The Balance of Power – Saddle Position In Dressage Training
By Nikki Alvin-Smith

An often-overlooked fundamental factor in dressage training is the saddle position on the horse. Having conducted hundreds of clinics during my career I can attest to the fact that many horses are forced to work against the ideal ‘balance of power’ with their mounted rider.
 
As a seasoned horse breeder, that has run through varies registry preferences during the decades from warmbloods to crossbreds ( a reversal of the usual route), and then to Iberian breeds, I’m very aware of the biomechanics of the horse. And in particular what can attribute negatively and contribute positively to the training and potential level of performance in an equine hopefully destined for success in the dressage arena.
 
There is plenty of press on saddle fit and choosing the right saddle. Saddle brands tend to rotate through the equestrian sport industry driven by what the winning riders on the Big Tour are favoring and also what marketing spend the saddle company can fund. Choose a saddle based on fit and comfort, not based on perceptions or to feed some need to impress others.
 
More Than The Fit
 
Horse owners and trainers spend a lot of money on saddle fitting expertise and on the tack that will be utilized for a particular horse/rider combination. Trouble is that the fit that happens when a horse is tacked up by one person may not be the same as the saddle position that the tack ‘slides into’ when placed on the horse by another. And yes, a saddle should always be placed in forward position and then gently slid back into its natural spot.
 
I have been presented with many horses and riders keen for training and perhaps a bit nervous when they first enter the clinic ring, that have placed the saddle too far forward on their horse. This error impedes the shoulder movement and tips the saddle backward making the rider’s job of staying central on the horse more difficult and very uncomfortable for both horse and human than it needs to be.
 
Similarly, when you consider the rider’s leg position and seat aids that are consequences of the saddle position, negative influences of the saddle position on their location and use when they are activated is often a negative consequence of this blunder in saddle placement.
 
Conformation Counts
 
Aside from the human error component of tacking-up the horse, there is the major question of what inherent conformation characteristic does the horse himself possess.
 
As a breeder of international level dressage horses I know that all aspects of conformation matter. As of course also does temperament. But the equine in front of you should demonstrate a certain amount of basic compatibility for the sport physically as well as mentally. And choosing a horse that comes with the necessary conformational design makes everyone’s job not just easier but will also encourage longevity in soundness for both horse and as a direct result, also for rider.
 
Most warmbloods are classically built uphill with a good saddle position bred into them at this point in their development as a breed. The wither that sits further back into the back, frees the shoulder movement. Though too far back and the rider’s resting leg position can be forced too far back also, out of the nerve ending zone if you will that is located just behind the front leg on the animal’s torso. It is also prudent to be wary of a horse with a huge shoulder and deep crest to the chest as this will make the horse front heavy and can make it hard to collect him, especially during the medium level period of training.
 
Iberian horses on the other hand, are often build rump or butt high, making correct saddle fit more complex to manage. Their usually wide backs also provide more issues for saddle fitters. Surprisingly perhaps, but because in huge part due their innate breed characteristics, despite the sometimes upside down back the Iberian breeds mange high levels of collection with more ease than their very forward thrusting warmblood counterparts.

 
Tip: If buying a horse also look at his back from above him. A triangular shape that gives room for the rider to fit and sit is ideal, given the wither is set far enough back and centered on the horse.
 
Saddles should obviously fit the specific horse with a specific rider. The three primary stages to check refit are; Once the horse has matured past three/four years old ( given the horse has been started this young and is in proper work and building muscle – his wither having ‘popped’ due to same); when the horse has matured and is mastering collection and extended work; when the horse has reached senior years and is starting to show  a decline in propensity to maintain musculature.
 
Saddles should spread the weight of the rider evenly across left/right and front/back to all four areas. An even four way spread.
 
Girth position should be behind the front leg, not hitting the elbow of the horse with each stride. Neither should the girth be set so far back as to be able to slip back across the belly.
 
Schooling your horse based on his conformational strengths and weaknesses is essential. I was privileged to work with some iconic names in Germany years ago that specialized in addressing the varietal issues that are posed by different conformational problems.
 
Working your dressage horse within certain parameters during training to accentuate the strengths but also build across weaker areas is important for correct execution of the movements, especially the three ‘P’s. It is also an essential way of training the horse that helps him reach his full potential in a happy frame of mind and promotes the horse’s willingness to work based not just on soundness, but also based on his enjoyment of performing a task with exuberance and confidence.
 
Innate saddle position is something to be considered when purchasing a dressage horse. A good starting position is likely to make life a lot easier for both horse and rider throughout the training tree process.
 
About the author: Nikki Alvin-Smith is an international Grand Prix dressage trainer/clinician who has competed in Europe at the Grand Prix level earning scores of over 72%. Together with her husband Paul, who is also a Grand Prix rider, they operate a private horse breeding/training farm Willowview Hill Farm in Stamford, NY.