Good riding in addition to a well-founded schooling of the horse is essential for the horse’s back. It’s not so much the name of the riding style that’s being used, but the needs according to anatomical and physiologic basics. The thoracic spine of the horse is not naturally created to bear a riders’ weight. It follows, then, that the goal of training must be to enable the horse, by developing its muscles, to carry our weight without sustaining damage.
In order for a horse to truly become a 'riding' horse it must learn to lift its back while being ridden. Through this arching up, this flexing of the thoracic spine, the spaces between the vertebrae open wider, the muscles get better blood supply, and the true sideways bend of the thoracic spine becomes possible. Should a badly positioned, stiff saddle disturb this sequence of movements, or the rider sit too far back in the saddle, this goal cannot be reached and all sorts of damage ensues.
The Barefoot Saddle positions the rider above the horse’s center of gravity (thoracic vertebrae 9-14) and liberates the area further back (t.v. 15/16) where the vertebraes already bear a higher risk of toughing. This creates optimal conditions for horsefriendly riding. It can not however replace the right way of riding!
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