Amelia Poole - Accredited Coach and Trainer - True Balance Training

11/09/2026

A little more education from LM Saddles Ltd Horse-friendly Saddles, Holistic & Remedial Saddle-fitting 💜💜💜

🫣 MY SADDLE IS MOVING FORWARD… WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

How many times have you heard things like that?.. .

But here’s the question we should be asking:

WHY is the saddle moving forwards in the first place?

After 35 years of saddle fitting at LM, we’ve found there are three big reasons we repeatedly see.

And sometimes… the saddle isn't the problem.

It’s telling you something. 👀

1️⃣ IT’S TOO NARROW

This is where things get really interesting.

Your horse’s back is not a fixed shape.

When the horse works correctly, the thoracic spine and surrounding musculature need to move, lift and expand.

So imagine putting a saddle on a horse that is too narrow.

The saddle is effectively restricting an area that needs to widen and lift.

The horse then has to find another way to move.

And when the horse changes posture and movement underneath the saddle, the saddle can start to migrate forwards.

Think of it as the saddle looking for somewhere it can sit with less resistance.

🚨 A saddle that is too narrow doesn't necessarily just sit there looking obviously “too small”.

The horse can change underneath it.

This is exactly why we believe saddle fitting must consider the horse in movement, not simply the shape of the back when standing still.

At LM, we fit for the horse’s dynamic back — the back we want the horse to develop — rather than simply fitting the shape we see today.

2️⃣ YOUR HORSE IS BRACING

Now this one is often missed.

Your horse doesn't have to buck.

It doesn't have to pin its ears.

It doesn't have to refuse to go forward.

It can simply brace.

Biomechanically, when a horse is uncomfortable or restricted, it can alter its posture and muscle recruitment.

Instead of allowing the back to move freely, it may hold tension through the topline.

And once that happens?

The shape underneath your saddle changes.

The horse that stood underneath the saddle is no longer necessarily the horse you are sitting on.

And the saddle can move as a consequence.

This is why at LM we look beyond the saddle itself.

We look at:

🐴 The horse’s posture
🐴 Muscle development
🐴 Movement
🐴 The rider’s position
🐴 The saddle
🐴 And, most importantly, how they all interact

Because sometimes a saddle that keeps moving isn't asking for a different girth.

It’s asking us to listen to the horse.

3️⃣ THE RIDER HAS PUSHED IT FORWARD…

AKA…

SADDLE THRUSTING 🫣

Yes.

We said it.

Sometimes the rider is the one moving the saddle.

Think about what happens when you sit on a chair and repeatedly push yourself forwards.

Now imagine doing that while sitting in a saddle.

A rider who is behind the movement, pushing from the seat, tipping the pelvis, gripping or repeatedly driving the body forwards can generate forces that encourage the saddle to travel forwards too.

The rider and saddle aren't separate.

They are a system.

Horse → Saddle → Rider.

Movement and forces are transferred through that system constantly.

So if the rider is continually pushing forwards against the saddle…

the saddle may eventually say:

“Alright then… forwards it is.” 🫣

And this is why saddle fitting cannot simply be:

«“Does it fit the horse standing still?”»

We have to consider what happens when the horse moves and the rider gets on.

Because the saddle might be absolutely fine when you put it on…

…and then start migrating the moment you get in the saddle.

SO… WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Before reaching for the breastplate, ask yourself:

WHY is my saddle moving?

Is it:

➡️ Too narrow?

➡️ Is the horse bracing or changing its posture?

➡️ Is the rider inadvertently thrusting the saddle forwards?

Because a breastplate may stop the saddle moving…

…but it doesn't necessarily solve the reason it wanted to move.

And this is the bit we find fascinating at LM.

The movement of the saddle is information.

It is giving you a clue.

Don't just stop the movement.

Listen to it.

Look at the horse.

Look at the rider.

Look at the biomechanics.

And ask what the saddle is trying to tell you.

After all…

the best saddle fit isn't about holding a saddle in place.

It’s about allowing horse and rider to move together. 💜 🌐lmsaddles.com

07/09/2026

Fly hack!

07/09/2026

Beautiful 😍

We build healthy backs! 💜

🌐 lmsaddles.com

10/08/2026

💜💜💜

Happy Monday, Happy Profile


🌐 lmsaddles.com

07/08/2026

When groundwork is done well, your horse should grow! 🐴✨

As the body begins to work correctly, the back expands and lifts with upward movement. The underneck softens, the shoulders become lighter and more elevated, and the whole body starts to become more supple and connected.

The legs can then support the body rather than simply carrying it, creating a much more balanced and correct posture.

This is what I’m looking for in groundwork, not just a horse that is obedient or doing a pretty movement, but a horse that is changing shape, developing strength and learning how to use their body well.

I’m so pleased with Joe’s progress. Watching him grow, soften and develop through these sessions is just wonderful. 💙

07/08/2026

If my saddle needs widening, does that mean my horse is fat…? 🤔

This seems to be the topic of conversation this week, and perhaps the confusion comes from the way we have been conditioned to look at the equine body.

When a horse’s back becomes broader, rounder and more developed, the immediate assumption is often:

“My horse must be getting fat.”

But is that always true?

Or could we be seeing something that has become so unfamiliar that we no longer recognise it as healthy?

For far too long, the horse world has normalised backs with poor muscle development. Hollow areas behind the shoulder, prominent withers, deep dips beside the spine and a lack of topline are often accepted as “normal”...or even mistaken for a fit, athletic appearance.

