 | Article (Swedish) Hästfocus no.8 2008
Interesting article in the Swedish magazine Hästfocus No.8 2008, regarding different material used for the manufacturing of saddle pads.
Please, read and have a thought what you prefere to use for your horse.
Press to read the original Swedish article…
|
| There's something under my saddle!?
There's probably no-one in the world who would lay a saddle directly on a horse's back. However, how many people have stopped to think what the material under the saddle really does, and what essential properties it needs to have, or what problems one could run into if the wrong product is chosen?
Naturally, the requirements of the product (Saddle Pad, Numnah, Pad or Blanket) depend slightly on whether we mean a saddle with stuffing (Dressage/Jump, etc) or a saddle without stuffing (Western, etc).
Some things are, though, the same for both cases. For both types the saddle should be protected from perspiration and dirt from the horse, and this is easier said than done. Interestingly, many products only have one of these properties, which largely stems from that many horse-enthusiasts perhaps do not fully understand the purpose of this material.
Firstly, the saddle can get dirty through normal use, and often this is due to the horse sweating. And why does the horse sweat more under the saddle? It's because the horse is working its muscles when in motion and the heat builds up faster under the saddle than in other places due to the lack of ventilation. Sweating is the body's defence against overheating muscles, and cooling of the body during exercise is of vital importance. Therefore, the first and foremost requirements of a product of this sort are to breath and ventilate the area under the saddle effectively, keeping it within a reasonable temperature range.
Assuming the horse is sweating, what else happens? If the material is dampened and becomes wet, the forces of impacts and friction will have an increase detrimental effect on the tendons and muscles of the surrounding area. Many problems resulting from a moving saddle are amplified when the material under the saddle is wet, compared with if it were dry. For this reason, the material needs to ventilate and also absorb moisture.
If the material becomes both damp and dirty, the next concern is the effect this can have on hygiene. A dirty surface against the horse increases the risk of unevenness, infections and other medical problems. This means that the material needs to be dry and stay clean, and this can be achieved by using a material that is easy to look after and wash. It should also dry quickly to ensure that it can dry fully between uses.
We expect the stuffing in a saddle to take care of impact absorption and weight distribution. Unfortunately, though, this will usually be worn out over time, and its effects will lessen as usage draws on. The dangers of this come largely from the impacts of the rider on the horse during riding, not just to the back and limbs, but the effect also reaches in to the organs inside the horse's body (particularly the lungs) as repetitive shaking from riding is endured.
Another problem is the thickness of the material. If the material is too thick, the rider loses contact with the horse. A thick material increases the chances of movement from the rider and saddle, and the horse would have difficulties in compensating for these movements. The material also, of course, must not hinder the purpose of the saddle in terms of carry an object on the horse, assuming the saddle fits the horse correctly.
There is a wide range of products for this use that intend to change the way the saddle lies on the horse. This is fine, provided that the rider is fully aware of the effects of using such a product. These are often invasive for the horse, resulting in unbalanced load and areas of increased pressure. It is easy to see only the way the saddle looks, and overlook the entirety of the surface below the saddle, and finding the perfect saddle for a particular horse takes a lot of time and effort.
The rider and horse must work very well together for optimal performance. There is a whole host of manufacturers who work tirelessly on making products to help the horse, and others focus on specific properties to help horses with specific problems or difficulties. Some also concentrate on comfort before health.
The longevity of a product like this is not determined by its look, or general wear and tear. It is based on function. Some products may look new, but their function has been worn down considerably, or even lost completely. Unfortunately, a new purchase of this sort is often due to a change in fashion, rather than a need for rejuvenated function. A horse would no doubt be more comfortable and perform better if the primary drive for a purchase was function rather than the look and fashionable qualities of a product.
And, what athlete would use cotton underwear for their exercise?
The characteristics of a saddle pad are determined by the material used in producing it. Listed below are the materials currently in use for saddle pad manufacturing, and the main properties of each. How different companies use them or which name they are sold as have been left out in this article to give you a neutral opinion.
Wool is an old tried and tested material which has several unique properties. Wool absorbs and releases moisture, thus breathes and keeps the horse dry. Absorbing moisture however may create a problem in a very humid climate.
