Why is a Barefoot saddle horse friendly?
Every horse has a different back. Additionally, a horse’s back changes constantly, not only caused by age, training and/or seasonal changes: During riding, the horse’s back is in constant motion and changes shape differently, depending on the degree of collection, bend and head height. (The photo shows the same horse with different head and neck carriage). When a horse walks on a loose rein and with head held high, the back shows, from anatomical causes, more curvature — the back drops, sinking downward. If the horse is put correctly (!!) on the bit or is ridden long and low (head fully stretched out forward/downward), this curvature changes, the back is lifted up and the spine is ‘arched up’. This process can be observed on every horse/pony because it is bio-mechanically caused by the Nuchal ligament and other ligaments of the back which connect the back of the skull to the lumbar vertebrae, combined with the working of the back and abdominal muscles. The difference in back height cau
