Force and pressure distribution beneath a conventional dressage saddle and a treeless dressage saddle with panels.

The research paper primarily compares how forces and pressure profiles behave under a traditional dressage saddle with a beechwood spring tree versus a dressage saddle without a rigid internal support (treeless). Six horses trotted in a straight line while a rider using either saddle collected pressure data; the results showed that contact area and force variables were similar across both saddles, but the treeless version exerted higher maximal and mean pressures due to its narrow gullet and sloping panels. Thus, the saddle’s panels’ size, shape, angle, and placement need to suit each horse, even if it’s treeless.

Research Objective and Hypothesis

• The aim of this study was to compare the forces and pressure profiles of a conventional saddle with a beechwood spring tree and a dressage saddle without a rigid internal support (treeless).
• The hypothesis was that there would be no significant difference between the force and pressure variables of the two saddle types.

Research Method

• Six horses were ridden by the same rider using both the conventional and treeless dressage saddles in a random order.
• Pressure data were collected using an electronic pressure mat as the horses trotted in a straight line
• Data were divided into strides, with ten strides analyzed for each horse-saddle combination.
• The researchers calculated and compared variables describing the loaded area, total force, force distribution, and pressure distribution between the two saddles using a three-factor ANOVA.

Research Findings

• The contact area and force variables did not differ between the two types of saddles.
• However, the maximal pressure, mean pressure, and area with pressure greater than 11kPa were higher for the treeless dressage saddle.
• The increased pressure was a result of the treeless dressage saddle’s narrow gullet and highly inclined panels.

Conclusion

• The study concluded that the size, shape, incline, and placement of the panels of a saddle must be appropriately fitted for each individual horse, even in the case of treeless saddles.
• The panels of the treeless dressage saddle provided a contact area and force distribution comparable to a conventional treed saddle; however, the high-pressure areas resulting from the narrow gullet and significantly inclined panels could be problematic for the horse’s comfort and performance.