Saddles and girths: What is new?

The research discusses the high prevalence of ill-fitting horse saddles and recommends frequent professional assessments for adjustments. The importance of individual and purpose-fitted saddles for horses is highlighted and the commonly used pads and numnahs are found to lack scientific backing for their usage, except for temporarily improving saddle fit, and may potentially be harmful.

Issues with Ill-fitting Saddles

• The study points out the high frequency of improperly fitted saddles among horse owners. Ill-fitted saddles can cause discomfort and stress in horses, potentially affecting their performance and wellbeing.
• The researchers noticed that many riders fail to professionally measure the saddle fit every year. They note that the back dimensions of a horse can change substantially over a year, which means the saddle fit should ideally be evaluated several times a year. This is especially recommended if there has been a change in the work intensity for the horse.

Impact of Exercise on Saddle Fit

• The researchers recommend evaluating saddle fit before and after exercise. The study suggests that a horse’s back dimensions can alter as a result of working out, which implies that saddle fit could be impacted as well.

Uniformity of Saddle Usage

• The study discourages the use of a single saddle for multiple horses. Instead, they suggest each horse should have its own purpose-fitted saddle, tailored according to its unique back dimension.

Usage of Pads and Numnahs

• The research highlights a lack of scientific grounding for the use of pads and numnahs under saddles. These additions are usually meant to enhance comfort for the horse, but the study suggests that they may in fact exert pressure on the horses’ back, potentially hampering their performance.
• However, they concede that such accessories can temporarily improve saddle fit.

Causes of Saddle Slip

• The study identifies hindlimb lameness as the most common cause of saddle slip to one side. Besides that, other contributing factors can include poor saddle fit or back asymmetry.