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Murgese: The Chic Italian
Here's Your Guide to the Right Murgese Saddle
The Murgese – a medium-sized, jet-black Baroque horse – is a fairly rare breed. Many people fall instantly in love the first time they see this rare horse, perhaps at a trade fair or on holiday in Apulia, Italy. And that holiday romance tends to last: this wonderful Italian is not only a talented riding horse with an innate gift for collection, but also a loveable companion who bonds closely with their humans and loves a good, thorough scratch.
A standard saddle simply won't do for this powerfully built horse – this magnificent animal needs a saddle that matches its Baroque proportions.
Iberosattel® saddles are made exactly for horses with a broad, short back like the Murgese: the gullet width of our saddle trees, adjustable up to size 39 as standard, frames the Murgese's powerful back perfectly. And our Comfort Pad compensates for the short saddle area with an especially wide bearing surface.
A standard saddle simply won't do for this powerfully built horse – this magnificent animal needs a saddle that matches its Baroque proportions.
Iberosattel® saddles are made exactly for horses with a broad, short back like the Murgese: the gullet width of our saddle trees, adjustable up to size 39 as standard, frames the Murgese's powerful back perfectly. And our Comfort Pad compensates for the short saddle area with an especially wide bearing surface.
Iberosattel® makes adjustable saddles with a wide, and optionally very short, bearing surface. Adapting to the round, muscular back of a Murgese is simply no problem here. — Saddle for the Murgese
Murgese Table of Contents:
Typical Saddle Problems in Murgese Horses
The powerfully built Murgese often causes problems when it comes to finding the right saddle: many saddles are simply too narrow. Or too long. Or both. Because Murgese horses tend to be very good-natured, easy-going animals, they don't always communicate clearly when something is wrong with the saddle. So the fact that a saddle doesn't fit may only become apparent once the first signs of damage, such as pressure points or postural problems, appear.
Typical problems that can occur include:
Typical problems that can occur include:
- The saddle gullet is too narrow: the horse's back gets wedged in by the saddle.
- The head plate is angled too narrowly: the saddle doesn't sit flush and creates pressure.
- The saddle doesn't offer enough shoulder freedom: the shoulder is restricted in movement.
- The spinal channel is too narrow: the spine and back ligament come into painful contact with the saddle.
- The saddle is too long: pressure on the sensitive loin area.
An off-the-shelf saddle is not the way to go for Murgese horses: their broad, round back often causes considerable fitting problems. — Saddle Problems in Murgese Horses
What to Look for in a Saddle for Murgese Horses
So your Murgese can move happily and energetically under the saddle, the saddle should have a bearing surface that is adapted as closely as possible to the three-dimensional contour of the horse's back throughout the entire saddle area. In detail, this means:
An off-the-shelf saddle will hardly meet these requirements. Standard saddles are usually adapted to the type of horse still predominant in Germany – the narrow-backed, “rectangular” sport horse. For round-backed, “square” Baroque horses, such saddles almost always cause problems.
- A well-adapted gullet width.
- A sufficiently wide-angled head plate.
- A sufficiently wide spinal channel.
- A saddle that is also correctly fitted in length, not too long.
- Enough shoulder freedom.
An off-the-shelf saddle will hardly meet these requirements. Standard saddles are usually adapted to the type of horse still predominant in Germany – the narrow-backed, “rectangular” sport horse. For round-backed, “square” Baroque horses, such saddles almost always cause problems.
It's not just the gullet width: the angle of the head plate, the width of the spinal channel and the length of the saddle must all match the Murgese's saddle area. — Fitting a Saddle for the Murgese
Does that mean you need a custom-made saddle for your Murgese? Not necessarily. Iberosattel® saddles are what's known as made-to-measure production: they're assembled from high-quality, prefabricated individual parts, offering numerous adjustment options even for “difficult” horse backs – while staying within a reasonable price range.
