Iberosattel® SHOP Buy top riding accessories
Refined Riding Despite Weight: The Right Saddle for Heavy Riders
Nature doesn't produce born riding animals. Horses aren't one either – despite their inviting-looking backs. Evolution didn't design them to carry 60, 80 or even 120 kilograms on their backs. Selective breeding has produced a number of potentially quite resilient breeds, but still no natural weight-carrying talent.
Whether a rider weighs a little more or a little less isn't actually all that significant at first. Anyone who weighs more than 50 kilograms – in other words, pretty much every adult rider – should be aware that an untrained or incorrectly trained horse can be harmed by their weight.
But of course more weight also means more strain on the horse. The most important requirement for a horse to be able to carry its rider without being harmed is a well-fitting saddle, adapted to both horse and rider. This naturally applies not only to heavy riders. But especially to them. Iberosattel® offers the ideal solution: lightweight, individually fitted saddles with an especially large bearing surface.
Whether a rider weighs a little more or a little less isn't actually all that significant at first. Anyone who weighs more than 50 kilograms – in other words, pretty much every adult rider – should be aware that an untrained or incorrectly trained horse can be harmed by their weight.
But of course more weight also means more strain on the horse. The most important requirement for a horse to be able to carry its rider without being harmed is a well-fitting saddle, adapted to both horse and rider. This naturally applies not only to heavy riders. But especially to them. Iberosattel® offers the ideal solution: lightweight, individually fitted saddles with an especially large bearing surface.
The first requirement for back-healthy riding is – not only for heavy riders – a well-fitted saddle. — Iberosattel®: The Solution for Heavy Riders
Saddle for Heavy Riders - Table of Contents
A Well-Fitting Saddle Is a Prerequisite for Building Muscle
For a horse to carry its rider in a back-healthy way, it must undergo specific training. This training, known in classical riding as gymnasticising, involves years of work in which muscles are built up and beneficial movement patterns are practised – in particular, rounding the back under the rider and stepping the hind legs further underneath the body.
The horses of heavy riders face especially high demands here. And for a horse to learn and work with focus, without pain and with a relaxed back, the saddle must fit. We keep saying this – because it's one of those obvious truths that still takes far too long to catch on.
The horses of heavy riders face especially high demands here. And for a horse to learn and work with focus, without pain and with a relaxed back, the saddle must fit. We keep saying this – because it's one of those obvious truths that still takes far too long to catch on.
To carry the weight of an adult, a horse must be correctly trained. And that doesn't work without a well-fitting saddle either! — Gymnasticising
How Much Weight Can My Horse Carry?
Simple Rules of Thumb
As a rule of thumb, the combined weight of the rider and riding equipment should not exceed 15 percent of the horse's body weight. Riding equipment includes the saddle and possibly saddle bags or similar. If the horse's weight isn't known, its wither height in centimetres minus 70 offers a rough estimate of a horse's maximum carrying capacity.
The Role of the Cannon Bone and Loin
But large, heavy horses aren't automatically the best weight carriers. A horse's carrying capacity is also significantly influenced by the width of the loin (the back section between the last rib and the hip bone) and the circumference of the cannon bone (the main load-bearing bone of the lower leg).
Both measurements, relative to body weight, give a good indication of how much a horse can carry. Many ponies perform particularly well here: for instance, Icelandic horses with good muscling can carry over 20% of their body weight without any trouble.
Less resilient, on the other hand, are not only the slender, delicate Thoroughbreds, but also some Quarter Horses or Haflingers – so the latter two breeds are, somewhat mistakenly, seen as sturdy weight carriers.
Both measurements, relative to body weight, give a good indication of how much a horse can carry. Many ponies perform particularly well here: for instance, Icelandic horses with good muscling can carry over 20% of their body weight without any trouble.
Less resilient, on the other hand, are not only the slender, delicate Thoroughbreds, but also some Quarter Horses or Haflingers – so the latter two breeds are, somewhat mistakenly, seen as sturdy weight carriers.