But a poorly muscled back is not a healthy back.

Muscle atrophy is the loss or reduction of muscle tissue. It can develop when muscles are not being used effectively, when movement is restricted, when the horse is working in compensatory patterns, or when discomfort prevents the body from functioning as it should.

The back is not simply a platform for a saddle.

It is a dynamic, living structure that changes shape throughout movement.

When a horse’s body works in a healthy, balanced posture, the muscles supporting the spine become active. The back can lift, the ribcage can move, and the body can broaden through the saddle area. This is not the horse “getting wider because it is fat.” It may be the horse developing and using its body more effectively.

As described within the LM approach, biomechanics show that when a horse works correctly over its back, the back naturally lifts and widens during movement. This is why saddle fitting should consider the horse’s moving, functional shape, not simply the narrower shape seen when the horse is standing still with its back dropped.

So, if your saddle needs widening, the question should not automatically be:

“Has my horse become fat?”

Perhaps we should first ask:

✨ Has my horse developed more healthy muscle?
✨ Is the back lifting and functioning more effectively?
✨ Has the posture improved?
✨ Is the horse becoming stronger and more comfortable?
✨ Has the body changed because it is finally being allowed to move and develop naturally?

Of course, body fat and muscle are not the same thing, and neither should be judged by saddle width alone. A horse’s overall condition should always be assessed holistically, considering body condition, muscle development, posture, movement, health and individual conformation.

But we must also be careful not to mistake healthy development for excess weight simply because we have become accustomed to seeing underdeveloped backs.

A healthy back should be broader.

A healthy back should be rounder.

A healthy back fills the space that we have traditionally expected to see as hollow.

And if a horse’s body changes, the saddle must change with it.

The saddle should support healthy movement, not encourage the horse to remain narrow so that it continues to fit.

At LM, our focus is on working with the horse’s natural biomechanics, allowing room for the back to lift, widen and function during movement. Their holistic approach considers posture, muscle development, movement and the whole horse, not just the static shape beneath the saddle.

We are on a mission to normalise the healthy equine back!!

To stop seeing muscle development as a problem.

To question why a broad, lifted, well-supported back can be mistaken for a fat one.

And to recognise that a horse changing shape may not be “outgrowing” its saddle through weight gain, it is developing into a stronger, healthier and more functional version of itself.

“When we change what we consider normal, we create space for horses to become healthy—not simply to remain familiar.” 🐴✨

🌐 lmsaddles.com

07/08/2026

Have you checked your panels lately? 🐴

It’s something we probably don’t do often enough!

I always suggest to my clients that, as part of their regular saddle care routine, they check their panels themselves.

Place the saddle with the pommel side down resting on your feet. Starting at the top (the back of the panel), run your hands gently down the length of the panel, feeling for any indentations, empty areas, substantial lumps or bumps.

Most saddles use natural materials and wool flocking, so the flocking can change and settle over time. Regular checks can help you spot any changes before they become a bigger issue.

If you feel your flocking needs some attention, get in touch with your LM Saddles Ltd Horse-friendly Saddles, Holistic & Remedial Saddle-fitting and arrange a check. A little regular care 6 monthly or less for remedial cases can make a big difference to the comfort and fit of your saddle for both you and your horse. 💕

04/08/2026

Have you ever noticed what your horse does when they catch sight of something at the side of the road or arena? A different coloured patch of grass, chalk markings, a flower pot, or something you’ve walked past a hundred times before. Our instinct is often to say, “Pay attention,” shorten the reins, or ride them more forward.

But what if, instead of immediately correcting the behaviour, we paid attention to what happens in their body?

As your horse turns their head to investigate, notice what you feel underneath you. There is often a subtle lift through the ribcage, if you have a well fitting saddle it might not be so subtle, as the serratus ventralis engages to support the trunk between the forelimbs. The body reorganises, one side of the ribcage expands while the other softens, and a gentle bend develops through the spine. If you’re tuned in, you may even feel the weight distribution change through the shoulders and hindquarters.

These are not random movements. They are part of the horse’s natural postural and balance system. The horse isn’t simply looking with their eyes,
they’re organising their entire body around where their attention is directed.

As riders, we often spend hours trying to create lift through the thorax, improve lateral suppleness, encourage healthy spinal movement, and develop better self carriage. Yet when the horse naturally offers these postural adjustments, we sometimes interrupt them because we see them as a loss of focus or just being silly and spooky.

This invites us to become more curious. Instead of asking, “How do I stop them looking?” we might ask, “What did that movement feel like? Can I recognise that lift? Can I encourage those same qualities when I ask for a circle, a shoulder fore, a half pass or a transition?”

Sometimes the greatest lessons come from the moments we are tempted to correct. I am known, thanks to my mother who trained me from 12 years old, If we can observe first and react second, our horses often teach us exactly what good posture and engagement of muscles feels like. From here we can turn a spook into a half pass or a shoulder in perhaps!

Biomechanics isn’t just about exercises, it’s about developing the feel to recognise healthy movement when it happens naturally. The more we learn to notice and appreciate these subtle changes in posture, weight shift, and muscular support, the better we become at guiding our horses into true balance.

Here’s a video of Joe and I riding up a newly surfaced road with lots of chalk writing!! It was lovely to feel how free he was in his back and how easily the lift came too. ❤️