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Why are Barefoot saddles horse-friendly
The way you sit on your horse depends not only on the shape of the horse's back but also on how well the saddle fits, and most importantly, the rider's seat. It is common knowledge that only a relaxed horse can become supple and step under.
Relaxation is a crucial step in training a horse, arguably the most important one. Every experienced trainer agrees that it is the foundation for achieving suppleness.
Relaxation requires two factors:
1. Mental relaxation
2. Physical relaxation
A tense horse that cannot relax under the saddle will never be supple. Without relaxation, the next stages of training--such as bending inward, establishing contact, stepping under, and collection--cannot be achieved.
A horse can move freely and without pressure under the flexible Barefoot saddle. The saddle moves with the horse's muscles, doesn't restrict blood flow, and allows the muscles to develop properly.
When ridden with a Barefoot saddle for the first time, horses often snort with satisfaction--a clear sign of relaxation and well-being. This promotes a more positive response to riding aids, as there is no negative influence from tension or pressure.
Horses quickly notice the difference with the Barefoot Saddle. As their shoulders relax, their head naturally lowers. Without any saddle pressure, the horse's back arches upwards, allowing for unrestricted movement. This freedom enables the horse to step under with its hindquarters, as its back can move naturally without restriction.
These photos show the same horse only with different head positions:
When a horse is ridden, its back is constantly moving and changes shape based on its level of collection, how much it bends, and how far it steps under. Due to its anatomy, a horse's back will naturally sag and form a deeper dip when it starts walking with its head raised, causing the back to arch downward. This pushes the spine away, bringing the vertebrae closer together, which limits blood flow and prevents suppleness and proper bending.
When a horse moves forward with its head lowered, the shape of its back changes: it bends upward, and the spine arches. This is a natural biomechanical process that occurs in all horses and ponies. It's driven by the long muscle band connecting the head (occipital bone) to the lower back (lumbar vertebrae), working together with the back and abdominal muscles. As a result, the "height difference" in the horse's back becomes noticeable, often exceeding 5 cm, depending on the horse.
The bottom line is that most saddles lack the flexibility to compensate for this difference whereas the Barefoot's flexibility allows it to constantly adapt to any changes in the horse's back line.
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