A horse's carrying capacity depends on its size, weight, loin width and cannon bone diameter. — How Much Can My Horse Carry?
How Can I Make Carrying Easier for My Horse?
As a somewhat heavier rider, you're right to ask how you can make your horse's job easier. Here are a number of sensible tips:
- Reduce saddle weight: The weight your horse has to carry also includes the saddle. If you choose as light a saddle as possible, you can easily save around 5 kilograms.
- Increase the saddle's bearing surface: The size of the bearing surface doesn't change the total weight, but it does determine how that weight is distributed. Narrow, hard saddle panels press the rider's weight at high pressure onto a correspondingly small area of the back muscle. A saddle with a large, soft bearing surface distributes the rider's weight over a larger area. This reduces saddle pressure and relieves the anatomical structures under the saddle.
- Ensure a good saddle fit: Naturally, the saddle should fit as perfectly as possible, without bridging, pinching or rocking. Only then does a large bearing surface actually become effective. And only then can your horse work pain-free and build muscle.
- Adopt a correct riding seat: A centred, balanced seat over the horse's centre of gravity contributes a great deal to a horse being able to carry a heavier rider without difficulty. For a good seat, it's important that the saddle is also fitted to the rider.
A lightweight, perfectly fitting saddle with as large a bearing surface as possible makes the horse's job easier. — Tips for Heavy Riders
Overview: How Iberosattel® Supports Heavy Riders and Their Horses
- Our saddle trees have an adjustable gullet width and are individually fitted to your horse: for a perfect fit and the best training results.
- Many of our saddles have an extra-wide bearing surface: up to 45 centimetres is possible!
- Our saddles are lightweights.
- Our saddles can also be re-adjusted later: for example, if your horse has built up muscle.
- We design the seat and knee rolls to the rider's preference: for a well-balanced seat.
Individually Fitted Saddles: A Good Reason for Iberosattel®
A well-fitting saddle is one of the most important foundations of a good horse-rider relationship. That's why the width of our saddle trees can always be individually adjusted to your horse. An individually fitted saddle simply sits better – without pinching or rocking. Only then is saddle pressure distributed evenly across the whole saddle area, and only then can the horse work without pressure pain, even under a heavier rider.
Of course, when fitting our saddles we also pay attention to shoulder and spinal freedom. Because a horse that can work with free shoulder movement, a swinging back and without discomfort can grow with its tasks: this is where the resilient musculature builds up that can effortlessly carry a heavy rider too.
Of course, when fitting our saddles we also pay attention to shoulder and spinal freedom. Because a horse that can work with free shoulder movement, a swinging back and without discomfort can grow with its tasks: this is where the resilient musculature builds up that can effortlessly carry a heavy rider too.
Gullet width, shoulder and spinal freedom: your horse can only do good work under a well-fitting saddle. — Individually Fitted Saddles
The Iberosattel® Comfort Pad Spreads Out
The Iberosattel® Comfort Pad uses the full width of the saddle area – and can thereby nearly double the bearing surface compared with conventional saddle panels. That means saddle pressure is almost halved!
Depending on how much space your horse's saddle area offers, we can make the padding on our saddles up to 45 cm wide. This is especially important if you ride a horse with a rather short back. Bearing surface that's missing in length here is made up for in width by the Comfort Compact Pad.
Depending on how much space your horse's saddle area offers, we can make the padding on our saddles up to 45 cm wide. This is especially important if you ride a horse with a rather short back. Bearing surface that's missing in length here is made up for in width by the Comfort Compact Pad.
The wide Comfort Pad can almost halve saddle pressure. Especially important for short horses! — Extra-Wide Saddles
Iberosattel®: Lightweights Save Load
Thanks to the lightweight synthetic saddle tree and the elimination of unnecessary material, our saddles consistently weigh between 6 and 8 kilograms – it's hard to get much lighter! Compared with many other saddles, that's 4 to 5 kilos your horse doesn't have to carry. So some of the weight you bring can be saved back through the saddle.
