Blog: News about Iberosattel®

Iberosattel® Blog

Latest articles about our saddles and our exclusive riding accessories

Endurance Saddle: Requirements for the Saddle in Endurance Riding

Racing 40, 80 or even 160 kilometres in a single day – there's no room for saddle compromises for horse or rider. Every discomfort, every design flaw, even the smallest fit imperfection takes its toll mercilessly during endurance riding – doubly and triply, kilometre after kilometre.

What matters with an endurance saddle and what you need to look out for when buying one – find out on this page!

More on this topic -> Endurance Saddle

The Right Saddle for Gaited Horses

Do four- and five-gaited horses need a special gaited-horse saddle? We believe: gaited horses need a saddle that fits properly – just like any other horse. A saddle with a flat seat that allows the rider's weight to shift can be a good choice. And if the shoulder can glide freely beneath the saddle, a clean tölt becomes much easier too.

More on this topic -> Saddle for Gaited Horses

Preventing Back Problems in Horses

Back problems seem to be more common in horses (and people...) than ever before. Our modern lifestyle – and the lifestyle we have imposed on our beloved riding companions alongside it – likely plays a significant role. All the more reason to ask ourselves what we can do to help prevent back problems from developing in the first place.

More on this topic -> Preventing Back Problems in Horses

Treating Back Problems in Horses

Treating back problems in horses essentially rests on three and a half pillars:

1. Relieve pain.
2. Build back muscle.
3. Support self-healing.
and
3 ½. Treat the underlying causes

Relieving existing pain is the prerequisite for building muscle – and strengthening the back muscles is, for most back problems, the best and by far the most important treatment strategy. Arthritis, kissing spines and spondylosis are chronic issues that cannot be cured in the strict sense – but strong, supple muscles help the horse stabilise its spine efficiently, maintain mobility and stay largely pain-free. ...

Read more -> Treating Back Problems in Horses

Possible Causes of Back Pain in Horses

The spine is the basic framework of the back – but it is only the interplay of the back muscles connected to the bone structures, the supporting abdominal and chest muscles, the tendons and ligaments, the nerves, blood and lymph vessels that turns it into the living, mobile, energetic horse's back.

Bruises, strains, sprains, muscle tension, pinched nerves, small tears in tendons and ligaments, tissue damage from direct pressure or chafing, or even from insufficient blood and/or lymph supply: such lesions in the back area, large or small, are not uncommon, and they too can lead to acute or chronic back pain.

Read more here -> Possible Causes of Back Pain in Horses

Recognising Back Pain in Horses

What are the actual symptoms of back problems in horses? A person can say loudly and clearly, „My back is killing me“ – diagnosis made. A horse relies on us to correctly interpret its non-verbal signals.

Reactions to acute – i.e. suddenly occurring – severe pain in the back area are, with a little awareness, usually fairly easy to interpret even in horses. However, most animals react very non-specifically to chronic pain, and these non-specific symptoms have rather limited diagnostic value.

Read more -> Recognising Back Pain in Horses

Back Problems in Horses: Understanding, Recognising, Treating – and Above All Preventing

Here's the strange thing: even in horses – which we brought into our lives to create a relaxed, athletic, nature-close counterbalance to our often physically and mentally unhealthy everyday lives – back problems are now almost as frequently discussed as they are in ourselves.

What happened here?

But let's set that question aside for a moment and first ask ourselves: how do we actually know that/whether horses have back pain?

More on this topic -> Back Problems in Horses

Hours in the Saddle Without Regret: How to Prevent Saddle Sores

A long trail ride can lead to genuine feelings of elation. And to sore spots and days of lingering pain in various, sometimes surprising and sometimes rather embarrassing places.

Here we'll set aside muscle soreness, which fades with a bit of practice, and take a closer look at the notorious saddle sores (sometimes also called chafing):

What causes it – and how can it be prevented? ... More on this topic: Saddle Sores.

Off-the-Shelf or Made-to-Measure Saddle? There is a Third Option...

Many leisure riders consider made-to-measure saddles about as sensible as a bespoke suit: nice to have, but surely not strictly necessary. They are right about that – but not quite as right as they probably think.

The fact that you can (unfortunately) strap almost any saddle onto your horse somehow does not mean that the cheap off-the-shelf one, the second-hand one, or the hand-me-down actually fits properly ... more on the Made-to-Measure Saddle.

An Iberosattel® for Norwegian Fjords? A Good Idea ...

Fjord horses generally have the anatomical prerequisites for a saddle with a wide bearing surface. You should make the most of that: extra padding with additional bearing surface reduces saddle pressure – a real relief for the horse's back, especially on longer rides.

