Recent content by sbloom

Sorry you've had no answers, I certainly can't help.on that front, but just adding a great, in depth explanation of why the Pessoa isn't a good option (more for others searching the forum than you ☺️) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14R5Rgc2CTG/

The saddle affects the rider massively. If the saddle drops us into anterior tilt lower back pain is almost a certainty, many top riders notoriously survive on painkillers. If we are even tense, having to use the wrong muscles to not tilt the pelvis (as we should be in neutral as a base...

I take it very seriously, not enough saddle seats actually fit the pelvis of their rider, understandable when it's riding school saddles (although they're worse than average, generally!) but it is frustrating when riders are in pain or otherwise compromised by the fit to them of their saddle...

The slippery ones for cyclists are even better (although having a saddle the fits the foo is the ultimate of course 😁).

Yep, cycling shorts. They did make padded dressage undercrackers at one point but no idea if they still do. If your seat saver doesn't affect the saddle itself I would strongly request you use it, sound like you have a wide pubic arch which many treeless (and other wider saddles) suit.

Oh and @Cloball I've seen posts on FB "Barefoot Universe" page while scrolling for anatomical football boots and cycling cleats, so there is hope!

I wasn't trying to be snarky, but until you've tried a more barefoot shape and appreciated it, it's hard to understand the difference. We've been chatting about trying to get some genuine anatomical riding/paddock boots made because these shapes just aren't available. Jim Greens was the...

I think any measurements for shoes are tricky, in the barefoot world external measurements and using the insole aren't seen as accurate, apparently they use the same size insole across more than one size in most cases. Most barefoot makers, but not all, state the internal available width, but...

They have a narrow toe box, the thread is about trying to find a more anatomical fit, with a wider, squarer toe box. The frustration for so many who wear barefoot type shoes away from the yard to get their feet healthier and then have to stuff them into narrow boots for riding.

I would strongly recommend playing with it from the ground if you can. Lateral work is SO key, and we do it to balance the horse of course, to take weight behind, so it's not about how to do it, it's about the steps we need to take to help the horse take weight behind, and knowing when that is...

Annie Dillon, Soft and Sound, Mills Consilient Horsemanship.

They are two very different schools of thought for sure, but the shoulder is more upright so the angle is narrower if you go that route, the head/pommel and therefore the twist can be wider though. How you sits matters, a lot, to the horse, so that must be taken into account. Big shoulders are...

The more I learn about saddle fitting (16 years in!) the more I see how subtle the art is, of getting BOTH horse and rider optimised. Having the rider sitting well (gold standard is - neutral pelvis, supported without tension or discomfort, leg draped with heel able to come under hip for...

Side reins cannot replicate a riders hands, unless it's a fairly uneducated rider with stuff arms carrying their hands down by their knees....acting very harshly on the bars. So it's a hard no from me. I'd also suggest looking at very simple, short sessions of closer in hand work for posture...