Relationship between the forces acting on the horse's back and the movements of rider and horse while walking on a treadmill.
Authors: von Peinen K, Wiestner T, Bogisch S, Roepstorff L, van Weeren P R, Weishaupt M A
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Understanding how saddle forces distribute across a horse's back during ridden work remains crucial for optimising comfort and performance, yet the precise relationship between saddle pressure patterns and the biomechanics of both horse and rider had not been systematically examined until this research. Von Peinen and colleagues measured vertical ground reaction forces, kinematics of horse and rider, and real-time saddle forces synchronously in seven high-level dressage horses walking on an instrumented treadmill, dividing pressure data into anatomical sections to map force distribution across the back in detail. The findings revealed that despite relatively modest overall saddle force fluctuations, a highly organised pattern emerged with three distinct peaks and three minima per half-stride cycle, with these fluctuations directly corresponding to the walk's footfall sequence—forces in the front third correlated with forelimb movement, mid-section forces with spinal lateral flexion, and hindquarters loading with axial rotation and lateral bending of the back. These biomechanical relationships provide a quantified reference point against which saddle designs and fit can be objectively evaluated, offering equine professionals a framework for understanding how different saddle types and fitting approaches may influence force distribution and ultimately the horse's comfort and musculoskeletal health during ridden exercise.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Saddle pressure patterns during walk follow a predictable, repeating sequence tied to the horse's footfall—understanding this baseline helps identify abnormal pressure distribution indicating poor fit
- •Pressure distribution changes systematically across different regions of the saddle mat; uneven loading between left and right sides or abnormal front-to-back distribution may indicate saddle fit problems affecting performance or causing discomfort
- •The data provides a biomechanical reference standard for evaluating saddle fit, allowing practitioners to distinguish between normal adaptive loading and pathological pressure patterns
Key Findings
- •Saddle force patterns show 3 peaks and 3 minima per half-cycle, systematically related to the walk footfall sequence
- •Force distribution curves are 50% phase-shifted between left and right halves of the saddle pressure mat
- •Front third forces correlate with front limb movement, mid-section forces with lateral spine flexion, and hind section forces with axial rotation and lateral back bending
- •Despite small total force fluctuations, distinct force distribution patterns occur throughout the stride cycle that can serve as reference standards for saddle fit assessment