Lower legs
Athritic hock.
This aged
pony was known to have arthritic joints and his Infrared Thermal Imaging
session revealed just how cold his hocks were relative to the rest of the limb. See image left. If you look at the next section
'Asymmetrical Body Patterns' you will see that
by taking all the elements into account you can build a picture of how a
particular horse is 'using' and/or 'saving' himself and indicators as to why.
The more information we have as caring and discerning horse owners the more
possibility we 
have
for keeping our well loved, young and old, horses and ponies comfortable and
happy.
Compare this with the more even blood flow throughout the whole of the hind limb of a different horse. See image right. The coronet band is a useful reference point; this area should show up has having a higher blood supply/heat pattern which is considered normal. We can compare the rest of the limb to this reference point to assess thermal abnormalities and norms. In fact, if you imagine toning down the temperature settings for the first image so that the coronet band shows a thin stripe then the hocks would show up even colder!
Post Fall. Fetlock damage.
Right hind - oustide (lateral) view.
This retired horse had fallen some weeks before in the field. She had twisted both fetlocks which had both swelled up at the time.
Observe the right hind on left hand image and left hind on right hand image.
Both images show a heat pattern which correlates with the shape of the suspensory ligament and annular ligament on both sides.
Left hind - oustide (lateral) view.
Tenosynovitis
Comparison of both legs
This horse is being managed and treated for tenosynovitis.
You can see clearly the degree of heat and inflammation associated with this condition.
You can also see the source of the hottest area mid-way between fetlock and knee.
Lateral view of front left
Concussed shins
Warm canons (the tendons were cool)
Cool shins by comparison
Warm tendons, cool canons
