It's an interesting question.... That kind of thing comes up a lot dealing with horses and people... and you hope it doesn't end up in court.
I had a friend that rode in a Buckaroo saddle. it had a hard smooth leather seat. He thought it was cooler in the summer then suede. I sat in it once. Most uncomfortable hard thing I've ever felt. Of course, I realize English saddles are not like that. This thing was like sitting on steel, IMO. No cushion at all. I always wondered how it felt to the horse.
Becky