BALANCE - Research

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	Independent research on the BALANCE Saddling System

Some independent research projects that support the theories behind the BALANCE Saddling System.

1. Summary of Research Study Performed at De Montfort University, England. September 1998-May 1999.

An independent research project into The Effect of Saddle Fit on Jumping Horses was carried out at De Montfort University by 3 Honours students and their supervisor. Below are extracts from their dissertations which summarise the research methods and findings:

Aims & Methods
This study aims to test the hypothesis that poorly fitting saddles (i.e. the saddles that the horses were normally worked in) inhibit the jumping kinematics of the horse.

	Condition 1	The horses were jumped in their normal saddles.
	Condition 2	The horses were jumped in correctly 'fitting', BALANCE saddles. Over an elapsed period of 6 weeks, the study horses were jumped under both conditions, while the control horse jumped only under Condition 1

Findings

The results of this study support the hypothesis and suggest that BALANCE saddles allow the horses more freedom to utilize their own inherent ability and natural jumping techniques. (1)

Horses with correctly fitting [BALANCE] saddles were able to make better use of their neck & back through flexion during the bascule. (2)

Horses demonstrated an increased ability to flex and extend their hip, stifle and hock joints to achieve a greater take off angle. (3)

Horses increased in muscle mass in the thoracic part of the trapezius muscle, and therefore, were achieving greater movement of the scapula and protraction and retraction of the distal limb. (5)

Significant differences were demonstrated in the jump cycles of the horses fitted with BALANCE saddles, whereas the control horse did not appear to show changes in movement or joint/positional angles throughout the study. (5)

Summary
The results of this study may help in the realization that poorly fitting saddles do have a detrimental effect on the horse's movement and that the fit of the saddle should be more seriously considered by horse owners, riders, saddle fitters and manufacturers, not only to maximize the comfort of the horse, but to maximize performance. (6)

References:

1	Fuller R. E. - The Effect of Saddle Fit on the Musculature and Action of the Jumping Horse. (Honours Dissertation, De Montfort, 1999.)
2-6	O'Neill K. - The Effect of Saddle Fit on the Musculature and Action of the Jumping Horse. (Honours Dissertation, De Montfort, 1999.) & Beale A. - The Effect of Saddle Fit on the Kinematics of the Equine Pelvic Limb (in the Jumping Horse). (Honours Dissertation, De Montfort, 1999.)

2. Summary of Research Study Performed at Writtle College, England. April 1996

An independent research project into Saddle Fit and the Biomechanics of the Horse was carried out at Writtle College by S K Goldsmith as part of her BSc in Equine Studies. Below are extracts from her dissertation which summerise the research methods and findings:

Aims & Methods
Little work has been done on saddle fit and design with respect to horse performance and behaviour compared to farriery and stockmanship which have advanced significantly with a number of recent research papers written on the effects of shoeing and welfare on the performance of the horse. Any improvement of the understanding of gait analysis and saddle design will:

improve the effectiveness of performance,

help detect and aid the treatment of lameness,

improve equine locomotion by different saddle fit.

In the past, human eye and practical experience has been the sole method of assessing a horse's performance in order to enable rider and horse to gain full capability and efficiency. The aim of this study is to combine cinematography with Computer Aided Design (CAD) to mathematically quantify linear and angular variations of the limb action of general riding horses under saddle at trot. The objectives were:

to record four horses at walk and trot on both reins, in-hand and under saddle, using a video camera.

to compare the natural stride length and shoulder angle of the horse during non-weightbearing to that when under saddle [normal saddle & BALANCE saddle]

Conclusions

The calculated length of the swing phase indicates an increase when the horse is fitted with a wide [BALANCE] saddle, which suggests that the horse has the potential to move more freely.

Video observation has led the author to the opinion that free movement is obtained when the horse is fitted in a wider [BALANCE] saddle.

Additionally, the flight arc represented a more interesting result indicating that the wide [BALANCE] fitting saddle showed less influence on the horse's flight arc by reverting the peak of protraction to that when in hand. [i.e. the shape of the flight arc when ridden in a wide saddle was v. similar to that when in hand whereas when ridden in a narrower saddle the flight arc was significantly different.]

Reference:

S.K.Goldsmith - Saddle Fit and Biomechanics of the Horse. An Investigation Using Computer Aided Design; BSc Dissertation, April 1996, Writtle College.