Research paper on Saddle Fit and Management
Equine Vet J. 2015 Jul;47(4):415-21. doi: 10.1111/evj.12304. Epub 2014 Aug 15.Saddle fit and management: An investigation of the association with equine thoracolumbar asymmetries, horse and rider healthL Greve 1, S Dyson 1Affiliations expandPMID: 24905610 DOI: 10.1111/evj.12304AbstractReasons for performing study: No previous studies have investigated interrelationships between saddle fit/management, equine thoracolumbar asymmetries, rider and horse health.
Objectives: To assess associations between data obtained by clinical assessment and those provided by riders via a questionnaire.
Study design: Clinical assessment of a convenience sample of horses and riders compared with a Web-based questionnaire survey (n = 205).
Methods: Horse thoracolumbar asymmetries at predetermined sites, the presence of lameness (in hand and/or ridden), saddle slip, saddle fit/management and rider straightness were assessed. Kappa statistics were used to assess the relationship between categorical clinical data and questionnaire data from riders. Spearman's correlation was used to investigate associations between outcomes from clinical assessment (horse, saddle and rider data) and information provided by riders.
Results: There was a 40.5% (205 of 506) questionnaire response rate. Thirty horses (14.6%) had saddle slip, which was significantly associated with hindlimb lameness or gait abnormalities (P<0.001), but only 2 riders had considered a link between saddle slip and lameness. Rider back pain was common (38.5%) and associated with ill-fitting saddles (P = 0.03) and either a quadrupedally reduced cranial phase of the step or a stiff, stilted canter (P = 0.006). Well-fitted saddles were associated with frequent saddle fit checks (P = 0.004). Minor thoracolumbar asymmetries (P = 0.04) were negatively associated with ill-fitting saddles and positively associated with rider skill level (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: The interaction between the horse, saddle and rider is complex. Ill-fitting saddles and a stiff, stilted canter or quadrupedally reduced cranial phase of the step are associated with rider back pain. Equine back pain and minor thoracolumbar asymmetries are associated with ill-fitting saddles. Saddle fit should be checked more often than once yearly to lower the number of ill-fitting saddles. Riders, trainers and other professionals involved in equine care and performance need better education to recognise ill-fitting saddles, lameness, saddle slip and rider crookedness.
Keywords: back pain; gait abnormality; horse; lameness; rider position; saddle slip.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Similar articlesThe interrelationship of lameness, saddle slip and back shape in the general sports horse population.Greve L, Dyson SJ.Equine Vet J. 2014 Nov;46(6):687-94. doi: 10.1111/evj.12222. Epub 2014 Feb 27.PMID: 24372949Subjective analysis of exercise-induced changes in back dimensions of the horse: The influence of saddle-fit, rider skill and work quality.Greve L, Murray R, Dyson S.Vet J. 2015 Oct;206(1):39-46. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.06.009. Epub 2015 Jun 15.PMID: 26238979Saddles and girths: What is new?Dyson S, Greve L.Vet J. 2016 Jan;207:73-79. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.06.012. Epub 2015 Jun 24.PMID: 26598786 Review.An investigation of the relationship between hindlimb lameness and saddle slip.Greve L, Dyson SJ.Equine Vet J. 2013 Sep;45(5):570-7. doi: 10.1111/evj.12029. Epub 2013 Jan 29.PMID: 23360352The horse-saddle-rider interaction.Greve L, Dyson S.Vet J. 2013 Mar;195(3):275-81. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.10.020. Epub 2012 Nov 21.PMID: 23177524 Review.See all similar articlesCited bySelection of Image Texture Analysis and Color Model in the Advanced Image Processing of Thermal Images of Horses following Exercise.Domino M, Borowska M, Kozłowska N, Trojakowska A, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Smyth G, Maśko M.Animals (Basel). 2022 Feb 12;12(4):444. doi: 10.3390/ani12040444.PMID: 35203152 Free PMC article.The Effect of Rider:Horse Bodyweight Ratio on the Superficial Body Temperature of Horse's Thoracolumbar Region Evaluated by Advanced Thermal Image Processing.Domino M, Borowska M, Trojakowska A, Kozłowska N, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Smyth G, Maśko M.Animals (Basel). 2022 Jan 13;12(2):195. doi: 10.3390/ani12020195.PMID: 35049815 Free PMC article.A novel approach to thermographic images analysis of equine thoracolumbar region: the effect of effort and rider's body weight on structural image complexity.Masko M, Borowska M, Domino M, Jasinski T, Zdrojkowski L, Gajewski Z.BMC Vet Res. 2021 Mar 2;17(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02803-2.PMID: 33653346 Free PMC article.Relationships between morphometric measurements and musculoskeletal disorders in jumping Thoroughbred horses.Mostafa MB, Elemmawy YM.J Equine Sci. 2020 Jun;31(2):23-27. doi: 10.1294/jes.31.23. Epub 2020 Jun 24.PMID: 32617072 Free PMC article.Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses.Dyson S, Pollard D.Animals (Basel). 2020 Jun 17;10(6):1044. doi: 10.3390/ani10061044.PMID: 32560486 Free PMC article.See all "Cited by" articlesPublication typesResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tMeSH termsAnimalsBack Pain / veterinary*Biomechanical PhenomenaGaitHorse Diseases / pathology*HorsesHumansLameness, Animal / pathologyRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesLinkOut - more resourcesFull Text SourcesOvid Technologies, Inc.WileyOther Literature Sourcesscite Smart CitationsMedicalMedlinePlus Health Information
Objectives: To assess associations between data obtained by clinical assessment and those provided by riders via a questionnaire.