Last but not least: Fjords are eager eaters, and it is quite remarkable what a few seasonal kilos more or less can do to the physique of these horses. A saddle with an easily adjustable gullet width is then practically a must. More information on the Saddle for Norwegian Fjords

Which Bridle Do I Want for My Horse?

There is a huge range of options today, and thoughtful riders in particular, for whom their horse's wellbeing matters a great deal, often feel unsure on this topic. Find out more about Bridles

Which Girth Is Right for My Horse?

What by far not everyone knows: the girth is not just some strap that somehow holds the saddle in place – here too, there is quite a bit to consider.

Because the horse's build influences the choice of girth in a similar way to the choice of saddle. And an unsuitable girth can make your horse just as unhappy as the wrong saddle ... More information on the Girth

The Saddle Pad: More Than Just a Fashion Statement (But That Too...)

Unlike a slim saddle cloth, a saddle pad shows a lot more from underneath the saddle – which means: room for favourite colours, appliqués, embroidery – or their deliberate absence.

Saddle pad fashionistas often have an entire wardrobe full of quilted or felted textiles: everyday saddle pads in various designs and favourite colours, several fine saddle pads for „best“, and often enough one or two „crazy“ impulse-buy saddle pads patiently waiting for their turn ... More about the Saddle Pad

Spanish Bridle - Plain or Ornate

Alongside the Spanish and Portuguese saddle tradition, a traditional bridle with a similarly distinctive aesthetic and functionality perfectly suited to classical Spanish riding developed on the Iberian Peninsula.

From the magnificent ceremonial or show bridles with ornate buckles, metal fittings and leather inlays to the simple Vaquero bridle with its striking „forelock“ of leather strips: a Spanish bridle is always something special. More about the Spanish Bridle

Sheepskin Saddle Pad: Protection for Sensitive Horse Backs

A sheepskin under the saddle with the fleece side up may look good, but it wastes many of sheepskin's excellent properties, so to speak, into thin air. If you are going to use sheepskin under the saddle, put the fleece side towards the horse! Because everything mentioned above – sheepskin as padding, slip protection, an effective moisture regulator and temperature equaliser – makes this natural material excellently suited not only as a topper, but also as an underlay for the saddle.

What you do not want under your well-fitted saddle, however, is a thick, bulky ridge of fleece that compromises the saddle's fit and contact with the horse – for saddle pads, closely shorn sheepskin is recommended. ... More information -> Saddle Sheepskin

Saddle for Iberian Horses & Co. - Comfortable for Long Days in the Saddle

Where can I get an Iberian saddle? From us, for example! We are Iberosattel, a saddlery from Freystadt in Bavaria. Our saddle business initially grew as an „offshoot“ of our private stud farm: we keep, ride and breed Iberian horses of the Pura Raza Española with real passion.

Naturally, we love the look and comfort of Iberian saddles – but we have also come to know their quirks and pitfalls, including the considerable difficulties that arise when one of these magnificent traditional pieces needs to be re-flocked. ... More about the Saddle for Iberian Horses

Saddle for Horses with High Withers

For horses with high withers, care must be taken that the saddle provides enough room in the area of the pommel to avoid painful contact between the spine and the saddle tree.

This contact can occur, for example, under load, when the „buffer“ between the tree and the spine is too small, or in tight turns, when the withers touch the pommel from the side. ... More on the Saddle for Horses with High Withers

Fine Saddle for a Fine Horse: The Perfect Saddle for Your Thoroughbred Could Be an Iberosattel®!

Finding an ideally fitting saddle for a thoroughbred is not entirely straightforward. That is because, compared to typical warmbloods – for whom most off-the-shelf saddles are designed – the breed has a rather short back. The purebred Arabian even has one whole rib fewer than other horses!

The short, relatively narrow back can easily become a source of saddle problems. Saddles that are too long (i.e. extending past the last rib) press on the kidney area. And saddles that are correctly sized in length but do not make optimal use of the available bearing surface in the saddle area can cause pressure points – assuming your thoroughbred even lets it get that far... More on the Saddle for Thoroughbreds

An Iberosattel® for the Freiberger? Good Idea!

