Thermographic detection of gingering in horses

Abstract

The thermographic effects of applying an irritating substance to the anal sphincter (gingering) were assessed using 2 different agents in 10 and 8 horses respectively. The results were analyzed to determine if thermography would be a suitable means to detect if a horse had been “gingered.” The first agent was a 15 percent methyl salicylate, 10 percent menthol solution in a unibase suspension and the second agent was ginger in a unibase suspension. The temperature difference between the anal sphincter and the perineal region and tail were determined. In the non-gingered horse the temperature difference between the anal sphincter and perineum ranges between 0.5 C and 1.5 C with a mean of 0.78 C. The temperature difference between the anal sphincter and ventral tail ranged between 0.5 C and2.5 C with a mean of 1.33 C. The first agent caused the mean temperature differences between anal sphincter and perineum to decrease to 0.3 C within 15 minutes and the mean difference between anal sphincter and ventral tail to decrease to 0.45 C within 60 minutes. Application of the second agent caused the anal sphincter/perineum mean temperature difference to decline to 0.41 C within 5 minutes and the anal sphincter/ventral tail mean temperature to decline to 0.44 C within 5 minutes. These results, show that the application of these “gingering” agents does cause changes in the thermal patterns around the anus and that thermography can be used to detect a “gingered” horse. “Gingering” is the horseman's term for the application of a mildly irritating substance to the anus and perineal region of a horse for the specific intent of causing the horse to raise its tail. Certain breedassociations (Arabian, Saddlebred and Morgan Horses) consider a high tail carriage desirable. This traitis especially desirable in the show ring and a horse must exhibit this trait if it is going to compete successfully. “Gingering” is an artificial means of achieving this. Thermography displays surface temperatures of an object 3 . It is a noninvasive, non-contacting technique that measures infrared emissions. These emissions can be related directly to local circulation and metabolism 1 6 7 14 l5 . Thermography has been used for evaluation of various acute and chronic inflammatory conditions in horses 2 4 5 7 – 13 . The purpose of this project was to investigate the possible use of thermography as a means of detecting a gingered horse.