stand (cm) + 0.469crest (cm) + 0.468back (cm) . B susp was most accurately estimated using the expression B susp = 118.71 + 0.128EMI while P susp was most strongly associated with W stand , i.e. P susp = 46.9 + 1.01W stand (cm) . Conclusions: The height of suspended horses at the most ventral margin of the back and the poll can be estimated from measures taken from the standing animal. Potential relevance: The data will allow the more informed planning and construction of equine surgical facilities in which mechanical hoists are used.