Does your saddle fit YOU as well as your horse?

arwenplusone

arwenplusone

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Random musings...

What sort of size are you and what size saddle do you ride in?

I have a 17" Bates which I love, but the other day I was noticing that I don't really 'fit' my 17.5" albion dressage saddle very well (it came with the horse.

I am 5'7 and of slim build. I can ride in the saddle, no problem, and it is comfy. I'm just nowhere near the cantle. Does it matter?
 
I sold my last saddle because it was too small for me so i tended to perch on the cantle. I am 5'7 i tend to ride in 17.5" but have to make sure enough room for my thigh because i am quite long from knee to hip.
 
No idea what size mine is (2nd hand but only 6months old) I know it fits me cos I fall off it a lot less than my old one!

Would imagine it is not that big as my pone is short coupled
 
my 17 1/2 " saddle bought brand new professionally fitted is sooooo roomy and comfy for both me and the horse
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5'5'' ride my 16.2hh in a 17''.

Used to ride a 15.2hh in a 17.5'' jumping saddle and it was terrible - my knees came nowhere near the knee roll, butt slid all over the place, even rising trot was a struggle as my legs and a*se were going all over the place! Horrible saddle that was!
 
I'm 5ft8 and have an 18" saddle because most of that height is in very long legs. It fits me beautifully, I never realised that my legs were too long in other saddles until a saddler pointed it out.
 
Yes, one saddle is MTM and a perfect fit for both, the other is off the peg but has the same Goldilocks effect in that its just right for me on that particular horse! The bucker am glued into, the speed freak Ive got room to bail out!
 
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Random musings...

What sort of size are you and what size saddle do you ride in?

I have a 17" Bates which I love, but the other day I was noticing that I don't really 'fit' my 17.5" albion dressage saddle very well (it came with the horse.

I am 5'7 and of slim build. I can ride in the saddle, no problem, and it is comfy. I'm just nowhere near the cantle. Does it matter?

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Buy yourself a seatsaver (heather moffat style) which will make the seat smaller/comfier and I'm sure you'll see an improvement in your leg position! (although I'm sure it's great already:) )
 
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remember, the seat size eg 17inch, is for your bum, the flaps can be made shorter or longer to accomodate your thigh length! !!
so just because you are tall, does not mean you need a big seat!
just thought that might help some people.........

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Yeah but when i am in jumping length stirrups then my knees are further forward regardless of the length of the saddle flap! Anyway saddle has told me i need an 18" cos im tall
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Mines a 17 inch with a sweeping back as my horse couldnt take anything longer than that (hes 16.2!!) and I really needed a 17.5, so we had to compromise a bit. Im 5' 7, medium build.
 
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remember, the seat size eg 17inch, is for your bum, the flaps can be made shorter or longer to accomodate your thigh length! !!
so just because you are tall, does not mean you need a big seat!

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I have to disagree grey gates... when it comes to jumping saddles, if you are long between knee and hip, you need a decent length of seat to allow you to balance in a forward position - I need 17.5, and am even happier in an 18 inch for jumping, yet am comfy in a 17 inch and can get away with a 16.5inch when riding on the flat.
 
rachelferd - i guess we will just have to agree to disagree!

from my training, the balance has more to do with where the stirrup bars are placed and the angle and length of the flap, if you need a larger seat than necessary, you may not have the correct flap / stirrup bars position. also, the depth of the seat is important, especially when jumping when you need to get your bum out the way! i have a long hip/knee, yet i bsja in a 17inch edelweiss, which has a reasonably flat seat and the knee blocks are above, not in front of my knee, which adds length to the flaps. yet i am completely out of place in a 17.5 mf special, which feels far too small!
edited to add - ok, i guess length of flap is a bad choice of words, length and width ie overal shape would have been better! had a long day......
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I was gobsmacked when a saddle fitter tried to pressureize me into buying a saddle "cos it fitted my horse" when it was quite clear it didnt fit me at all (and it was £750). Needless to say went elsewhere got one that fits us both.
 
My 2 saddles (2 different horses) are both 17.5 fit & I am about 5'6" and 8 stone. Being slim I always thought I'd need a smaller saddle but I do have long legs. Both saddles are not what I set out to buy though, each time I knew exactly what saddle I thought I wanted and it just goes to show what suits some partnerships doesn't suit others. Both mine were bought through my master saddler & he made sure the saddle fitted us both.
 
being on a 13.1 pony finding a saddle was a problem, but ended up with a 17" ideal Gp which fits well - for jumping its great i have lots of room in the seat but for dressage i just feel the seat is too big i felt better positioned in my little 16.5 narrower WH but had to go for what fitted pony best!
 
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