The aim of the pilot study was to determine the effect of manual therapy in the form of massage on the surface temperature of the horse's body areas. An experiment was carried out in three days, in which we measured the temperature in six different massaged body areas using the Optris PI 400i thermographic camera. Six warmblooded horses housed in individual stalls were included. The measurements were taken within the same day in the following time intervals: immediately before the massage (0) and 1, 15, 30 and 60 minutes after the massage. The highest average temperature of all measurements was recorded in the last observed day (31.2 °C) and was statistically significantly different from the two previous days. When analyzing the individual areas of the horse's body, the lowest average temperature (29.2 °C) was recorded in the back (lumbar spine) area and the highest (31.7 °C) in the chest. When analysing the time of measurement, the significantly lowest average temperature was detected before the massage (30.5 °C). Thirty minutes after the massage, the measured temperatures were the highest. The confirmed differences in surface temperature indicate an important physiological response that could help explain reports of therapeutic benefits of massage therapy.
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