Is Barefoot suitable for every rider?
In general, it can be said that Barefoot VPS saddles are suitable for any rider who has his horse’s well-being in mind and who understands that good performance cannot be achieved under psychological or physical pressure.
The feel of a Barefoot saddle is somewhat different to that of a conventional treed saddle: The rider’s movement is much less restricted, as its construction enables the rider to sit over the horse’s centre of gravity and thus use much finer aids to communicate with his horse.
Only riders with a truly independent seat can use fine aids. We often hear that riding in a Barefoot saddle feels strange at first because it does not restrict the rider nearly so much. Some riders even need to learn to sit independently again. The advantage of this is that, by sitting more freely, other muscle groups are also activated and developed. These muscles must therefore first be reactivated.
Think about it: Does your current saddle really allow you the freedom of movement necessary for fine riding? Or is it more or less forcing you into a predetermined seat that looks good from the outside, but actually only conceals your errors?
Good to know: Barefoot saddles allow riders with back problems to ride again without pain, since a horse under a Barefoot saddle will be more relaxed: its movement becomes more fluid and the rider’s spinal column and intervertebral discs are therefore not subjected to jolts and sudden movements. A huge advantage for anyone with back problems!
Beginners will also feel comfortable in a Barefoot, as it provides support and closeness to the horse; increased awareness of the horse’s movement makes it easier to go along with the horse’s motion sequence.