Poorly
fitted saddles can adversely affect welfare and impair performance of ridden
horses. The Saddle Research Trust Research Workshop, held in December 2018, identified
a need for improved education of saddle fit evaluation among professional
equine practitioners.
An
educational article was subsequently commissioned by the editor of the
peer-reviewed scientific journal, Equine Veterinary Education, that would
simplify the complex subject of saddle fitting evaluation.
The article aims
to provide practical guidance to equine veterinarians to assist in their
decision-making process whilst carrying out routine assessments when a horse is
evaluated ridden, such as for pre-purchase, lameness or poor performance
examinations. It also clarifies when a saddle may be contributing to pain and
performance problems and when the veterinarian should refer the client to a
saddle-fitting professional.
“Evaluating
the suitability of an English saddle for a horse and rider combination”, a
collaboration between Anne Bondi, Sue Dyson, Sue Norton and Lawrence Pearman,
is a comprehensive mini manual aimed at vets and physiotherapists and which
will be equally of interest to other professional equine practitioners.
Thanks to
the generosity of the publishers, the article is free to view. Go to:
No comments:
Post a Comment