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Evolution of saddles from the beginning to the present
Kozáková, Zuzana ; Neumann, Cyril (advisor) ; Hana, Hana (referee)
The goal of this work is to map and describe the development of saddles in Europe, Asia and America, through history with special focus on advancement of equitation and its influence on construction of saddles. First chapter focuses on historical progress of saddles from first archeological findings to current forms. It describes saddles of various types such as medieval knight saddle, sidesaddle and alta escuela saddle. This chapter brought very good comparison of saddles from different continents and reveals many similarities between saddles originated in very distant localities. Also interesting is advancement from simple traveling saddles to heavy and tight military ones and back to simpler types caused by change of riding style.
Second chapter focuses on both positive and negative impact of saddle construction to the horse. First part briefly summarises anatomy of horses, describes influence of different saddle types on horse back, including riding without saddle. It also includes description of choosing proper saddle type and impact of the wrong one. This part concludes with an assesment of under saddle padding. Second part describes effect on rider. Second chapter contsins a great number of current studies following up pressure points under the saddle, while most of those uses pressure sensors in padding under saddle.
Third chapter analyzes construction of saddles, with particular focus on modern synthetic materials and revolutionary methods of fabrication. Including several inventions already patented but not yet mass produced. In final chapter well-known mass producers of saddles are presented (including their range of products) as well as newly founded Barefoot Saddles co. specialized in treeless saddles.
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