Study design: Clinical assessment of a convenience sample of horses and riders compared with a Web-based questionnaire survey (n = 205).
Methods: Horse thoracolumbar asymmetries at predetermined sites, the presence of lameness (in hand and/or ridden), saddle slip, saddle fit/management and rider straightness were assessed. Kappa statistics were used to assess the relationship between categorical clinical data and questionnaire data from riders. Spearman's correlation was used to investigate associations between outcomes from clinical assessment (horse, saddle and rider data) and information provided by riders.
Results: There was a 40.5% (205 of 506) questionnaire response rate. Thirty horses (14.6%) had saddle slip, which was significantly associated with hindlimb lameness or gait abnormalities (P<0.001), but only 2 riders had considered a link between saddle slip and lameness. Rider back pain was common (38.5%) and associated with ill-fitting saddles (P = 0.03) and either a quadrupedally reduced cranial phase of the step or a stiff, stilted canter (P = 0.006). Well-fitted saddles were associated with frequent saddle fit checks (P = 0.004). Minor thoracolumbar asymmetries (P = 0.04) were negatively associated with ill-fitting saddles and positively associated with rider skill level (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: The interaction between the horse, saddle and rider is complex. Ill-fitting saddles and a stiff, stilted canter or quadrupedally reduced cranial phase of the step are associated with rider back pain. Equine back pain and minor thoracolumbar asymmetries are associated with ill-fitting saddles. Saddle fit should be checked more often than once yearly to lower the number of ill-fitting saddles. Riders, trainers and other professionals involved in equine care and performance need better education to recognise ill-fitting saddles, lameness, saddle slip and rider crookedness.
Keywords: back pain; gait abnormality; horse; lameness; rider position; saddle slip.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
Similar articlesThe interrelationship of lameness, saddle slip and back shape in the general sports horse population.Greve L, Dyson SJ.Equine Vet J. 2014 Nov;46(6):687-94. doi: 10.1111/evj.12222. Epub 2014 Feb 27.PMID: 24372949Subjective analysis of exercise-induced changes in back dimensions of the horse: The influence of saddle-fit, rider skill and work quality.Greve L, Murray R, Dyson S.Vet J. 2015 Oct;206(1):39-46. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.06.009. Epub 2015 Jun 15.PMID: 26238979Saddles and girths: What is new?Dyson S, Greve L.Vet J. 2016 Jan;207:73-79. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.06.012. Epub 2015 Jun 24.PMID: 26598786 Review.An investigation of the relationship between hindlimb lameness and saddle slip.Greve L, Dyson SJ.Equine Vet J. 2013 Sep;45(5):570-7. doi: 10.1111/evj.12029. Epub 2013 Jan 29.PMID: 23360352The horse-saddle-rider interaction.Greve L, Dyson S.Vet J. 2013 Mar;195(3):275-81. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.10.020. Epub 2012 Nov 21.PMID: 23177524 Review.See all similar articlesCited bySelection of Image Texture Analysis and Color Model in the Advanced Image Processing of Thermal Images of Horses following Exercise.Domino M, Borowska M, Kozłowska N, Trojakowska A, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Smyth G, Maśko M.Animals (Basel). 2022 Feb 12;12(4):444. doi: 10.3390/ani12040444.PMID: 35203152 Free PMC article.The Effect of Rider:Horse Bodyweight Ratio on the Superficial Body Temperature of Horse's Thoracolumbar Region Evaluated by Advanced Thermal Image Processing.Domino M, Borowska M, Trojakowska A, Kozłowska N, Zdrojkowski Ł, Jasiński T, Smyth G, Maśko M.Animals (Basel). 2022 Jan 13;12(2):195. doi: 10.3390/ani12020195.PMID: 35049815 Free PMC article.A novel approach to thermographic images analysis of equine thoracolumbar region: the effect of effort and rider's body weight on structural image complexity.Masko M, Borowska M, Domino M, Jasinski T, Zdrojkowski L, Gajewski Z.BMC Vet Res. 2021 Mar 2;17(1):99. doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02803-2.PMID: 33653346 Free PMC article.Relationships between morphometric measurements and musculoskeletal disorders in jumping Thoroughbred horses.Mostafa MB, Elemmawy YM.J Equine Sci. 2020 Jun;31(2):23-27. doi: 10.1294/jes.31.23. Epub 2020 Jun 24.PMID: 32617072 Free PMC article.Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses.Dyson S, Pollard D.Animals (Basel). 2020 Jun 17;10(6):1044. doi: 10.3390/ani10061044.PMID: 32560486 Free PMC article.See all "Cited by" articlesPublication typesResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tMeSH termsAnimalsBack Pain / veterinary*Biomechanical PhenomenaGaitHorse Diseases / pathology*HorsesHumansLameness, Animal / pathologyRisk FactorsSurveys and QuestionnairesLinkOut - more resourcesFull Text SourcesOvid Technologies, Inc.WileyOther Literature Sourcesscite Smart CitationsMedicalMedlinePlus Health Information