Knee blocks on dressage saddles

[Orchardbeck]

I am a short rider 5'1 on a short backed cob. We use a dressage saddle with large velcro knee blocks. I am struggling to find the right position for them - nothing feels right! Can anyone explain the 'science' or 'art' of them - is there a rule of thumb or anywhere I can get some guidance? Perhaps I need smaller ones!

 

[ycbm]

For me, for dressage, they have to line up with exactly the slant on the front of my thigh and nothing below the top of the knee matters.

Hope that helps. I'll try and find a picture.

 

[Goldenstar]

I just take them off .

 

[ycbm]

Here we go

 

[ycbm]

I just take them off .

I think I'd fall off ?

 

[Goldenstar]

Yeh my saddler said that but honestly I don’t need them to maintain my position .

 

[Roxylola]

I think if you can't get them in the exact right place for you they end up being more in the way than anything.
Not massively helpful but I'd probably end up taking them off as well. I'm small too and I've yet to find a saddle with big blocks that makes me go - oh that's why everyone likes them

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

If they are the Velcro ones you can buy smaller ones, I have a dressage saddle with GP blocks the ones it came with were huge and felt weird.

 

[blitznbobs]

Am I the only person who loves a big knee block? Horse spins sideways and they are like a safety harness! I like them to be along the front of my thigh .

 

[Tarragon]

Lovely photos YCBM! I have been having lessons for a year now, following the PK principles, and my aim is to end up looking like that! My short necked and stocky Exmoor pony may never quite look the same as those, but I do in my head

 

[milliepops]

Am I the only person who loves a big knee block? Horse spins sideways and they are like a safety harness! I like them to be along the front of my thigh .

I like them too, mine are shaped a bit like ycbm's above the thigh and with a hollow to butt the knee against. they have to be just right though.

 

[Cortez]

I just take them off .

I've never been able to get on with knee blocks, so I always take them off. There seems to be a huge knee block "moment" in the last couple of years, but even smaller ones always feel too restrictive to me - I don't like to be "fixed" in place. Why don't you take them off and work from there? I know you can buy various different sizes and styles, so you could play around to find what suits you best.

 

[ycbm]

Am I the only person who loves a big knee block? Horse spins sideways and they are like a safety harness! I like them to be along the front of my thigh .

You're definitely not alone!
.

 

[Orchardbeck]

Here we go

View attachment 67921View attachment 67922

That helps, thank you.

 

[Orchardbeck]

You're definitely not alone!
.

I have one who has moments too, I just can't work out if the blocks are helping or hindering me!!

 

[Orchardbeck]

If they are the Velcro ones you can buy smaller ones, I have a dressage saddle with GP blocks the ones it came with were huge and felt weird.

I might try some off a different saddle that are a bit smaller, although that gives me even more options ??

 

[Orchardbeck]

I think if you can't get them in the exact right place for you they end up being more in the way than anything.
Not massively helpful but I'd probably end up taking them off as well. I'm small too and I've yet to find a saddle with big blocks that makes me go - oh that's why everyone likes them

I wonder if it is just my short thighs, I don't have lovely long elegant legs like Ycbm ?

Will conduct a (not very) scientific experiement, with none, smaller and the usual big ones in a different position I think and see what happens... ??

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I might try some off a different saddle that are a bit smaller, although that gives me even more options ??

That's what I did then I asked the maker of my saddle for some smaller ones and they just sent me some, I have ridden without them maybe even try that!

 

[Batgirl]

The shorter legs thing will not help! When I was shopping for my dressage saddle I was having nightmares. But then I went to the WOW stand and the man was incredibly fine but accurate in saying my thigh was short in comparison to my calf (as well as being short) which is why I couldn't get on with the blocks.
I ended up having an 18" seat and "16 inch panels to get the blocks in the right place.

 

[Red-1]

In some saddles I feel awful even with big blocks. In some saddles I feel fine with none. I think it is as much about the balance of the saddle.