A saddle weighing just 6 to 8 kilos takes the load off your horse. — Extra-Light Saddles
Adjustable Gullet Width: So Your Horse Can Grow With Its Tasks
The saddle fits. Everyone's happy. Your horse works diligently and builds up plenty of muscle – and then the saddle no longer fits. That can happen. And it's quite likely, especially with horses that are worked hard. Do you now have to buy a new saddle?
Not with an Ibero: the gullet on our saddles can be re-adjusted at any time. Wider or narrower – a short appointment with the saddler, and the saddle fits perfectly again. Is your horse getting more and more impressive? Great! Gullet widths up to 38 and beyond are no problem at Iberosattel®.
Not with an Ibero: the gullet on our saddles can be re-adjusted at any time. Wider or narrower – a short appointment with the saddler, and the saddle fits perfectly again. Is your horse getting more and more impressive? Great! Gullet widths up to 38 and beyond are no problem at Iberosattel®.
Individual Right Down to the Seat: At Iberosattel® You Get the Seat and Knee Rolls Just the Way You Want Them
Naturally, the saddle isn't just fitted to the horse – it also has to match the rider's measurements. A sufficiently large seat that lets the rider sit in the correct centre of gravity is the prerequisite for a balanced seat and correct use of the aids. We offer the only dressage tree with a very large effective seat for tall and heavy riders: its maximum bearing surface is 45 cm wide.
Whether deep, flat or semi-flat seat: our saddles put you close to the horse. Partly because the Comfort Pad offers especially good contact with the horse over the leg area. Incidentally, the seating comfort of our saddles keeps riders raving. The Amazona solution also contributes to this: a discreet cut-out in the saddle tree that prevents saddle sores.
Knee rolls give the leg sufficient support and provide security, even when rider and horse don't always see eye to eye. That said, opinions on knee rolls differ even among riders. And that's fine, because at Iberosattel® you ride with the knee rolls of your choice. Long, short, wide, narrow, banana-shaped – we equip your saddle exactly the way you want it.
Whether deep, flat or semi-flat seat: our saddles put you close to the horse. Partly because the Comfort Pad offers especially good contact with the horse over the leg area. Incidentally, the seating comfort of our saddles keeps riders raving. The Amazona solution also contributes to this: a discreet cut-out in the saddle tree that prevents saddle sores.
Knee rolls give the leg sufficient support and provide security, even when rider and horse don't always see eye to eye. That said, opinions on knee rolls differ even among riders. And that's fine, because at Iberosattel® you ride with the knee rolls of your choice. Long, short, wide, narrow, banana-shaped – we equip your saddle exactly the way you want it.
A sufficiently large seat, knee rolls of your choice. — What Iberosattel® Offers
The Advantages of an Iberosattel® for Your Horse
+ perfectly fitted saddle
+ guaranteed shoulder and spinal freedom: good muscle development possible
+ large bearing surface distributes the rider's weight evenly: no pressure peaks
+ lightweight saddles save weight
+ interchangeable head plate and adjustable gullet width
+ EWF saddle tree with extra wither clearance
+ guaranteed shoulder and spinal freedom: good muscle development possible
+ large bearing surface distributes the rider's weight evenly: no pressure peaks
+ lightweight saddles save weight
+ interchangeable head plate and adjustable gullet width
+ EWF saddle tree with extra wither clearance
The Advantages of an Iberosattel® for You
Heavy riders have very specific requirements for a saddle. Iberosattel®'s well thought-out saddle concept can meet these effortlessly:
+ seating comfort through a fitted seat size and the Amazona solution
+ best possible weight distribution on the horse's back
+ a "close to the horse" feel for effective transmission of weight aids
+ individual choice of, among other things, knee rolls and leather
+ consultation and fitting on-site
+ seating comfort through a fitted seat size and the Amazona solution
+ best possible weight distribution on the horse's back
+ a "close to the horse" feel for effective transmission of weight aids
+ individual choice of, among other things, knee rolls and leather
+ consultation and fitting on-site
Who We Are? Not Always Lightweights Ourselves Either...
