Page 54 - Research Report 2021 - Institut für Leichtbau und Kunststofftechnik

Fostesa

Development of a saddle tree adapted to the individual horse's back
in terms of shape and stiffness

Riding saddles are often selected by experience according to established siz- Period
ing systems depending on the intended use (dressage, show jumping, etc.) 01.07.2018 – 31.03.2021
as well as the individual characteristics of the horse and rider (size, build,
etc.). An important component of the saddle is the saddle tree inside, which Project management
has load-bearing and form-giving functions. For currently available saddles, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Niels Modler
changes to the saddle tree geometry to adapt it to the shape of the horse's
back are often only possible to a limited extent. Further fine adjustments are Contact
mainly made by saddle upholstery work. Dr.-Ing. Robert Gottwald

The aim of the Fostesa cooperation project, which was completed in 2021, was Project partners
to develop an innovative saddle tree that is adapted to the individual horse's Sattlerei Thomas Büttner (STB)
back in terms of shape and stiffness. Special attention was paid to the real-
isation of a continuous development chain from individual data acquisition Funding
of the horseback geometry to experimental mechanical tests and calculation
simulations of saddle tree structures to the development of the manufactur-
ing technology by rapid prototyping process. With the 3D scanning processes
and data processing solutions developed, new principles were created for as-
sessing the manufacturing and thus the fitting accuracy of saddle trees. The
novel saddle tree was tested experimentally with a specially developed testing
device for stiffness analysis and physical simulation of long-term behaviour, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and
and its high potential was demonstrated. Climate Action (BMWK): Central Innovation
Programme for SMEs (ZIM)
Funding code: ZF4024709SU8
Managed by:

AiF Projekt GmbH, Subsidiary of the
German Federation of Industrial Research
Associations “Otto von Guericke” e. V. (AiF)

© Photo (Horse): STB

Acquired solutions for the development of a novel saddle tree.

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