Position Of The Saddle

The horse spine can carry weight best between the withers and the 15th thoracic vertebrae
The rider sits in the Barefoot between two moulded parts (fork and pommel); whereas the rear is quite flexible, the front gives only slightly, as it is intended to keep the withers free and give the saddle its shape. This front part (the exchangeable pommel) moves freely on the horse’s shoulder without inhibiting the shoulder’s freedom of movement. This is why the Barefoot saddle can be placed directly on the shoulder. Anatomically, saddling over the shoulder is only possible on horses with short, flat withers, which is often the case with many compact leisure horses.

Here you can see the correct position of the Atlanta saddle on a horse where the withers are short and flat.

Here you can see the correct position of the Wellington saddle on a horse with long withers