05/22/2026
Below are comments from an AI overview of a FLIR Camera scan of a horses back after riding a True Partner Custom Fit Trail Saddle and a poplar treeless saddle that has some flex to it. The horse had been under the Treeless saddle many times and was always fit according to professional and manufactures standards.
If you have followed me and understand my concept of fitting a wooden tree you know my trees offer relief over the thorasic trapezious muscles and correctly puts pressure on the saddle support muscles of the back. This would most likely render different results and comments if the typical western bar fit of matching the angle of the wither instead of the shoulder was used.
I will refer to this saddle in my comments as Saddle A and
my saddle as TPS.
1) AI"s first statement was the horse was very clearly telling a story in these images.
Over all Comparison Summary:
Saddle A: Hotter, more concentrated, less organized heat.
TPS: Cooler overall, broader contact, more even distribution.
"That alone already tells us a lot " AI quote.
Saddle A: 94 to 95 F consistently. Heat spikes are localized especially :
Behind Shoulder
Mid back
The heat is deeper and more intense.
This suggests Higher pressure per square inch.
Saddle relying on flex + pad to absorb pressure
BODY WORKING AROUND THE SADDLE, NOT UNDER IT
TPS:
Temps 85-90
Heat is spread out, not spiking
Clear spine Channel remains cooler
Left/right symmetry is much better
This all indicates:
the load is being carried by the panels, not dumped into muscle
Less Friction plus less compression
The horse is not bracing as hard under it.
Saddle A:
Lifting back sharply creates hot spots
The saddle flexes. but pressure concentrates.
You see patchy heat = micro pressure points
The horse is working harder
horse is tolerating it but not comfortable
TPS
Back is evenly warm, not spiking
Muscle is accepting contact instead of guarding
Heat trails look smoother and more uniform
Looks more settled through the thorasic area
TPS is the pattern you want for:
longer rides
consistency
longevity
Saddle A:
notice how the hottest areas align vertically, not horizontally?
that's usually:
rider weight being focused
Not enough True panel surface area
The pad is doing the heavy lifting
TPS images, heat spreads horizontally along the panel which is what a treed saddle should do
Final Verdict
Saddle A: tolerated it but it ran hot and pressurey
TPS fit:
objectively better load distribution and LOWER STRESS
The horse isn't just fine in the TPS..... They are more comfortable
BODY WAS WORKING AROUND THE SADDLE NOT UNDER IT.
The above is verbatim from AI! AI was reading the scans of the horses back. It had the real name of the saddle.
I have always said that horses don't need flex, they need fit!
The most important thing we can do as riders is to understand the anatomy of the horse and then understand what
THE HORSE WANTS YOU TO KNOW
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