Baroque Saddle: The Right Saddle for Classical Riding ... and for the Baroque Horse Type!

A baroque saddle gives the rider plenty of room to move and the freedom to find their own seat position. For your horse, a baroque saddle is particularly suitable

Answer the first question with "leisure", "arena work", "dressage", "trail riding" or "working equitation", and perhaps add "classical", "Spanish" or "baroque", and a baroque saddle would probably suit you very well as a rider.
 
In a typical baroque saddle, you have a lot of freedom of movement. At first it may look as if the front and rear galleries "frame" you quite differently than, say, an English saddle. In fact, however, the baroque saddle gives you freedom in finding your seat position and in choosing your pelvic position - the galleries normally do not touch you at all. This means you can stay in the centre of gravity even as it shifts, following the horse's movements. Or, conversely, you can precisely shift your seat, and the horse follows you. These very fine seat/weight aids, made possible by the baroque saddle and taking up a lot of space in classical riding, are exactly what makes the communication between horse and rider feel so magical.

The same applies to leg freedom: the typical baroque saddle has no thigh blocks and a fairly simple saddle flap. This means leg position can also be varied freely: the prerequisite for effective leg aids.
 
For riders who are not used to this much freedom, this can be a challenge. As a kind of compensation, however, the baroque saddle is also wonderfully comfortable: its soft seat makes it particularly suitable for long hacks in the countryside.

Even if you have ridden other types of saddle until now: switching is possible, as this review from one of our customers shows:

But then there is also your horse. Are you riding a horse of the sport horse type (high withers, narrow ribcage, long, straight back)? Then you should rather look at one of our dressage saddles, because our dressage models are better suited for horses with high withers. The pure baroque saddle, such as our Ibero Barock, is best suited for the baroque type.

In addition, we offer many models that are built on a pure dressage saddle tree and offer baroque style elements such as galleries, a baroque look or baroque thigh blocks.

The following models are also suitable for high withers or a less baroque type:
 

• Ibero Amazona Comfort
• Vaquero Breitschaft
• Vaquero Mexicano
• Alpha Vaquero
• Doma Classica

Such horses have normal to less pronounced withers, a round, broad ribcage and a rather shorter back with usually a fairly pronounced curved swing. What matters most is an unbiased look at the individual horse - breed is only a rough indicator. Andalusians, Lusitanos, Knabstruppers, Friesians or Paso Peruanos are typical baroque breeds and therefore usually of the baroque type too. But small horses such as Haflingers, gaited horses such as Icelandic horses, or typical Western horses such as the American Quarter Horse are often baroque types too.
 
For this horse type, the baroque saddle is well suited thanks to its shorter, wider shape: it has good conditions for fitting a round back with normal withers without pressing or slipping. The panels of baroque saddles also have a large bearing surface and therefore distribute pressure well on the horse's back.

Many baroque horses have less pronounced withers, a round, broad ribcage and a rather shorter back with usually a fairly pronounced curved swing. Such a build can lead to the following problems:
 

• The saddle slips easily from side to side, because the withers are missing as a "holder".

• The lack of length reduces the maximum seat size that can be fitted on these horses.

• Because of the lack of length, the bearing surface becomes smaller and the pressure correspondingly greater.

These problems can be counteracted with the Comfort panel:
 

• It is significantly wider in the bearing surface.

• It is also available in the short Comfort Compact version.

• It significantly reduces pressure per area and thus prevents pressure points.

• It increases comfort for horse and rider.

The conditions are clear and you are interested in a baroque saddle. Then you have come exactly to the right place at Iberosattel®.
 
We are specialists in baroque saddles and have, following our experience over the years, developed this saddle form further in various directions.

Some examples:
 

• The Ibero Amazona Comfort and the Ibero Classic Plus with a wide panel: thanks to the removable rear gallery, they are both a baroque saddle and a "normal" dressage saddle with FN approval in one.

• The Vaquero Mexicano with hook-and-loop thigh blocks: for anyone who appreciates a bit more knee grip on the trail.

• The Vaquero Breitschaft: a fantastically comfortable companion for long hacks and trail rides with the Comfort panel and practical saddlebag hooks on the rear gallery.

• The Ibero Barock: a baroque saddle just as it should be.

Something else you should know: we supply many of our saddle models on request with the EWF saddle tree for extra-large shoulder freedom (an important factor for many baroque horses). This world first has a head plate integrated into the saddle tree - for extra-large wither freedom.

All Iberosattel® baroque saddles also have our Amazona solution - a cut-out in the saddle tree that makes sitting in the centre of gravity more comfortable, not only for women. And a saddle tree that "grows along" with an adjustable gullet width. This means the saddle fits at every stage of your horse's life - without compromise.

We are happy to find a matching baroque saddle for you too:
 

• All our baroque saddles from the Premium line can be built to customer specifications according to your wishes: colours, thigh blocks, seat depth - all freely selectable.

• Our saddles can be adapted in many ways to changes in your horse.

• A baroque saddle with fenders? No problem, of course we can!

Simply download our brochure with prices to get a first overview, and we are also happy to advise you by phone.