Finding a riding saddle for a strong, square-built horse like the Freiberger is not always easy: many off-the-shelf saddles are too long and/or too narrow. Iberosattel® has developed saddles specifically for this horse type. Originally, we had our own Spanish horses primarily in mind – but our dressage and baroque saddles with a widened bearing surface also fit many other short- and round-backed breeds beautifully. More on the Saddle for Freiberger

The Right Saddle for an English Thoroughbred

There is one thing that is absolutely crucial to an English thoroughbred's happiness (and, by extension, that of its owner) – and that is a well-fitting saddle. Less spirited breeds sometimes tolerate a saddle that pinches or presses a bit without any obvious complaints. With this „high-voltage horse“, you generally will not have that luxury. Do not see that as a flaw – be glad your horse does not suffer in silence, but clearly lets you know that something is not right! More on the Saddle for English Thoroughbreds

Appaloosa: The Right Saddle

Every horse is an individual – and that is especially true for the Appaloosa. Back length, width, curvature and swing, the dimensions of the spine, withers and shoulder – the odds that a newly or second-hand bought off-the-shelf saddle will fit perfectly in every respect are not very high. More on the Saddle for Appaloosa

The Right Saddle for the Aegidienberger

The Aegidienberger belongs to the horses with more of a square or baroque build. And that makes it – gaited breed or not – clearly a „customer“ of Iberosattel. Originally, we developed our made-to-measure dressage and baroque saddles with the Spanish horses of our own stud farm in Freystadt, Bavaria, in mind – but they are equally well suited to short, broad-backed horses of other breeds. More on the Saddle for Aegidienberger.

Saddle for Trotters: What You Need to Know!

When „retraining“ trotters as riding horses, they need patient teachers who understand their special situation – and a carefully chosen, well-fitted saddle. It is worth it: thanks to their ground-covering gaits and stamina, trotters have what it takes to become wonderful riding horses: Saddle for Trotters >>

Paso Peruano: The Right Saddle

If you own a Paso Peruano, you are drawn to the outdoors. On long rides, on natural trails, on trail rides – the elegant, clever Peruvian horse is in its element. All the more important, then: the right saddle. The longer you are in the saddle, the more essential a perfect saddle fit becomes for horse and rider alike. More on the Saddle for Paso Peruano.

The Right Saddle for Broad Horses – What You Need to Know

In the past, many horses were „standard horses“: warmbloods were what people rode, and they all had more or less the same back. Choosing a saddle was correspondingly simple. Nowadays, all kinds of horses are ridden, big or small, cold-blood or warmblood. Particularly broad horses, too, make special demands on the saddle: Saddle for Broad Horses >>

Over Hill and Dale with the Right Trail Riding Saddle

Trail riding should be genuinely enjoyable not just for the rider, but for the horse too. For that, a saddle needs to fit and, even on long rides, offer a bearing surface that is not only wide enough and well fitted, but also flexible (i.e. soft) enough to distribute pressure optimally at all times, without creating pressure points (and, in the long run, muscle atrophy). More on the Trail Riding Saddle >>

Leisure Riding: Which Type of Saddle Fits Best?

As a leisure rider, you do not just have one discipline you ride, but many different lessons you want to work through with your horse. Small jumps, dressage work in the arena, and long trail rides: the Leisure Saddle has to handle quite a lot...

Dressage Saddle

What makes a good dressage saddle? Can you go on long rides with it too? In our new article on dressage saddles, we go into real detail: what is possible, how we adapt our dressage saddles, and more: Dressage Saddle

Saddle for Classical Riding and the Baroque Horse Type

„Baroque saddle“ is an umbrella term for a type of saddle for baroque horses. Iberosattel® offers both classic baroque saddles and modified variants of dressage saddles with baroque style elements (e.g. the large, wide bearing surface). Here is the article on the Baroque Saddle

Working Equitation - The Beauty of Working Riding

Working Equitation draws on old southern European working riding traditions. The sport incorporates many elements of Doma Vaquera, the traditional riding art of Spanish cattle herders, from which American Western riding also originated. Working Equitation combines dressage, trail obstacle courses and cattle work, and has been a competitive discipline in Germany since 2008. More on Working Equitation

New Felt Saddle Pads from Iberosattel®

Handcrafted, with ever-new, unique collections: the new felt saddle pads in various colours and with elaborate appliqués (e.g. in leather): Felt Saddle Pads from Iberosattel®

The Right Saddle for Your Icelandic Horse

Icelandic horses make particularly high demands on the saddle: very short in the back, often broad in the shoulder too, with a lot of shoulder action: the saddle must be neither too long, nor press on the shoulder. More details on Icelandic horse saddles can be found in our post about „The Right Saddle for Your Icelandic Horse“.

Saddles for Short Horses

Short horses in general, horses with a curved back, or short and broad horses, make particular demands on the saddle.
We go into this and further details in the article „The Right Saddle for Short Horses“.