An investigation of the relationship between hindlimb lameness and saddle slip.
Abstract: We have observed saddle slip consistently to one side because of a crooked rider, an ill-fitting saddle, asymmetry in a horse's thoracolumbar shape and lameness. Currently, there are no objective data to permit assessment of the relative importance of each factor. Objective: To document the frequency of occurrence of saddle slip in horses with hindlimb lameness compared with other horses. To describe the effect of lameness characteristics and grade, the abolition of lameness by diagnostic analgesia, breed, size, thoracolumbar shape and symmetry and the rider's weight. Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight horses were assessed prospectively, and lameness and saddle slip were assigned a grade before and after diagnostic analgesia. The thoracolumbar shape and symmetry were measured objectively. In 3 horses, the force distribution and magnitude underneath the saddle were measured before and after diagnostic analgesia. Results: The saddle consistently slipped to one side in 38 of 71 horses (54%) with hindlimb lameness, compared with one of 26 horses (4%) with forelimb lameness, none of 20 (0%) with back pain and/or sacroiliac joint region pain and none of 11 sound horses (0%). The association between saddle slip and hindlimb lameness was significant (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, ρ = 0.548, P<0.001). Diagnostic analgesia abolishing the hindlimb lameness eliminated the saddle slip in 37 of 38 horses (97%). In 2 horses, the saddle continued to slip after resolution of lameness; one horse had bilateral forelimb lameness and the other horse had concurrent hindlimb and forelimb lameness. The saddle of both these horses was asymmetrically flocked. The saddle slipped to the side of the lamer hindlimb in most horses (32 of 37 [86%]). No horse with saddle slip had significant left-right asymmetry of the back at 4 predetermined sites. Conclusions: Hindlimb lameness is an important factor in inducing saddle slip. Saddle slip may be an indicator of the presence of hindlimb lameness.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2013-01-29 PubMed ID: 23360352DOI: 10.1111/evj.12029Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study investigates the relationship between hindlimb lameness in horses and saddle slippage. The findings show that saddle slippage frequently occurs in horses with hindlimb lameness and highlight the significance of hindlimb lameness in causing saddle slippage.
Objective and Methodology of the Study
- The main objective of this study was to document the frequency of saddle slip in horses experiencing hindlimb lameness compared to horses without this condition. It also aimed to determine the effect of different factors such as the characteristics and grade of lameness, the abolition of lameness through diagnostic analgesia, breed, size, thoracolumbar shape and symmetry, and rider’s weight on saddle slippage.
- For the study, a total of 128 horses were examined prospectively. The horses’ lameness and saddle slip were graded both before and after the application of diagnostic analgesia. The shape and symmetry of the thoracolumbar area were measured objectively.
- In addition, the distribution and magnitude of force underneath the saddle were measured before and after diagnostic analgesia in three of the horses.
Results of the Research
- The study found that the saddle slipped to one side consistently in 54% of horses with hindlimb lameness. In contrast, saddle slip occurred in only 4% of horses with forelimb lameness, and it did not occur at all in horses with back pain, sacroiliac joint region pain, or those who were sound.
- There was a significant association between saddle slip and hindlimb lameness, confirming that hindlimb lameness is an important contributory factor to saddle slip.
- Furthermore, it was found that the application of diagnostic analgesia, which eliminated hindlimb lameness, also abolished saddle slip in nearly all (97%) of the horses. In two of the horses, however, the saddle continued to slip after the lameness was resolved. It was discovered that both these horses had asymmetrically flocked saddles and one had concurrent hindlimb and forelimb lameness.
- Most of the time (86%), the saddle slipped to the side of the lame hindlimb. The study also found that horses with saddle slip did not have significant left-right asymmetry of the back at predefined points.
Conclusion
- The results of this study indicated that hindlimb lameness is a crucial factor in causing saddle slip. Therefore, saddle slip can be considered as an indicator of the presence of hindlimb lameness in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Greve L, Dyson SJ.
(2013).
An investigation of the relationship between hindlimb lameness and saddle slip.
Equine Vet J, 45(5), 570-577.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12029 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Hindlimb / pathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
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