Our family business is based in Freystadt, Bavaria. There, we've been developing saddles for horses with baroque proportions for over twenty years – with the aim that riders who weigh a little more can use these saddles too.
We make baroque- and dressage saddles. In doing so, we focus on the saddle needs of horses with a rather short, broad back. We were initially inspired by our own horses. In Freystadt we run a stud farm dedicated to breeding Andalusians of the Pura Raza Española. While searching for suitable saddles for our own horses, we soon noticed that the off-the-shelf saddles available here are mostly designed for the narrower sport-horse type. So we simply started designing and building our dream saddles ourselves.
Over the course of everyday use, we gradually noticed various things that could still be optimised. That's how our saddles have kept getting better over the years. Not least, we offer practical solutions for many of the problems heavier riders also face: such as the Amazona solution against saddle sores, or the EWF saddle tree with integrated head plate. The latter offers considerably more wither clearance than a conventional saddle tree and prevents painful knocks between the head plate and the withers when mounting.
We make baroque- and dressage saddles. In doing so, we focus on the saddle needs of horses with a rather short, broad back. We were initially inspired by our own horses. In Freystadt we run a stud farm dedicated to breeding Andalusians of the Pura Raza Española. While searching for suitable saddles for our own horses, we soon noticed that the off-the-shelf saddles available here are mostly designed for the narrower sport-horse type. So we simply started designing and building our dream saddles ourselves.
Over the course of everyday use, we gradually noticed various things that could still be optimised. That's how our saddles have kept getting better over the years. Not least, we offer practical solutions for many of the problems heavier riders also face: such as the Amazona solution against saddle sores, or the EWF saddle tree with integrated head plate. The latter offers considerably more wither clearance than a conventional saddle tree and prevents painful knocks between the head plate and the withers when mounting.
Even Room to Spare...: What Customers Say About Iberosattel®
Alexa F. on a Tinker Mare with Amazona Dressage Comfort
It had to be a saddle that could be changed / adjusted often. It needs a large, short bearing surface and has to fit my ample backside well and be comfortable. In my Amazona Dressage Comfort in size 18.5, I feel perfectly at home and even have room to spare.
Uschi A. with El Primero
I enjoy going on trail rides with luggage; on a trip like that, my horse carries its saddle for several hours a day. That's why it's very important to me that the saddle fits perfectly. I've already ridden several trips with my El Primero and everything has worked out great – it's also very comfortable for me to sit in.
We Take Saddle Service Very Seriously
You found us online. But before buying a saddle, we definitely want to get to know you and your horse in person.
At a saddle appointment at your location, you can take a close look at our saddles from all sides, try them for size, and of course also take them for a test ride. Our service includes a thorough consultation as well as measuring your horse. This allows us to individually fit the gullet width and padding of your desired saddle.
If you choose a saddle from the Iberosattel® Premium Line, it will be newly made to measure for you and your horse. This also includes numerous selectable options, from leather colour to individual decorative stitching, studs, coloured piping, and much more. Small downside: the waiting time. But we hurry – promise!
Even after buying your saddle, you can continue to rely on us. We're always there for you whenever your saddle needs re-padding or re-fitting, or if something ever needs repairing – for a whole horse life without saddle worries!
At a saddle appointment at your location, you can take a close look at our saddles from all sides, try them for size, and of course also take them for a test ride. Our service includes a thorough consultation as well as measuring your horse. This allows us to individually fit the gullet width and padding of your desired saddle.
If you choose a saddle from the Iberosattel® Premium Line, it will be newly made to measure for you and your horse. This also includes numerous selectable options, from leather colour to individual decorative stitching, studs, coloured piping, and much more. Small downside: the waiting time. But we hurry – promise!
Even after buying your saddle, you can continue to rely on us. We're always there for you whenever your saddle needs re-padding or re-fitting, or if something ever needs repairing – for a whole horse life without saddle worries!
Get in Touch
Would you like to arrange a saddle appointment? Or would you like to know more about our saddles? Then we look forward to hearing from you!