What's more, our saddle trees were specifically designed with Baroque-type horses in mind: with a generously sized, adjustable gullet width and a wide-angled head plate, they offer plenty of room for a well-rounded back right from the start. This means an Iberosattel® can be perfectly fitted to your Murgese.
What's more, our saddle trees were specifically designed with Baroque-type horses in mind: with a generously sized, adjustable gullet width and a wide-angled head plate, they offer plenty of room for a well-rounded back right from the start. This means an Iberosattel® can be perfectly fitted to your Murgese.
Iberosattel® – Our Story
When we founded our company more than twenty years ago, the Murgese was still practically unknown in Germany. We had, however, already fallen in love – with horses of the Pura Raza Española. We breed these beautiful Andalusians on our own stud farm, and they were also the inspiration for Iberosattel®.
Because we couldn't find saddles that met our standards for fit and comfort, we developed our dream saddles ourselves: horse-friendly, comfortable, with dimensions and a bearing surface adapted to the Baroque type. We soon realized that our saddles also solved the saddle problems of many other leisure riders. Horses with Baroque proportions are on the rise – just like the Murgese.
Because we couldn't find saddles that met our standards for fit and comfort, we developed our dream saddles ourselves: horse-friendly, comfortable, with dimensions and a bearing surface adapted to the Baroque type. We soon realized that our saddles also solved the saddle problems of many other leisure riders. Horses with Baroque proportions are on the rise – just like the Murgese.
From Haflinger to Tinker, from Icelandic pony to draft horse: an Iberosattel® suits horses whose powerful build differs from the still very common sport horse type. — Iberosattel® Saddles
Over the years, we've expanded our collection and brought new ideas to life. Today, the Iberosattel® range includes dressage, Baroque and even Western saddles for different riders' needs. We've also found specialized solutions for a number of individual saddle-fit concerns. These include, for example, our compact Comfort Compact Edition for the very “short” horses out there. The EWF saddle tree for more shoulder and wither freedom. Or the Amazona Solution against saddle sores.
We have the right saddle for your Murgese too – and for you!
Saddle Trees for Baroque Horses
Even our entry-level Iberosattel® models feature a saddle tree optimized for Baroque horses. Gullet widths here go up to size 39 as standard – wide enough even for a proper Rubens-type horse. And because even magnificent Baroque specimens can be more or less muscled depending on the season or stage of life, an adjustable head plate ensures the saddle takes such changes easily in its stride.
With our individually made premium saddles, not just the head plate but the entire saddle tree can be individually optimized: we shape the curve, angle and length according to the measurements taken when your horse's back is measured. The result: a perfect fit.
With our individually made premium saddles, not just the head plate but the entire saddle tree can be individually optimized: we shape the curve, angle and length according to the measurements taken when your horse's back is measured. The result: a perfect fit.
The heart of any saddle is the saddle tree. And it has to match the horse's back. — Saddle Fitting for the Murgese
Saddle Padding Reimagined: The Iberosattel® Comfort Pad
All saddles in our Premium Line, as well as some basic models, come with the Iberosattel® Comfort Pad. This alternative to standard saddle padding is ideal for round-backed horses like the Murgese: their saddle area offers significantly more surface width than conventional banana- or wedge-shaped pads make use of. The broadly cut Comfort Pad can increase the saddle's bearing surface by almost double. The rider's weight is distributed over a much larger area, saddle pressure is reduced, and the saddle becomes far more comfortable for the horse to carry.
This is practically essential for short horses: what's missing in bearing surface due to a short but wide saddle area, we make up for in width. With the Comfort Compact Pad, we make back-friendly, comfortable saddles for short-backed horses that won't cause pressure points even on long rides.
This is practically essential for short horses: what's missing in bearing surface due to a short but wide saddle area, we make up for in width. With the Comfort Compact Pad, we make back-friendly, comfortable saddles for short-backed horses that won't cause pressure points even on long rides.
