what are the pros and cons of a forward balanced saddle versus center balanced ?
how does the feeling vary from one to the other?
does it more depend on the build of the horse or the body shape of the rider in terms of either one working better ?
i think i rode in both types but it wasn’t “formally” stated so i’d just like to get more informed opinions 
I’m curious too. As I am currently horse shopping, I may also soon be saddle shopping, and I have seen this terminology used, but not really explained. Hopefully some of the COTH saddle gurus will be able to enlighten us.
My “forward balanced” saddle keeps the rider’s weight more toward the pommel. It is intended for young horses who will not yet have back muscles built up. It also forces me to ride with a more open hip angle. Since my mare is starting collection, I am switching to a saddle which is not forward balanced and will be more comfortable for me. My mare really liked my riding in it.
MAY I ASK WHAT THE BRAND IS ?
I asked about this very thing with some QSF and SMS Master Saddlers. Their feeling,to paraphrase, is that the rider should always be centered and that the saddle should be completely balanced on the horse with good panel contact and that essentially, there is no such thing as a properly fitting forward balanced saddle. I’m sure that will create some discussion.
good point,jay .
Jay - I’m so glad that you said that. Sounds exactly right to me!
Jay’s point notwithstanding, here’s my take:
it’s about putting your center of gravity over the horse’s center of gravity. From there, the theory goes, you are easier to carry. And in addition to theory, my experience suggests that riding closer to the center of gravity makes my signals be more about subtle shifts in weight. That is to say, I can speak to the horse more with balance rather than leg or hand.
I learned about this while shopping for my first dressage saddle since the County Competitor I owned in high school. I assumed I wanted a deep bucket. But some ladies at my barn were all about those Stubben Tristan Specials made famous by Catherine Haddad.
Those saddles involved a different way of riding. You had to get core strength, relaxed hips and balance because their was no appreciable saddle bits to help stop the forward and backward motion of your pelvis. As these Stubben Pimps put it: “You can develop the core and relaxed, flexible hips you need for dressage now, with this saddle, or you can delay that for a decade by starting out in a saddle that seems to do that muscular work for you.”
Being old, and having been re-taught to ride correctly in a Prix Des Nations after a foundational childhood spent in badly balanced, deep lesson-horse saddles, I picked the harder, shorter route-- the Stubben Tristan Special.
And specifically to your point: This saddle let me ride tall, the front of my body open (and so my core was engaged) and right up close to the withers. And from there, the horse I was riding went really differently, from the very.first.ride.
First of all, my aids were quite “loud” to him. I think that meant he could feel the effects of my balance (or lack of that) much better when I was up close to his withers.
And second, when we figured out our new feel, this horse lifted up his front end in a way that I didn’t think he could have done.
So, in sum, I discovered that a forward balanced, minimalist saddle helped purify my riding.
Also, I it’s easier to sit when we’re close to the withers and closer to the horse’s center of gravity (which will still be ahead of ours, at least for most of the horse’s training.) So I reasoned that buying the saddle with big blocks that put me well back behind the withers actually made the gaits harder to sit… but disguised the problem with that deep seat and big blocks.
Take what you like and leave the rest. I think everyone just needs to try out different saddles… when the shape or design is really different, you really might need to give it two or three rides. The first ride almost always feels catastrophically wrong… especially if you aren’t relaxed in the hips. Stiff legs will make any new saddle design feel bad… you’ll just bump into its parts. So trying saddles might need to include a conscious effort to relax all the joints in your legs and “just follow” the horse’s motion for that first ride.
[QUOTE=netg;8388203]
My “forward balanced” saddle keeps the rider’s weight more toward the pommel. It is intended for young horses who will not yet have back muscles built up. It also forces me to ride with a more open hip angle. Since my mare is starting collection, I am switching to a saddle which is not forward balanced and will be more comfortable for me. My mare really liked my riding in it.[/QUOTE]
I feel “out of the loop” on this one Netg. Can you explain how the forward balanced saddle looks? INO does it have more flocking or larger panels under the cantle to have you sitting more fwd? Does it have more protection in the shoulder to eliminate pressure? Or is it simple built more like a close contact saddle.
You have a Custom saddlery saddle, no?
Also does it have a shoulder billet and a centered girth billet? or just the traditional centered girth billit. Interesting concept…
Ahh OK I’m understanding better now - Thx
Oh and I like that - “Stubben pimps” :lol:
Oh, and some of them don’t work well if the human has a ‘booty’…had a prestige that i loved, but it tipped me forward.
trying to visualize what has been described ,how those 2 types of saddles look like … to add a practical example…am i right in assuming that most of the older schleese saddles ( around 10 years old ) have a center balance ,as well as most older passiers and kieffers ?
