Pressure areas in conventional saddles and bareback riding
Research has shown that saddles can cause major damage to the horse’s back. Finding the right saddle can be a hazardous job. In this study a conventional foam-filled leather saddle was compared to bareback riding. Forces and pressure profiles were measured in order to examine the impact on a horse’s back.
Seven Arabian horses were tested using the same conventional saddle. All horses were ridden by a 28 year old female rider weighing 57 kg to prevent bias. Measurements were performed by the use of a pressure mat while standing and trotting.
Important differences in pressure profiles were found. The conventional saddle showed peak pressure on the side of the withers, a well-known problem area. Bareback riding showed a significant small area of loading around the buttock of the rider (ischial tuberosities). This is the area where epaxial muscles and cutaneous trunci are situated and are linked to back problems.
> From: Clayton et al., Vet J. 195 (2017) 48-52. All rights reserved to Elsevier Ltd.. Click here for the online summary.
