Half pads are used in many English riding disciplines to correct saddle fit, help distribute rider weight and absorb impact. Most half pads are constructed using wool, gel, or foam, and can be of varying thicknesses. The objective of a recent study, conducted in the United Kingdom, was to determine how half pad type affected the distribution of pressure under a well-fitting saddle.
Twelve high-level dressage horses tacked with properly fitting dressage saddles were ridden in a seated trot and canter on both the left and right rein. Horses were ridden with four half pad treatments, which included a control (only a cotton saddle cloth was placed under the saddle), gel half pad (viscoelastic gel pad not shaped to the horse's back), wool half pad (1-inch thick, natural wool pad shaped to the horse's back with a mesh spine channel connecting the two wool side panels), and foam half pad (1 inch thick, foam pad shaped to the horse's back with a mesh spine connecting the two foam side panels). All half pads were placed on top of a cotton saddle cloth and were “tented” into the saddle gullet to provide wither clearance.
At the trot and canter, pressure under the front of the saddle was greatest when using gel half pads, but remained similar between the wool and foam half pads compared to the control. Pressure was reduced in the back half of the saddle when fitted with a wool half pad at the trot, and when fitted with either a wool or foam half pad at the canter compared to the control. Researchers observed that the gel half pads tended to shift and flatten over the withers during riding compared to the wool and foam half pads, which remained “tented” into the saddle gullet. They hypothesized that the change in position may have led to the increased pressure at the front of the saddle. The researchers concluded that wool and foam half pads could help reduce pressure towards the back of well-fitting saddles at the canter, however, riders should consult with a professional saddle fitter to discuss if different half pads are suitable on an individual horse and rider basis.
Read more at the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.
Sign up for the University of Minnesota e-newsletter here.
The post Research Update: The Effect Of A Half Pad On Pressure Distribution appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
