Can altering saddle/rider interface modify the force applied to the equine thoracic region when jumping a 1.20 m fence?
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R.C. Murray1, V. Fairfax2, M. Fisher3, D. Fisher3, A. Bealby4 and R. MacKechnie-Guire5
1Rossdales Ltd, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK; 2Fairfax Saddles, Walsall, West Midlands, UK; 3Woolcroft Saddlery, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, UK; 4Equine Athletes, Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK; and 5Centaur Biomechanics, Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire, UK. Email: [email protected]
Background: Optimising horse/saddle/rider interaction is increasingly recognised as important for equine welfare. Altering saddle/rider interaction alters forces under the rider and horse kinematics. Locomotor forces are increased when jumping, but there is little information about forces beneath the saddle during the approach, jump and landing, or effect of altered rider/saddle interaction.
Study design: Cross-over.
Methods: 14 high-level jumping horse/rider combinations were recruited and assessed by a veterinarian. Horses were ridden in two saddles with the same tree and horse-facing panel but different rider-facing features: Saddle S which had a standard jump saddle rider-facing configuration and Saddle F designed to alter the location of the rider's Centre-of-Mass and reduce rider positional restriction to allow more synchronous rider/horse interaction. Correct saddle fit was confirmed by three qualified saddle fitters. Horses were fitted with a saddle force mat (Pliance) between the saddle and horse thoracic epaxial musculature. Saddle forces were quantified during the approach-stride, take-off, jump-stride and landing-stride when jumping a 1.20 m parallel fence. Speed was controlled for both saddle conditions. Horses jumped the experimental fence six times. Force data for the area underneath saddles S and F were exported (Signal View). Mean values for the approach-stride, take-off, jump-stride and landing-stride were analysed using a paired t-test with a significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Saddle forces (N) were significantly lower for Saddle F during the approach stride (Saddle S: 1103.8 ± 326.8 N, Saddle F: 981.6 ± 246.7 N, p = 0.04) and landing stride (Saddle S: 3037.3 ± 487.7 N, Saddle F: 2603.1 ± 507.6 N, p < 0.01). No differences were seen during take-off (p = 0.189) or jump-strides (p = 0.076).
Main limitations: Only high-level horses/riders were studied.
Conclusion: When jumping, the equine thoracic region experiences considerable forces. Altering rider/saddle interaction was associated with altered forces underneath the saddle, which could potentially be used to protect the equine thoracic region.
Ethical animal research: Approved by the Royal Veterinary College Ethics and Welfare Committee: URN 20131238.
Informed consent: Riders and owners gave consent.
Competing interests: Vanessa Fairfax is employed by Fairfax Saddles.
Funding: None.
