Comparison of rider stability in a flapless saddle versus a conventional saddle.
Authors: Clayton Hilary M, Hampson Alexandra, Fraser Peter, White Arlene, Egenvall Agneta
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Rider Stability in Flapless versus Conventional Saddles Clayton and colleagues used high-frequency pressure mapping (60 Hz) to compare rider stability across five horses ridden in both conventional and flapless saddles, analysing the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral movement of the rider's centre of pressure during collected and extended walk, trot, and canter. Remarkably, the flapless design produced significant reductions in medial-lateral movement across all gaits and anterior-posterior movement during collected trot, extended trot, and extended canter—improvements achieved without altering the horse's speed or stride length. The mechanism appears to involve the more adducted thigh position enabled by the absence of flaps, which enhances lumbopelvic-hip muscle engagement for core stability and allows closer rider-horse contact that may facilitate proprioceptive feedback. For practitioners involved in saddle fitting and rider biomechanics, these findings suggest that flapless saddle designs may offer genuine stability advantages, particularly relevant for dressage where collection and precise movement control are prioritised, though further investigation with larger cohorts and different rider populations would strengthen the evidence base for broader application.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Flapless saddles may improve rider stability through enhanced thigh adduction and core muscle engagement, potentially benefiting riders seeking greater security
- •The closer contact with flapless designs could improve rider-horse communication through haptic feedback, enhancing responsiveness
- •Saddle choice impacts rider biomechanics and stability independent of horse gait characteristics, warranting consideration in saddle selection
Key Findings
- •Flapless saddles reduced mediolateral center of pressure range of motion in all gaits compared to conventional saddles
- •Flapless saddles reduced anteroposterior center of pressure range of motion in collected trot, extended trot, and extended canter
- •Improved stability attributed to more adducted thigh position enabling greater lumbopelvic-hip muscle stabilization
- •No differences in speed or stride length between saddle types