{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T20:16:50Z","timestamp":1790799410036,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,27]],"date-time":"2023-06-27T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1687824000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Fairfax Saddles"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The association between rider\u2013saddle interaction and horse kinematics has been little studied. It was hypothesized that differences in a thigh block design would influence (a) rider\u2013saddle interface pressures, (b) rider kinematics, and (c) equine limb\/spinal kinematics. Eighteen elite sport horses\/riders were trotted using correctly fitted dressage saddles with thigh blocks S (vertical face) and F (deformable face). Contact area, mean, and peak pressure between rider and saddle were determined using an on-saddle pressure mat. Spherical markers allowed for the measurement of horse\/rider kinematics using two-dimensional video analysis. The kinematics of the equine thoracolumbosacral spine were obtained using skin-mounted inertial measuring units. Results were compared between thigh blocks (paired t-test p \u2264 0.05). With F, the contact area, mean, and peak pressure between rider and saddle were significantly higher (p = 0.0001), and the rider trunk anterior tilt was reduced, indicating altered rider\u2013saddle interaction. The horse thoracic axial rotation and flexion\/extension were reduced (p = 0.01\u20130.03), caudal thoracic and lumbar lateral bend was increased (p = 0.02\u20130.04), and carpal flexion increased (p = 0.01\u20130.05) with F compared to S. During straight-line locomotion when in sitting trot, thigh block F was associated with altered rider\u2013saddle interaction and rider and equine kinematics, leading to a more consistent rider\u2013saddle interface, a more upright rider trunk during stance, an increased horse thoracic stability and lumbar lateral bend, and forelimb flexion, supporting the importance of optimising rider\u2013saddle\u2013horse interaction.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani13132127","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,28]],"date-time":"2023-06-28T00:33:07Z","timestamp":1687912387000},"page":"2127","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Saddle Thigh Block Design Can Influence Rider and Horse Biomechanics"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Rachel","family":"Murray","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7NN, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mark","family":"Fisher","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Woolcroft Saddlery, Mays Lane, Wisbech PE13 5BU, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vanessa","family":"Fairfax","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Fairfax Saddles, The Saddlery, Fryers Road, Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands WS3 2XJ, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3942-4321","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Russell","family":"MacKechnie-Guire","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centaur Biomechanics, Dunstaffanage House, Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire CV35 9BD, UK"},{"name":"Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Brookman\u2019s Park, Hatfield AL9 7TA, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,6,27]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"509","DOI":"10.1111\/evj.12455","article-title":"Determination of vertebral range of motion using inertial measurement units in 27 Franches-Montagnes stallions and comparison between conditions and with a mixed population","volume":"48","author":"Heim","year":"2015","journal-title":"Equine Vet. 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