Bianca wrote:
There is research present! With special pads they measure the pressure under the saddle. Treeless saddles are not good for heavy riders or riders wich have no balanced seat because indeed of the less divided weight. Its very suited for lightweight riders with round horses.
With the barefoot saddles (I have the London model) there is a special pad with special inlay to divide the weight better. But indeed.. when I make a mistake with my seat Evita picks this up earlier but on the other hand I can feel het backmuscles far better.
I tried a regular dressage saddle and the London and Evita preferred the London.
Indeed bareback is also not so good because of the weight issue and worse even from what I've heard are the bareback pads with stirrups wich put much weight on the vertebra where the stirrups are attached.
Ah, good news about the research then. When I have some time I'll go looking for it.
As for the saddle I would prefer, it would be stirrup bars more central to the length of the saddle so that I sat in the middle and could rise to the trot, should I wish, in a straight line UP. The common utility saddle makes me upset because it requires me to lean forward and to rise and thrust my pelvis forward, de-centering my body from the horses center.
I did a little clinic with a student who had this same problem, and her mare had, over time, become sulky and fussy because of this loss of connection between her and her rider.
As soon as I had her drop her stirrups the horse settled and moved more fluidly. Of course it was just a tad difficult to post.
Though of course it can be done if one is young and agile and light enough, or strong enough. I'm none of those any longer.
I helped, many years ago, when I rode western and trained, design with a saddle maker friend, a truly center balanced saddle. One could not ride against the cantle or pommel but was moved into the center point, front to back, by the movement of the horse.
He hung the stirrups where I wanted them, and he did something that ended up showing up, in time, on cutting horse saddles. He installed for me, kneerolls like on a jumping saddle.
People that watched me train were much taken with the idea. But you know how style is such a powerful force. Western saddles still have a low point in the seat back of center, and now they've gone to the old high-cantle again. Dear me, is that an improvement?
I'm interested in the treeless saddle you've discussed here, but the price is far out of my range. And I doubt I'll find used ones in north America.
Thanks for your time and thoughts, and the information you offered, each of you.
Donald
Register
Login
FAQ
Search
) buy myself a treeless saddle. But I would really like to buy one for Lisa (welsh mountain) as well... I see barefoot london have a ponysize, but Lisa have a very short back. I wonder if I could use that still? How far back on the horseback should the saddle go (or don't go).
but I am more interested in university level research by accredited academics, as we have seen done in recent years, to the benefit of the horse, research on horse vision characteristics.
It was meant for little Lisa and my daughter, and I suppose if I can get my big butt into it it will be way too big for them........