Assistant Professor Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine East Lansing, Michigan
Saddle Fit During a Long-Distance Endurance Ride. Manfredi JM1, Vollmer S1, Esser M2. 1Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, East Lansing, MI; 2Michigan State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Large Animal Clinical Sciences, East Lansing, MI.
Poor saddle fit can contribute to back pain and lameness, especially in endurance distance rides where horses must bear the weight of the rider over varied terrain for 25–100 miles (2–23 hours ride time). There is a lack of knowledge on how saddle fit changes over time during a distance ride. The hypothesis was that saddles would fit well pre-ride, having mean and peak forces on the horse's back of less than 20 kPa, and that post-ride they would not fit well due to weight loss and/or back shape changes resulting in higher forces. Horses were assessed for weight, and saddle fit (palpation, back tracing (n = 14)), including seven horses with forces measured by a Pliance-s pressure mat before and after a 25-mile ride. Statistics included Student’s t-tests (significant at P < 0.05). There was a trend toward weight loss post-ride (mean = 16 kg; P = 0.06). Subjectively, post-ride two more saddles had an acceptable fit (n = 9) as compared to pre-ride. Common fit issues included: too far forward, long, and tight in the bars. Back tracings showed seven horses got wider and seven narrower post-ride. Mean and peak forces weren’t different pre- versus. post-ride; however, front of the saddle mean and peak were always significantly greater than back of the saddle (P < 0.01). All horses had peaks above 20 kPa. Limitations included a small number of horses and one distance. Poor saddle fit, particularly high peak pressures at the bars/pommel, could contribute to pain. Saddle fit should be individually assessed in horses after distance rides.