>>> Many English saddles, older ones at least and some of the more modern >>> ones, DO have the stirrup bars further forward so the rider is >>> encouraged into a chair seat. Speak to Heather Moffett, Mary Wanless >>> etc - they will say the same.
It's getting off-topic to this discussion, but some of the "nouveau-dressage-purists" have pushed saddle-position to a whole 'nuther extreme if you ask me. Some of the new (last 10 or so years) dressage saddles are SO deep-seated, with SUCH big knee rolls, and the stirrups set SO far back that the rider has no choice but sit on their crotch. I say this is off-topic, because I don't think that's a problem with this breed...but I don't necessarily agree with what every "expert" calls a chair seat either. I've heard some of these people accuse Linda Parelli of riding in a chair seat, and for the life of me, I can't see that at all. To clarify, I DO think it's very common to see current generation Icelandic trainers and show riders in a chair seat though - maybe not quite as bad as a few years ago, but still in a chair seat nontheless. In the case of rider position, in this case, I see room for a nice compromise in the middle - no crotch seats, but no chair seats either. Karen Thomas, NC
