Soon to be in your tack room

K

kerry spiers

Kerry+Xsara
Oct 16, 2007
17
0
0
Guildford/sussex university
I have posted a few threads already about the research and devlopment of a fully inclusive piece of equipment, especially for disabled riders (but also beneficial to "able bodied"). Below is the blurb of the product and would love our feedback, thoughts, praise, insults, anything, every comment will help.
Its for my final year Product Design Dissertation project but am also hopefull that it could actually be made, that is if its what you want/need. IT also uses inclusive Design methods (www.inclusivedesigntoolkit.com/)
SO far ive had great feedback and got the idea from you guys and local RDA groups so i hope im on the right mark. Im also in discussions with RDA about their endorsement of the product.

"The design concept is a disabled rider’s saddle adapter, which has been specifically shaped and designed around the overall needs of disabled riders. There are interchangeable pads, made from memory foam, offering support and comfort for the riders position, located in 4 specific key points of the saddle, the knee, behind the leg, on the pommel at the front and the on the back of the saddle.
It encourages comfort for the initial mounting of stiff or restricted riders and the foam pads then mold around the riders position to give the optimum support, without restricting their natural movements gained by the horses motions and also its shape develops with the rider’s relaxation throughout the ride. The upper is made from sheepskin (or synthetic alternative) to ensure ultimate comfort and softness, which is not always, offered by the donated saddles which RDA receive. To ensure a static position on the saddle, elastic straps holding it in place around the saddle flap with rubber enforced points to help ‘stick ‘to the saddle encouraging a secure safe saddle cover."

P.s. im still looking for a willing volebnteer who i can come visit and watch ride and interact with their horses for further research(willing to travel) PM me thanks
 
It sounds like a really good idea.
I have back troubles and find my special saddle cover very helpful. I ride in a Heather M SBS treeless and have a full cover sheepskin with a memory foam edge pad which runs like knee rolls and over the pommel. These special covers can be custom made for any of her saddles and give a great sense of security and softness. When you are on they just look like a comfy sheepkin saddle.
Is that the kind of thing you are intending?
 
Good Luck with your idea, anything that benfits people to ride, wether abled or disabled is good in my book! Sounds very comfy!!

Denbenj xx
 
Gill yes its similar to that. Can i ask, was that item custom made...is there a link for it so i can look at what it is? Hope its not the same as mine!!! My item is more intended for RDA groups for multi purpose with different needs from different riders. DOes it sit over a normal saddle, or just a specific treeless one?
 
sounds wonderful for me . I am quite bent and have muscles that fatigue easily due to oesteoarthrisis, ME/CFS, mashed up discs, broken pelvis, and 7 back and neck fractures, as well as Fibromyalgia and hypermobile joints.

i only ride for 15 to 20 mins on a cashel foam saddle, cause I can sink into it in a funny bent way. The walking and little trotting loosens me up very well. The saddle doesnt have a pommel or cantel or knee rolls though and i am very unstable. To top it all I am doing this on my childrens ex gymkana pony, who keeps spinning, galloping off, sliding stops, bucks etc.

Not the best combination. I regularly fall off him, it he is having a 'happy day'. He doesnt have many calm days. Will have to wait for the really hot weather in summer, then he is very lazy!!!

I would love to see a picture and the price please. I do have a Thorogood Maxam saddle which my sharer (10 yrs old) uses. It gives her more stability when he is playing about, but is too uncomfortable for me. I could try it on that one for me.

Hope the price is reasonable, see my comment on 'mobiliser thread'.
 
Hi:)

I read about your design with interest. Do you remember Thorowgood Remedi saddles? I have 2! They were available from Thorowgood around 1994 ish, but I don't think they caught on as well as expected, or there wasn't the demand. They had shaped foam blocks that velcro-ed to the saddle, there were 6 blocks. One huge one which went onto the pommel, one was like a crescent shape for behind the bum/under the hip (my favourite block!) and there was a pair for behind the legs and a pair for in front of the legs. The saddle needed to carry a health warning though - it drove me insane because it was 'velcro-receptive' ......and also horse hair receptive, hay receptive, etc. :eek: Impossible to clean!!

Although not a 'disabled rider', I suffer from a variety of conditions (Hey, kturner1, you sound a bit like me!;)) including ME (but thankfully I'm almost ME-free now after about 15 years!) chronic back problems, shoulder problems and hip problems which restrict (and sometimes prevent me) riding. (Hey, today I couldn't dismount! :eek: Both hips were locked, there I was in the school, sitting on my mare, everyone offering useful ideas as to how I could dismount.....! :cool: Awesome!)

I would be very interested in your product! Is there somewhere I can look at a picture or something? My internet connection is VERY slow, so I can't access some sites.

If you want a tester in Hungary, please, I'd like to volunteer!!:D

Also, there is a saddler from Germany who was at HOYS this year who I spent a lot of time talking to and trying his saddles! He has a disabled rider's saddle which I SO WANTED to buy because it was like sitting in an armchair. It had foam-filled pads around the cantle area, and the saddler told me he could adapt it to any design to suit the requirements of a rider. He was a brilliant guy, didn't speak a word of English, but when funds permit, he can come over to see me in Hungary and look at my horse and saddles.

