Higher Behind than in front (Croup High)

This is the scourge of the N.Z. bred sport horse, often with Clyde blood lurking in its ancestry, and this predisposes the saddle to tip forwards and for the front of the saddle (points and stirrup bar) to take a disproportionate amount of weight and pressure.
It is essential that any chosen saddle have extra support over the front – longer points and a dropped panel cut and flocked fairly full. (High Withers and What to do About Them and Size and Fit)  However, the rear gussets of the saddle need to be slim, to keep he rider in balance., and the weight taken where the horse bears it best between the 10th and 18th rib and not exclusively between the 6th and 10th rib.. Any tendency for the rider to tip forward exacerbates the problem and must be counteracted.
There is no doubt that horses with this type of conformation are more inclined to suffer from the riders weight and from saddles that have not taken the conformation into account


Conformation is predisposing former saddle to cause extreme pressure Horses with this conformation are particularly prone to “dry spots”, muscle loss, and white hairs in the front third of the saddle . The National Saddle Centre are very hopeful that saddles with the new E bar will go some way to helping reduce all pressure caused by the stirrup bar and that this new stirrup bar, which is already available in some of our dressage saddles, will be of great benefit to horses performing with this conformation – see What’s New and Pliance testing
 See also Article under Size and Fit


Most NSC saddles are available with panels and rear gussetts to help reduce the negative effects of weight and pressure this conformation is prone to Jumping and General Purpose The Advanced Competitor.  The New Grandee The Pony ProThe Nyala The Hunt//Event Mark 2 and Mark 3 
Dressage The Aotearoa Mark 2 and The Original