Importance of a good saddle

At The Donkeys of the Heart, we ride in dressage saddles—and it’s not a detail. It’s a cornerstone of how we teach.

A well-fitted saddle matters for two essential reasons:

1) Donkey comfort comes first
Each saddle is carefully adapted to each donkey’s back so it distributes pressure correctly and supports freedom of movement. Comfort isn’t optional—it’s what allows the donkey to stay relaxed, willing, and available for learning.

2) Student progress depends on correct alignment
A dressage saddle supports a balanced, upright position—and balance is a challenge every rider faces during the learning process.

From a biomechanics perspective, imbalance isn’t just “a little off.”
When a rider tips, collapses a hip, or leans to one side, the load becomes asymmetrical and the forces become dynamic(they increase with movement). Instead of steady, evenly distributed weight, the donkey feels repeated spikes of pressure—often concentrated on a smaller area. That’s why an unbalanced rider can feel much heavier than their actual weight, sometimes effectively double in impact.

When the donkey is comfortable and the rider is aligned, communication becomes clearer—and learning becomes smoother, safer, and more meaningful for everyone involved.

We are committed to delivering high-quality instruction while honoring our most important partners: the donkeys.

For riders: what helped you most with balance—eyes up, breathing, or core stability?