I think I understand from your post that your design fits any saddle? THAT is a BRILLIANT idea! :)

PLEASE, I want to see pictures!! :)

Good luck with development! Anything to help disabled (or physically trashed like me!) riders to enjoy riding is great!

K
 
Kis Vihar - I know this is not really a medical site, but I have had ME 11 years, how did you get over it? Silly question really, just slow down. Which I struggle with, I used to be very active, with business, children, husband etc. Husband gone now and kids 16 and 20. Much easier now.

The pony is so simple. My 10yrs sharer, does 7 big haynets on Saturday, and we take out the wet on Sunday. He has a deep bed for the wet during the week, so I use gloves to take the droppings off and put them in a bucket in the morning and tie the net up and leave droppings bucket in the corner of the stable. So when she comes at night with me, she fills water (heavy) and takes dropping bucket to muck heap for me.

It is so easy to look after him. The field is in front of the stable block so he just follows me in and out. No long treks to fields miles away.

Where theres a will theres a way!!!

Anyhow, any vitamins, painkillers, lotions and potions that worked for you? Let me know!
Karen
 
Hi Karen :) (from another Karin, albeit spelt differently!!)

SORRY everyone else if this is OT!! I can't get my PM to work right now!

ME took away most of my late teens / early 20s. I was very active, with 2 jobs and college, plus my old pony and my mad Welsh D. I finished college, got a job, and worked an evening job too, to pay for everything. I was still living in the 'mum & dad hotel' but horses cost me lots! I was happy, busy, active, and suddenly, Boom! ME struck!

Due to the ME, I had to quit my work, and the doctor I eventually found who believed me when I said I was exhausted 24-7 and everywhere hurt told me to slow down, maybe sell my horses (no chance!) and take it easy! (one Dr told me to get a grip and go on a nice holiday! I'm a mild mannered person, but she encountered my full wrath!)

Then my parents bought me a little device called a Medigen (now called Empulse) Anyway, long story cut short, I gradually had more and more good days. I strongly believe that without my little Medigen device, I would still be crippled! I don't know a website, but I'm sure if you google Empluse, you should find it. I'll PM you loads more info later, promise!!

A few days ago, my little Empluse died! Not the battery, the whole damn thing! I've been without it before whilst it's being mended or overhauled, and struggled after a few days, and I am beginning to struggle a bit now to be honest! I'm just a little achey and not quite 'with it' (although my friends would say that's normal!!!)

Anyway, I'll PM you more ASAP, so I don't get shouted at for nattering on OT!!

I must dash (or limp actually) now as my dinner is on the table!! No cooking for me tonight!!

If I find a website for Empulse, I'll PM you the details ASAP too! Sorry I'm not very technical! :rolleyes:

K
 
Thanks K. Will await your suggestions with glee! When we are PM ing I can give you some of my tips as well
Karen
 
I hadnt actaullyt found that product but yes similar. It sits on top of a current saddle and id say is a lot more discreet, i am an able bodied rider and i am planning on using it for those achy days! Its not on sale but thanks for the boost that people wnat it. I could make some one iffs if people are interested, but as i said, is a uni project and so trying to finish the concpet and get the best grade poss before i focus on any money making schemes, which id also like to point out is not why im doing this. Obviousl my services are free (coz of degree) and am so keen to get this as cheap as poss as i know how much of a rip of horse tings are.

Ive heard about those velcro saddles from my RDA group and they said they were a bit of a nightmare,that hair got eery where etc. The beauty of mine is that they sit in a pocket and have washable covers, and is made out of Vetbed (used fro dog bedding like a fake sheepskin) making it all washable!!!!

I will try upload soem pics but not quite sure how.

thanks for your interest!
 
Sorry, again, could i have the name of that saddler guy in Hungary.....id been interested in Googleing him. It seems liek there are many things slowly coming out but i have done massive research and feel this def fits the bill!!!! I hoep you all agree!
 
How about researching some different materials for the upper apart from sheepskin/similar as these can be hard to keep clean etc. Maybe something like the HM seatsaver- some kind of shock absorbing material like poron or poron 94 see www.algeos.com for some good shock absorbing materials.

I work in an Orthotics workshop and we make insoles etc out of some great shock absorbing materials- a lot of them are very similar to prolite pads that cost lots of £££££!!!!

I saw a company at your horse live last year selling back pads for under the saddle for £80 and i could have made one fior about £5!! Crazy! :p
 
I have a Cashel Foam Saddle, about 4 inches of foam, perfect for my bent shape, but no knee rolls pommel and cantel. It has a little shape, but far less than a normal saddle. I love it.

Try looking at it and see if you can get a similar foam, very firm, put a higher pommel and cantel and very large knee rolls in front of the knees like the Australian Stock saddle.
 
newrider.com
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