The Hidden Imbalance
What Forward-Hung Stirrups and Deep Seats Really Do
You know that feeling of sitting in a beautiful new saddle for the first time — leaving the tack store excited, only to find after a few rides that it’s completely uncomfortable? You start realizing it’s conforming your body into a position you don’t prefer, and no matter how hard you try, you just can’t seem to get your legs underneath you for consistent communication.
Think of a rider who does a bit of everything with their horse — barrel racing, sorting cattle, trail riding. Riders like this need balance in many ways, and that balance doesn’t come from a saddle — it comes from coordination, awareness, and strength.
Saddles should support rider balance — not dictate it. Saddles today are made for every discipline imaginable, but many are designed with only the horse’s balance in mind. Features like forward-hung stirrups and deep seats — common in many barrel saddles — are often said to “help riders stay secure.” In reality, these designs interrupt the natural alignment and movement between horse and rider, leading to tension, imbalance, and reduced performance.
Understanding Forward-Hung Stirrups
Forward-hung stirrups are attached in front of the saddle’s center of balance. This design has carried on mostly from tradition and marketing that promises “security.” In truth, forward-hung stirrups push the rider’s legs forward, forcing the body to compensate by bracing the back and collapsing supportive posture.
Supportive posture is created from centered balance — alignment that mirrors what we ask of our horses: eyes forward, chin up, shoulders back and relaxed, back lifted, pelvis neutral, and legs hanging freely — fluid, strong, and ready to engage.
When we follow trends that restrict that natural posture, we don’t get closer to partnership — we drift farther from it.
Deep Seats and Lost Balance
A deep swell raises the area of the seat just behind the pommel, creating a deep “pocket.” While this may sound secure, it pushes the rider’s body behind the saddle’s center line, forcing more compensation to stay balanced.
A rider cannot find supportive posture when their legs are pushed too far forward and their weight sits behind center.Once again, saddle design and marketing set horse and rider up for struggle instead of success. Harmony cannot exist when both are fighting to stay balanced.
Chair Seat & Lost Neutral Alignment
When the rider’s legs are forced in front of the center of balance, it creates what’s known as the chair seat effect — legs forward, hips behind the line of gravity, shoulders tipped back.
Consequences of the chair seat include:
Disengaged core
Braced thighs and knees
Reduced ability to follow the horse’s motion
Strain on the horse’s back and withers from misplaced weight
Many saddle descriptions advertise “security” with claims like:
“The secure seat, higher swell, and forward-hung fenders give the rider security to sit deep on the pockets and hold the feet forward while riding a shorter stirrup.”
In truth, this design doesn’t help the rider from getting behind — it keeps the rider behind, forcing the horse to make up the difference.
Imagine that constant back-and-forth battle between you and your horse just to find balance — no one enjoys that. Instead of accepting discomfort as “normal,” let’s choose equipment that supports natural, neutral balance — for both horse and rider.
When the Seat Dictates Instead of Supports
Pre-shaped seats force a rider into one fixed position, making them fight for balance rather than find it. This creates a chain reaction of compensation patterns between horse and rider — tension, agitation, and discomfort for both.
Imagine trying to move fluidly while sitting on the open end of a bucket — your hips sink, your legs press forward, and movement becomes nearly impossible.
These shaped saddles restrict a rider’s ability to:
Adjust balance forward or back as needed
Follow different movements (gaits, collection, hills, turns)
Stay in harmony across different horses
They also restrict a horse’s ability to:
Balance with an off-center rider
Perform at peak ability
Feel the rider’s subtle aids and intention
The Ideal: A Flatter, Balanced Seat & Centrally Hung Stirrups
A flatter seat allows the pelvis to find its natural neutral and adjust freely. This alignment is what enables ease, balance, and fluidity — whether trail riding, barrel racing, or working through a precise horsemanship pattern.
A flatter seat does not eliminate support. A higher cantle can still offer security — the problem lies in an unbalanced swell and stirrup placement, not the cantle itself.
Saddles with center-hung stirrups — aligned with gravity and slightly flexible in movement — work with the rider’s body, not against it.
This setup enables correct vertical alignment, supporting both posture and the horse’s freedom of motion.
Rider & Horse Harmony
A balanced rider distributes weight evenly across the horse’s saddle support area. A rider in a chair seat, by contrast, sits behind the motion — creating bracing, stiffness, and extra strain on the horse’s back and shoulders.
When the rider is behind center, the horse compensates by tightening the back and pulling with the shoulders, dropping the withers and losing power from the hindquarters.
But when the rider is centered and balanced, the horse can lift, move, and perform freely. The result?
✓ Better communication
✓ Increased comfort
✓ Improved performance
How to Identify a Supportive Saddle
Choosing the right saddle can feel overwhelming. Use this checklist as a starting point:
Level seat — not bucketed or downhill.
Center-hung, flexible stirrups that don’t fight your leg.
Freedom to shift balance without feeling trapped.
Horse moves more freely beneath you, showing relaxation and lift.
Proper horse fit — the saddle aligns with their structure and allows back freedom (see “Fit for the Task” post for more).
Seek professionals who understand the Whole Horse Team — those who look at the big picture of both horse and rider, balancing comfort, biomechanics, and connection.
I’m passionate about helping riders find that harmony through my Equine Connection Development Coaching — a service designed to help both partners move and feel better together. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, I’d love to walk with you through the process.
Saddles Should Move With You, Not Against You
True balance comes from the partnership of horse, rider, and equipment — not from a fixed seat or forced leg position.
Does your saddle allow you to be a neutral, supportive rider?
Finding dynamic balance for a dynamic sport is vital. Choose a saddle that allows for that balance while fitting the horse beneath it.
A truly good saddle helps the rider become almost invisible — because both horse and human move in complete harmony.
