Monday, March 04, 2013

Information sought on saddle slip

Can you spare a few minutes to complete a questionnaire to help research into saddle slip? Scientists at the Animal Health Trust are trying to understand more about the reasons for a saddle to slip persistently to one side in some horses.

To this end they have devised a questionnaire to examine the interactions between horses, saddles and riders.

Saddle slip is a problem seen in all sorts of horses and ponies and can contribute to back pain. It may also be a sign of hindlimb lameness.
A recent study by Line Greve and Sue Dyson at the Animal Health Trust Centre for Equine Studies in Newmarket, found that that saddle slip is not necessarily due to an ill-fitting saddle or asymmetric shape of the horse’s back.

Sue Dyson said: “Detection of saddle slip provides an opportunity for the owner, riders and trainers to detect low-grade and subclinical lameness, with important welfare consequences.”

Greve and Dyson are continuing their investigations, trying to understand more about the reasons for a saddle to slip persistently to one side in some horses. To this end they have devised a questionnaire to examine the interactions between horses, saddles and riders.
The questionnaire should only take a few minutes to complete, and will help reveal the frequency of occurrence of saddle slip and the risk factors involved.  Follow the link for more details...

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