Could Pressure Distribution Under Race-Exercise Saddles Affect Limb Kinematics and Lumbosacral Flexion in the Galloping Racehorse?

Murray, Rachel C.; MacKechnie-Guire, Russell; Fisher, Mark; Fairfax, Vanessa

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102795

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The inclusion of horses with varying saddle fit provided a "real life" opportunity to compare thermography and saddle pressure measurements to describe saddle fit. In order to limit the influence of inter-horse differences, further studies should be conducted with saddles of different fit used in the same horses in a repeated measures design [2,3,[5][6][7][8].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The saddle is an essential piece of equipment coupling the horse and rider. The effects of saddle fit [1][2][3] and saddle design [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] on equine health and performance are becoming better understood. Incorrect saddle fit is thought to be a potential contributing factor in the context of back problems, poor attitude to work and poor performance [3,[12][13][14][15][16][17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In saddles which had been fitted both statically and dynamically following industry guidelines, pressures in the region of the 10th-13th thoracic vertebrae were of a magnitude higher than those thought to cause back discomfort [15]. When the magnitude of pressure was reduced, with saddlery modifications, limb kinematics at trot [6], gallop [8] as well as jumping technique [7] were altered. This emphasizes the importance of saddle fit and the relationship between (high) saddle pressures and locomotor features.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Approach to Comparing Thermal Activity of the Thoracic Region and Saddle Pressure Distribution beneath the Saddle in a Group of Non-Lame Sports Horses

MacKechnie-Guire

Fisher

Mathie³

et al. 2021

Animals

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Thermography is a non-invasive method for measuring surface temperatures and may be a convenient way of identifying hypo/hyperthermic areas under a saddle that may be related to saddle pressures. A thermal camera quantified minimum/maximum/mean temperatures at specific locations (left/right) of the thoracic region at three-time points: (1) baseline; (2) post lunging; (3) post ridden exercise in eight non-lame sports horses ridden by the same rider. A Pliance (Novel) pressure mat determined the mean/peak saddle pressures (kPa) in the cranial and caudal regions. General linear mixed models with the horse as the random factor investigated the time point (fixed factor: baseline; lunge; ridden) and saddle fit (fixed factor: correct; wide; narrow) on thermal parameters with Bonferroni post hoc comparison. The saddle pressure data (grouped: saddle width) were assessed with an ANOVA and Tukey post hoc comparison (p ≤ 0.05). Differences between the saddle widths in the cranial/caudal mean (p = 0.05) and peak saddle pressures (p = 0.01) were found. The maximum temperatures increased post lunge (p ≤ 0.0001) and post ridden (p ≤ 0.0001) compared to the baseline. No difference between post lunge and post ridden exercise (all p ≥ 0.51) was found. The thermal activity does not appear to be representative of increased saddle pressure values. The sole use of thermal imaging for saddle fitting should be applied with caution.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Systematic Approach to Comparing Thermal Activity of the Thoracic Region and Saddle Pressure Distribution beneath the Saddle in a Group of Non-Lame Sports Horses

MacKechnie-Guire

Fisher

Mathie³

et al. 2021

Animals

Self Cite

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“…There have been significant advances in the understanding of the effect that saddle fit and design has on equine locomotion [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], but there has been less study of the influence of the saddle–rider interaction on rider kinematics and equine locomotion [ 8 ]. The saddle provides an interface between the rider and horse, aligning the rider’s centre of mass (CoM) with the horse’s CoM.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Saddle Thigh Block Design Can Influence Rider and Horse Biomechanics

Murray

Fisher

Fairfax

et al. 2023

Animals

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The association between rider–saddle interaction and horse kinematics has been little studied. It was hypothesized that differences in a thigh block design would influence (a) rider–saddle interface pressures, (b) rider kinematics, and (c) equine limb/spinal kinematics. Eighteen elite sport horses/riders were trotted using correctly fitted dressage saddles with thigh blocks S (vertical face) and F (deformable face). Contact area, mean, and peak pressure between rider and saddle were determined using an on-saddle pressure mat. Spherical markers allowed for the measurement of horse/rider kinematics using two-dimensional video analysis. The kinematics of the equine thoracolumbosacral spine were obtained using skin-mounted inertial measuring units. Results were compared between thigh blocks (paired t-test p ≤ 0.05). With F, the contact area, mean, and peak pressure between rider and saddle were significantly higher (p = 0.0001), and the rider trunk anterior tilt was reduced, indicating altered rider–saddle interaction. The horse thoracic axial rotation and flexion/extension were reduced (p = 0.01–0.03), caudal thoracic and lumbar lateral bend was increased (p = 0.02–0.04), and carpal flexion increased (p = 0.01–0.05) with F compared to S. During straight-line locomotion when in sitting trot, thigh block F was associated with altered rider–saddle interaction and rider and equine kinematics, leading to a more consistent rider–saddle interface, a more upright rider trunk during stance, an increased horse thoracic stability and lumbar lateral bend, and forelimb flexion, supporting the importance of optimising rider–saddle–horse interaction.

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Tack Fit and Use

Clayton

MacKechnie-Guire

2022

Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice

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Could Pressure Distribution Under Race-Exercise Saddles Affect Limb Kinematics and Lumbosacral Flexion in the Galloping Racehorse?

Cited by 5 publications

References 24 publications

A Systematic Approach to Comparing Thermal Activity of the Thoracic Region and Saddle Pressure Distribution beneath the Saddle in a Group of Non-Lame Sports Horses

A Systematic Approach to Comparing Thermal Activity of the Thoracic Region and Saddle Pressure Distribution beneath the Saddle in a Group of Non-Lame Sports Horses

Saddle Thigh Block Design Can Influence Rider and Horse Biomechanics

Tack Fit and Use

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