Can't keep my leg forwards enough!

[soloequestrian]

It took me a long time to find a saddle for my mare who is broad and has a very flat back. She is in a Heather Moffett Flexee and has been comfortable in it for several years. I love it too but I find I'm fighting with the stirrup leathers. They sit just an inch or so too far back so my leg tends to swing back too. I can really feel the difference when I get my leg in the right place - can control her shoulders much more effectively - but it's really hard to keep it there especially in trot. My choices seem to be to find another make of saddle that suits the horse (tricky) or do something about the position of the stirrup bar. Suggestions gratefully received!

 

[Zebedee]

Speak to Heather Moffett and see what the options are re moving the bar, or maybe another HM model would fit the horse and suit you better. Failing that find a good independent saddle fitter who will be able to suggest saddles that might suit you and your mare.
Good luck.

 

[millitiger]

I know you can extend stirrup bars and move them back sometimes, however not sure you can move them forwards.

If your trainer is in agreement that you are fighting the saddle, sounds like time to see if a new saddle would suit the horse AND you.

 

[sbloom]

You can't move normal stirrup bars forwards, but you can move them back. However, the HM puts them a long way back, and they're jot normal bars anyway. It may be possible to have the saddle taken to bits and the bars moved. I think it's highly likely you could find a saddle that fits both of you.

You may need more support in front, is your pelvis dropping into anterior tilt? You may need more support under your legs. But if the bar is too far back then they're only partial solutions. This is why I really don't like these "this way or the highway" singular approaches to saddles, we all need different things, set back bars can be wrong for many.

 

[mariew]

I have only sat in one once and really didn't like the stirrup bar position but I appreciate it suits some people.