Test Results

At the outset of the project, to develop a new saddle it was crucial to determine the loads, stresses and strains that a saddle must deal with during the heaviest and most testing of riding conditions.

This was carried out by attaching a variety of sensors, pressure detectors and accelerometers to a traditional saddle and rider. The rider then undertook a whole range of typical riding activities on a variety of riding surfaces including jumping, jumping at speed, galloping, cantering, trotting etc.

The results from the tests were used to establish the maximum forces and acceleration which the Quantum Saddle would need to withstand.

The Quantum Saddle was, however, engineered to withstand far greater than the expected forces in order to allow a safety margin.

For example:
On the tests undertaken, we established for the test rider the maximum load through the stirrup bar was 1700N. This load was then scaled up to allow for a rider of 112 kg (17 stone 9) in weight and then doubled to allow a generous safety factor.

The Quantum Saddle is therefore able to withstand a force of 5000N on the stirrup bar. We are confident this will comfortably accommodate the heaviest and most abusive rider.

Fin and stirrup bar being tested to destruction

Once the specification for the saddle had been established it was necessary to build the components to meet the specification and test them both in the laboratory and in the field.

Each part, once designed, was then tested both in isolation and as part of the complete saddle. This testing will be ongoing for certain critical components on the saddle to ensure each Quantum Saddle produced is of the highest standard and meets our exacting specification.

Beyond the laboratory, the Quantum Saddle has been tested extensively in the field. It has been ridden around the toughest of International cross-country courses and show jumping arenas, as well as being hacked and hunted for many, many hours.

Not until we were fully confident in the product, did we decide to launch the Quantum AMS-Jump Saddle.

Saddle being tested by a robot.

A saddle cannot remove a rider’s load. It can only seek to make it easier to carry.

For example, imagine carrying a 12 stone friend piggy-back, two elbows digging into your shoulders. Now imagine the same weight but held within a well fitting rucksack, spreading the load evenly and smoothly over your entire shoulders and back.

The weight is the same, but due to the better distribution of the second scenario you will continue for longer and perform better.

This is what Quantum Saddle achieves. A far greater distribution of the rider’s load, improving performance.

The above pressure map taken from a Pliance Pressure Test, carried out by Mark Fisher of BEF, shows the pressure distribution achieved by a Quantum AMS-J Saddle over a series of tests. The pressure was measured whilst the rider took the horse through a walk, trot, seated canter and standing canter on both reins.

As can be seen pressure is being exerted along the whole of the horse’s back, across the full extent of the chassis pads. There are no areas of high pressure and no increases in pressure levels under the stirrup bars.

A report produced by industrial engineers, Arrk, concluded:

“The Quantum Saddle design creates a more even pressure distribution than an expertly fitted traditional saddle.”

At Quantum we have our own Pliance test equipment, which we continue to use to refine and enhance our design. This is an ongoing process to ensure that Quantum technology is always a leap ahead.

One of the recurring comments we have received from riders who have used or tested the Quantum Saddle, is that they feel their horse is moving better and moving more freely.

In order to try to measure this improved freedom, we have recently instructed Russell Guire of Centaur Biomechanics to carry out further research.

Using video analysis, Centaur Biomechanics measured the movement patterns of four horses, in trot, being ridden in their own saddle and then ridden in the Quantum Saddle by the same rider.

The videos are then analysed by a computer and the differences between the Quantum gait and traditional gait can be analysed.

The main area of interest is in the ‘Hind Leg Protraction’. In simple terms, this is how far the rear leg comes under the body, thereby enabling the horse to generate more power due to increased leg range.

The rear quarters of the horse will provide the power for galloping, jumping and dressage.

Of the four horses tested, all demonstrated an increase in hind leg protraction. The average increase was a very significant 15.1%. The horse will therefore be able to develop a significant increase in power when being ridden in a Quantum Saddle.

We also looked at ‘Fore Limb Protraction’, or how far the horse can stretch its front legs. Again all horses showed an improvement, with the average improvement being 5.6%, a significant increase.

These results are very exciting, and they help to explain why top riders are feeling their horses moving better. However, we need to do much more work with Centaur Biomechanics to analyse a far greater sample of horses and riders, and to understand how this huge improvement in freedom when trotting relates to the gallop or jump.

Nevertheless as a starting point the results are compelling. For top riders who may win or lose a competition by the smallest of margins, to benefit from a significant increase in power of up to 15% must be irresistible.