Saddle Pressure Distribution and its Relationship with Equine Locomotion and the Rider with Dr Russell MacKechnie-Guire and Mark Fisher

Thursday 27th November 2025 @ 19:00 HRS GMT

Over the past decade, our understanding of the importance of correct saddle fit has advanced significantly. However, one question that is often asked is: what happens beneath the saddle when a horse is being ridden? This NEW two-hour presentation will explore how saddle pressures are distributed across the horse’s back and how these pressures are influenced by the horse's limb and trunk movements during walk, trot, canter, and jumping. While the saddle should support the rider, the rider themselves also has a direct impact on distribution of saddle pressures. In the second part of the presentation, we will discuss how factors such as rider skill, weight, stirrup length, and seating style affect saddle pressures. The session will provide in-depth insights into saddle pressure distribution with the use of saddle pressure videos, highlight potential risks of high-saddle pressure areas, and how to practically identify areas that are subject to focal pressures induced by the saddle, as well as offering practical strategies to optimise saddle fit for both horse and rider.

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