If the saddle is too small for the horse, what postural change is typically observed in the horse?

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When a saddle is too small, the rider sits more on the horse’s front end, increasing pressure on the withers and front of the horse. To maintain balance under this forward load, the horse typically tilts the pelvis forward—an anterior tilt. This forward-tilted position moves weight toward the front and helps bring the hind end under the body to counterbalance the rider, though it often reduces hindquarter engagement and can affect the horse’s overall gait. The other postural patterns describe different load distributions or spinal shapes (like a rounded back), which aren’t the typical response to an undersized saddle.