The Iberosattel® Comfort Pad is a game changer for Baroque horses: thanks to its extra-wide bearing surface, it's especially back-friendly and comfortable. — Iberosattel® Comfort Pad
The Comfort Pad also has an extremely positive effect on communication with the horse: the thin padding, stitched from several layers of material and cut away at the thigh area, lets you feel your horse almost as if riding without a saddle, transmitting subtle weight and leg aids with particular precision.
The Iberosattel® Comfort Pad is ideal for refined classical, dressage or Baroque riding. — Refined Riding with Iberosattel®
Freedom for the Spine!
Sturdily built horses like the Murgese generally need a particularly generous amount of spinal freedom: in other words, the spinal or panel channel – the gap between the two saddle panels – must be wide enough that the spine and back ligament never come into contact with the saddle, even in motion.
We adjust the spinal channel individually for every Iberosattel®. And because our Comfort Pad isn't rigidly clamped or stitched in place, but hangs freely beneath the saddle, we can make corrections later with minimal effort if needed.
We adjust the spinal channel individually for every Iberosattel®. And because our Comfort Pad isn't rigidly clamped or stitched in place, but hangs freely beneath the saddle, we can make corrections later with minimal effort if needed.
The Comfort Pad allows for individual adjustment and later readjustment of the spinal channel. — Freedom for the Spine
Got Big Plans? We Have the Right Saddle!
Dressage arena? Trail riding? Baroque riding? Working Equitation? Western? At Iberosattel®, you'll find the ideal saddle for everything you have planned with your Murgese. We have real all-rounders like the El Primero or the Ibero Amazona Comfort (with a removable cantle!) – and more specialized saddles like the Amazona Dressage Comfort, the Mià Working Comfort or the Ibero Barock.
Particular comfort – especially on long trail rides – is also offered by the Simply Pure Comfort and the Liberty Pure. Unlike conventional Western saddles, which still require a pad, these two have integrated saddle padding – and an adjustable saddle tree. You don't have to be a cowgirl or cowboy to love these lightweight, short Western saddles!
Particular comfort – especially on long trail rides – is also offered by the Simply Pure Comfort and the Liberty Pure. Unlike conventional Western saddles, which still require a pad, these two have integrated saddle padding – and an adjustable saddle tree. You don't have to be a cowgirl or cowboy to love these lightweight, short Western saddles!
At Iberosattel®, you'll find comfortable, high-quality saddles for every kind of leisure riding. — Versatile and Always Adjustable
How Your Murgese Benefits from an Iberosattel®
Every Iberosattel® has a variable gullet width that can be adjusted easily and repeatedly without material fatigue. And of course, the padding of our saddles is also easy to adjust. This means you'll have a perfectly fitting saddle for your horse's entire life.
- Sufficiently wide gullet.
- Wide angling, perfect fit, non-slip seat.
- Shoulder freedom.
- Individually adjusted spinal freedom.
- Wide bearing surface.
- No pressure on the kidney area.
We're Here for You: The Iberosattel® Saddle Service
Buying a saddle from Iberosattel® includes detailed personal advice and the no-obligation opportunity to try out several saddles. For this, our saddle van will come to visit you on your preferred date. Once you've decided on an Ibero, we measure your horse and note down your preferences for your dream saddle.
When the finished saddle is delivered, we check the fit once more – this and any necessary adjustments are included in the price.
Later on, you can contact us at any time if your horse's back has changed and the saddle needs to be readjusted and/or re-padded.
When the finished saddle is delivered, we check the fit once more – this and any necessary adjustments are included in the price.
Later on, you can contact us at any time if your horse's back has changed and the saddle needs to be readjusted and/or re-padded.
Get in Touch
Do you still have questions about our saddles? Or would you like to arrange a saddle appointment for your Murgese? Feel free to contact us!
Hotline: 09179 / 964117
For Murgese: The Comfort Pad
Short and wide backs for Murgese: The Comfort Pad.
Short but wide bearing surface for Murgese.