Saddle pressure testing
Saddle pressure testing
Have you ever wondered what your horse feels when you're riding? Saddle fitting is a nightmare that many horse owners are all too familiar with, but how can you be reassured you've got it right? It's difficult enough to get right once, but how do you know everything's still fine, despite changes in your horse's diet, exercise levels, fitness and age?
Saddle pressure testing can help you with the answers, whether you're buying a new saddle or dealing with your horse changing shape.
The Port Lewis Impression Pad is a gel pad which sits under your saddle. As you ride, the gel warms and is pushed away from areas of high pressure, which can be caused by the saddle or by the rider. It is important to note that this is a pressure test, not a saddle fitting, but it can help with:
- Identifying if there are any issues before they escalate into more serious physical or behavioural problems.
- Reassurance that there are no significant pressure points when considering purchasing a new saddle.
- Understanding if saddle pressure may be the cause of physical or behavioural issues.
- Finding out whether a saddle which is fine in early spring is pinching your horse by late summer, once waistlines have expanded on better grazing.
The pad can be used with the majority of english and treeless saddles. Unfortunately western saddles have panels which are too long to fit on the pad, so this service isn't available with western saddles at the moment.
As pressure points can arise from either the saddle or the rider, I do not hire out the pad to people. The pad needs to be used as part of an assessment, which includes observing how the rider sits and moves, to help identify the pressure points which are being caused by the saddle and those which are being caused by the rider.
Saddle pressure testing prices
| First treatment | Subsequent treatments | |
|---|---|---|
| Full test - single saddle | £50 | |
| Pre-purchase test: | ||
| First saddle | £30 | |
| Additional saddles (same visit) | £20 | |
| Saddle pressure testing plus Bowen therapy | ||
| Horse only | £100 | £90 |
| Horse and rider | £130 | £110 |