Saddling Information
Edited post taken from a discussion on treeless saddles.
I will agree that the last word belongs to the horse. But shouldn't the
saddle help to distribute the pressure across the horse's back, and keep
the pressure off the spine of the horse?
A saddle must conform to the shape of the individual horse's back. It
should avoid the possibility of damaging any part of the back with which
it comes into contact. It should affords complete comfort for the horse
and should not restrict the potential for natural movement.
The back is comprised of 18 vertebrae (thoracic or dorsal vertebrae) that
are arched and so give strength to a structure that was not actually
intended or designed to carry weight. (Indeed, the vertical human spine, a
far stronger construction in comparison to the horizontal equine one, is
far better suited to the purpose of weight-carrying.) In the horse's back,
the first 13 dorsal vertebrae, as Dwyer observed , incline backwards,
while numbers 15-18 incline forwards. leaving vertebra number 14 as the
keystone of the arch.
The upper part of the thoracic vertebrae form the ridge of the backbone
and can be felt quite easily. The lower part, which is the spine proper,
is heavily covered with flesh and is not, in consequence, so vulnerable to
injury as the upper part, which cannot bear weight without becoming
inflamed, thus promoting a whole variety of back troubles.
There is very little movement in the thoracic vertebrae but there is some,
however slight, and it is of the greatest importance to ensure that this
is not affected by the saddle covering the area. Injury to a single
vertebra reduces movement throughout the whole column to a point where it
is hardly significant and this obviously, is reflected the outline and
action.
Another area is the scapula. It is no exaggeration to say that where
there is a noticeable restriction in the movement and a corresponding
reduction in the performance level, it can as often be traced to the
saddle interfering in some way with the freedom of the shoulder blade as
to any other source.
All these factors govern the position and the shape of the saddle which,
it will appreciated, has to rest on either side of the backbone, on the
ribs, or rather on the big muscle lying over them. So long as this muscle
is large, well developed and well nourished, all is well, for it save the
bones and the skin from injury. With out it, the saddle would bear
directly on bone, with disastrous results; the blood supply to the skin
would also be cut off by undue pressure.
Now if you really want additional information get "The Manual of Animal
Management 1933, publish by the War Department. It has this statement in
it..........."the construction of the back is such that it lends itself to
injury, and invites trouble by the very peculiarity and delicacy of its
organisation."
The War Department spent a lot of time and money in developing saddles
that would keep the horse from injury by saddles. If you have a chance
visit the Cavalry Headquarters at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Books and Books and
research paper and research papers on saddle fit.
Napoleon suffered enormous hose lost in all his campaigns. 30,000 head to
take Moscow due not to the war but saddle fit. At the battle of Solferino
in 1859 the French cavalry had 10,206 horses, they could only put 3500 in
the field because of soreness due to saddle fit. In the South African War
the British lost 326,000 horse out of 494,000 between 1899-1902 but only a
few
as a result of enemy action.
Major Francis Dwyer of Hussars in the Imperial Austrian Service. The
Hungarian light cavalry saddle , the Hungarian hussars, descendants of the
steppe horsemen of Asia, were without doubt the light cavalrymen of the
world par excellence.
Just about every Cavalry unit of every country has tried a treeless
saddle. They all caused pain and suffering to the horse.
The treeless saddle breaks all the rules.
Short term back pain is caused by saddle fit and pad fit in 80% of the
cases. Not long term. However I do think that even short term pain will
cause problems in balance and movement of the horse.
We have seen this
time and time again where saddles and pads have been changed and the horse
does better.
Tissue damage starts on horse at 77mmgh at static. Lower with static and
shear pressure,
around 7 mmgh depending on the type of material against the skin of the
horse.
We all should be riding Bovines, they are built differently and still need
to be massaged.
Ray
From: "Ray K. Miller, Jr."
Equine Management Services Inc.
Home Of EquiScan Computer Saddle & Pad Analysis Service
www.saddlefitting.net
www.horseshoes.com
