The effects of different saddle pads on forces and pressure distribution beneath a fitting saddle.
Authors: Kotschwar A B, Baltacis A, Peham C
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Whilst saddle pads are commonplace across riding disciplines, surprisingly little empirical evidence exists regarding their actual biomechanical effects on pressure distribution. Kotschwar and colleagues evaluated how four commercially available pad materials—gel, leather, foam and reindeer fur—influenced forces and pressure patterns beneath a well-fitted dressage saddle when sixteen horses of varying breeds and ages worked on a treadmill at walk and sitting trot, using a pressure-sensitive mat synchronised to stride cycles. Only the reindeer fur pad achieved statistically significant reductions in maximum overall force, lowering values from 1005 N to 796 N at walk and from 1650 N to 1437 N at trot; critically, none of the other pads worsened pressure distribution, though neither did they improve it meaningfully. The reindeer fur pad also produced the most favourable longitudinal and transverse pressure distribution at trot. For practitioners, these findings suggest that pad selection matters substantially—a correctly chosen pad can measurably reduce dorsal loading—yet the widespread assumption that any pad beneath a fitting saddle provides benefit requires reconsideration, particularly as three of the four tested materials proved ineffective at modifying force patterns.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Reindeer fur saddle pads demonstrated measurable reductions in back pressure and load distribution compared to other common pad materials tested
- •Gel, leather, and foam pads provided no significant improvement over riding without a pad, suggesting not all commercial saddle pads deliver biomechanical benefit
- •Saddle pad selection matters for reducing load on the horse's back; material choice is as important as saddle fit itself
Key Findings
- •Reindeer fur saddle pad significantly reduced maximum overall force from 1005 N to 796 N at walk and 1650 N to 1437 N at trot compared to no pad
- •Gel, leather, and foam pads did not significantly decrease maximum overall force compared to riding without a pad
- •Reindeer fur pad significantly improved pressure distribution in longitudinal and transversal directions at trot
- •A properly chosen saddle pad can reduce load on the horse's back and improve saddle suitability