The structure of wool makes it a very good shock absorber under a saddle. The ideal material if it were not for the care and maintenance many might think. But perhaps we have just "forgotten" how to take care of wool. Wool withstands dirt penetration like few other materials and is easily cleaned by just brushing the surface. It rarely requires washing
Cotton is, like wool, a completely natural material. It is quite compact, with little room for air, so it has very little cushioning capabilities. Since it is easily penetrated by dirt, in fact it practically pulls dirt into itself, so cotton needs frequent and thorough washing. However, it is long lasting and cheap to manufacture.
In reality, cotton is unsuitable as a saddle pad. Maybe it could be used as a cover around another material, if you enjoy washing!
Acrylic is used as a felted material, woven and as fleece. It is usually soft, comfortable and cleans easily. As fleece it is prone to tangle, making the surface uneven. This has sometimes happened in health care uses and has caused pressure injuries. These problems can be avoided by brushing the fleece and being aware of changes.
Acrylic is breathable and is able to maintain a certain amount of air and therefore has a similar feel to it as wool. Acrylic is hydrophobic, though, and will therefore not transport moisture very well. It has some cushioning properties but will not return to its original thickness to the extent that wool does. Acrylic is inferior to wool for this purpose but is cheaper, however it does need frequent washing.
Neoprene is a synthetic rubber product with closed cells or air bubbles. Neoprene is commonly used in wetsuits for water sports and scuba diving. It has good insulating properties with its closed air cells. Neoprene has excellent cushioning capabilities but the material will not transport air or moisture, so the area under a pad of neoprene will usually be warm and very wet. The material is, though, easy to keep clean with its smooth surface, needs no washing and it only needs to be wiped off.
Gel is a popular material mainly used when trying to improve the fit of saddles. Gel is a polymer with viscoelastic properties (i.e. properties of both viscous fluids and solid materials).
Gel has very good cushioning properties as long as the gel is able to move. Like neoprene, it will not breathe and is not able to transport or absorb moisture. But, again like neoprene, easy care.
Poron is, like neoprene, a synthetic material built up of closed air cells. Above all, poron has very good cushioning and insulating properties, and is easy to work with and to maintain. It is durable when subjected to repeated compression and has a long life. But, as it is built up of closed cells, it cannot transport air or moisture. Care is limited to, as with neoprene and gel, only wiping it off.
Formiga Air, like poron and neoprene, is also a synthetic product but is made of an open cell structure. This is normally a disadvantage for cushioning properties, but in reality the material has extremely good pressure absorbing properties.
The open cell structure allows air and moisture to move freely. According to product information, Formiga Air will absorb 300% of its own weight in moisture. The material also contains active carbon, which fights the growth of fungus, often a problem in synthetic materials with open cells which let air and moisture into the material. The environment caused by heat, moisture and dirt from the horse is a hotbed for fungus and other microorganism if very good hygiene is not maintained. But in this material, that problem has been solved with active carbon contained in the material. The material is easy to wash when needed, and dries quickly.
Latex is not commonly used, but can be found as a filler material in simple pads. The material has an open cell structure and is commonly used in mattresses and upholstery for furniture. It is easily compressed and needs to be thick to give any pressure absorbency and cushioning. With its open cell structure, air and moisture can move freely and some products have good absorption capability (i.e. sponges).
As latex is easily compressed, it lacks any advantages for use as a saddle pad.
Brock, Porous closed cell composite is a material which combines the properties of closed and open cell structure. Air filled balls are glued together at their point of contact. This forms a material which will let air and moisture pass through freely and at the same time maintain very good cushioning capabilities. The material is commonly used for car seats, helmets, safety vests and as packaging/wrapping material. The ventilation capability is good and keeps the horse cool, which is a real advantage.
Brock indicate that the material lacks the ability to absorb moisture. This means that the material needs to be combined with other materials to effectively remove moisture from the horse which is not transported away by the flow of air.
The material would probably work well for saddle pads, especially for the western sector, as the material needs a certain thickness to work. But as a numnah or saddle pad it is probably too thick.
How the issue has been solved in terms of the buildup of fungus, does not appear in the material specification.
There are, of course, many different materials used in saddle pads. However, these can usually be classified into one of only a small group (above) or a mixture of two or more of these.
Next time you buy something for your horse, think of what would please your horse most, and how the product you choose will help your horse perform more consistently and more comfortably.
How will this pad help my horse? |
|
|
