Weight distribution through a saddle

Greylegs

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 December 2011
Messages
3,213
Visit site
An interesting debate arose recently at the yard when someone saw a picture of a person standing on a horse's back (on a saddle) ... something which really winds me up tbh. The crux of the discussion was around whether standing on a saddle puts more pressure on the horse's back than sitting astride in the normal manner, given that in both cases the horse is still supporting the whole of the weight load. I feel - but may be totally wrong - that it's bound to cause more pressure just because of the balance of the weight. Can anyone enlighten me?
 

GirlFriday

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 November 2008
Messages
1,268
Visit site
TBH most people who stand on saddles do so for very significantly shorter lengths of time than the horse is ridden astride, so... even if you were 100% can't see it being a huge welfare issue really? Vaulting and many trick riding horses don't get a saddle at all when ppl stand on them quite a lot...
 
Top