Are there such things as very small, thin pressure sensors? I want to measure pressure from a saddle on the horse, so they need to be discrete enough not to be digging into the horse ( they will sit on a pad away from horses back but below saddle).
They exist but are expensive, fragile, small (unless you go very expensive custom), and ineffective at what you want. I think you need something more mechanical and less sensitive (like small air sacs and pressure sensors or something). Little pads like what you are talking about don't work well for soft, uneven surfaces.