Comparison of rider stability in a flapless saddle versus a conventional saddle.
Abstract: The purpose of a saddle is to improve the rider's safety, security, and comfort, while distributing the forces exerted by the rider and saddle over a large area of the horse's back without focal pressure points. This study investigates the effects on rider stability of an innovative saddle design that differs from a conventional saddle in having no flaps. Five horses were ridden by their regular rider in their usual saddle and in a flapless saddle. A pressure mat (60 Hz) placed between the saddle and the horse's back was used to determine the position of the center of pressure, which represents the centroid of pressure distribution on the horse's back. Data were recorded as five horses were ridden at collected and extended walk, trot and canter in a straight line. Data strings were split into strides with 5 strides analysed per horse/gait/type. For each stride the path of the rider's center of pressure was plotted, maximal and minimal values in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions were extracted, and ranges of motion in anteroposterior and mediolateral directions were calculated. Differences between the conventional and flapless saddles were analysed using mixed models ANOVA. Speed and stride length of each gait did not differ between saddles. Compared with the conventional saddle, the flapless saddle was associated with significant reductions in range of motion of the rider's center of pressure in the mediolateral direction in all gaits and in the anteroposterior direction in collected trot, extended trot and extended canter. The improved stability was thought to result from the absence of saddle flaps allowing the rider's thighs to lie in more adducted positions, which facilitated the action of the lumbopelvic-hip musculature in stabilizing and controlling translations and rotations of the pelvis and trunk. The closer contact between rider and horse may also have augmented the transfer of haptic information.
Publication Date: 2018-06-06 PubMed ID: 29874238PubMed Central: PMC5991391DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196960Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research study investigates the stability of riders using a conventional saddle compared to a new design of a flapless saddle. The findings show that the new flapless saddle design significantly improved rider stability and control in various horse gaits.
Study Methodology
- The study involved five horses and their regular riders with the experiment being performed under two conditions – while riding with their usual saddle, and again with a different, flapless saddle design.
- A pressure mat was placed between the saddle and the horse’s back to record the position of the center of pressure, which represents the pressure distribution on the horse’s back.
- Data were recorded as the horses were ridden at collected and extended walk, trot, and canter in a straight line.
- This data was then analyzed max, min values and ranges of motion in both the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions.
Findings of the Study
- The study found that there was significant reduction in range of motion of the rider’s center of pressure (essentially increasing rider’s stability) with the use of the flapless saddle.
- This occurred in the mediolateral direction for all gaits, and in the anteroposterior direction for collected trot, extended trot, and extended canter.
- The speed and stride length of each gait showed no difference between the two types of saddles being compared.
Reasons for Enhanced Stability
- The research team believed that the increased stability could be directly attributed to the missing flaps on the saddle, which let the rider’s thighs to lie in a more adducted position.
- This new position helped in utilizing the lumbopelvic-hip musculature (central body muscles) more effectively, which enabled better control and stabilization of the pelvis and trunk.
- Also, the closer physical contact between horse and rider facilitated the transfer of haptic information (information pertaining to touch and proprioception). This could mean that riders were better able to perceive and respond to horse movements by tactile feedback partly contributing to improved stability.
Cite This Article
APA
Clayton HM, Hampson A, Fraser P, White A, Egenvall A.
(2018).
Comparison of rider stability in a flapless saddle versus a conventional saddle.
PLoS One, 13(6), e0196960.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196960 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America.
- Happy Athlete Sport Therapy, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.
- Pete Fraser Consulting, Oakland, California, United States of America.
- Animal Rehab Institute, Loxahatchee, Florida, United States of America.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Horses
- Humans
- Models, Biological
Conflict of Interest Statement
Peter Fraser owns Pete Fraser Consulting of Oakland, CA. He is currently retired and no longer receives income associated with this company. EQ Saddle Science funded the direct research costs including travel and accommodation for the research team during the period of data collection. EQ Saddle Science provided saddles for use during data collection, and will pay the costs of publication. EQ Saddle Science did not play a role in designing the study, collecting and analyzing data, manuscript preparation or publishing decisions. None of the authors received salary support for the project.
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