[QUOTE=belgianWBLuver;8388406]
I feel “out of the loop” on this one Netg. Can you explain how the forward balanced saddle looks? INO does it have more flocking or larger panels under the cantle to have you sitting more fwd? Does it have more protection in the shoulder to eliminate pressure? Or is it simple built more like a close contact saddle.
You have a Custom saddlery saddle, no?
Also does it have a shoulder billet and a centered girth billet? or just the traditional centered girth billit. Interesting concept…[/QUOTE]
This one’s a Dresch young horse saddle. It has a shoulder (point)billet and a V-billet, and the general balance and sweet spot is more forward, also not meant for as deep a seat as a typical dressage saddle. It has a much more open seat as well, and combined with the V-billet that has allowed me to keep using it through major downhill phases and constant changes of balance. Now that she’s pretty evened out in growth and filling in to her more adult shape, it no longer seems to fit well at all. I am very anxious for the new Custom to come in.
When I think forward-balanced saddles, I don’t think minimalist, but rather of Peter Menet’s designs: Amerigo, Dominus, Jaguar.
I can’t really speak to what’s so different because it’s not a style of saddle that works for me.
[QUOTE=netg;8388628]
This one’s a Dresch young horse saddle. It has a shoulder (point)billet and a V-billet, and the general balance and sweet spot is more forward, also not meant for as deep a seat as a typical dressage saddle. It has a much more open seat as well, and combined with the V-billet that has allowed me to keep using it through major downhill phases and constant changes of balance. Now that she’s pretty evened out in growth and filling in to her more adult shape, it no longer seems to fit well at all. I am very anxious for the new Custom to come in. :)[/QUOTE]
OK Thx !
[QUOTE=netg;8388628]
This one’s a Dresch young horse saddle. It has a shoulder (point)billet and a V-billet, and the general balance and sweet spot is more forward, also not meant for as deep a seat as a typical dressage saddle. It has a much more open seat as well, and combined with the V-billet that has allowed me to keep using it through major downhill phases and constant changes of balance. Now that she’s pretty evened out in growth and filling in to her more adult shape, it no longer seems to fit well at all. I am very anxious for the new Custom to come in. :)[/QUOTE]
That’s good to know.
People who have heard about the “PdN of dressage saddles” that I like… and know there aren’t many out there designed like an old-style Stubben have suggested I sit in a Dresch. That gives me another tree shape below with a geometry on top that works for me. Some day, I might have to saddle a horse that doesn’t fit in a Stubben.
Interesting. I had 2 custom saddles made for my horse - I was to chose one. My horse was diagnosed with kissing spine the week before they were delivered. It was advised I take the one with a more forward balance. The only thing I have decided I don’t like about the saddle is that the thigh blocks are too big. Otherwise works well for my horse. My favorite saddle ever was a trainers Stubben Tristan with pencil rolls!
After years of many saddles and monies lost I ended up with what I believe to be a more forward balance saddle. I have a Hermes. The Saddles is a tad over my horse’s shoulder blades yet wide enough to accommodate them underneath. This saddle puts me more forward on her back so she can actually use her back without my weight hindering it. My horse has never gone better since the first day I sat in that saddle. I’ve had it for 8 months and it’s absolutely the best thing I could have ever put on her back. So, I am a fan of a more forward balance saddle. I find the French Saddles put you more in this position. My horse is a warmblood with 33% thoroughbred blood and rides more like a thoroughbred. If I sat any further back it would shut my horses back down her hind legs go out behind her and she can’t carry herself. And yes I’m a competent rider having earned my Bronze and Silver medals horses that I trained myself. My horse finds it much easier to lift her back and shoulders and get her hind legs under herself in the saddle
The balance of a saddle is dictated by the way it sits/fits on the horse.
The balance of a saddle is dictated by the way it sits/fits on the horse.
I agree wit this, however I do think that stirrup bar placement will affect the balance of the saddle for the rider.
I struggle finding a right position in the rising trot, easily left behind the motion somewhat, and I constantly have to have this visual of me sitting in a cc saddle and tipping myself forward, so that actually then I am sitting straight and with the motion of the horse.
Of course in an cc or ap saddle I don’t have that problem, I naturally tip more forward.
I find this an intestering thread.
I’d like to know of a number of brands that supposedly have this forward balance.
Someone mentioned Hermes, can we name a few more please?
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