 

[sbloom]

I ended up having an 18" seat and "16 inch panels to get the blocks in the right place.

16" flap , the panel is the bit with flocking or air in it, though of course in many saddles it runs down the front of the sweat flap, hence the confusion.

Is the saddle in the right balance? This would often apply with a non-velcro block that suddenly a rider can't get on with.

Otherwise - a block above the knee is generally better. However, if you're short then your knee is higher on the flap than the saddle maker "expects". Can I ask if you are "well upholstered" too ? This raises you up above the saddle and makes your knee hit even higher. Unfortunately, the way that saddles are made, and how they have to sit behind the scapula, mean that if you are shorter, and wider, then it may not be possible to place your block sufficiently high, or forwards.

One of the best options can be a block that sits up over the skirt, not possible with a velcro block, it's only possible with a fixed surface mounted block.

Other options are a smaller block, placed as high and forwards as possible, or a more forwards cut saddle that DOES allow the block to be placed higher and further forwards. Going for a the smaller saddle or a scaled down flap as a custom option may help but if it's too straight cut then it might make issues worse.

 

[Pippity]

Am I the only person who loves a big knee block? Horse spins sideways and they are like a safety harness! I like them to be along the front of my thigh .

I'm sure I'd like them if I could get them in the right position! Unfortunately, a combination of extremely wide (horse) and dodgy hips (me) means I ride very short and I haven't found a saddle with blocks that isn't a constant fight. My old share horse's saddle was so bad that I ended up having steroid injections in my hips because of it, and eventually bought my own saddle for him. (Which I've been trying to sell for the past three years, but nobody wants the bloody thing.)

 

[sbloom]

Large blocks are generally not a great idea, if they're 100% in the right place then you'll be okay and might love them, but if they are in that correct location you shouldn't actually need them to be large. they tend to have downsides, locking us into too much lordosis, affecting the leg position. Very few top riders sit in true balance so we've lost sight of what correct alignment is.

It's amazing how secure people feel in a shallow, small blocked saddle that suits their geometry.

 

[Bernster]

I used to really like my albion dressage saddle with large knee blocks. Changed saddle and realised it really didn’t fit me, the blocks were too big. I now have a slightly forward cut dressage with Velcro blocks that I’ve been able to change over. Much better and don’t get in the way now.

 

[Orchardbeck]

I had a play about with it all and put the blocks as far forward as possible, actually partially over the edge of the saddle (my 'upholstery' is not overly stuffed but could do with being a little less 'comfortable', shall we say!) and... put my stirrups up two holes. Now this makes me feel more stable - it's not the long legged dressage position I was hoping for though! They are large blocks on my saddle so I will try the smaller ones next time. I usually feel better in a working hunter style saddle which fits with what you said Sbloom. This is a deep seated 16.5" Isabell Werth.

Thanks for the tips!

 

[Roxylola]

I don't think cobs lend themselves terribly well to elegant long legged dressage especially for those of us not blessed with dressage legs in the first place. I can't drape my legs and just let them drop 1) because I don't have enough leg, and 2) because they're so stretched I look more like penelope and kipper than Charlotte and valegro

 

[sbloom]

I don't think cobs lend themselves terribly well to elegant long legged dressage especially for those of us not blessed with dressage legs in the first place. I can't drape my legs and just let them drop 1) because I don't have enough leg, and 2) because they're so stretched I look more like penelope and kipper than Charlotte and valegro

Absolutely, the wider the horse the harder it is to have a long legged well balanced dressage position. Shorter stirrups are endorsed by many trainers such as Mary Wanless, and will definitely help hips etc. I will say that twist, seat and even flap can make a big difference, but it's barely touched on, and most of what is discussed is partially hogwash. For instance there is more variation between the extremes of female pelvis shapes than there is between the average male and female pelvis, so there really is no such thing as a female friendly design.

How the flap is structured and padded can help smooth the transition from seat to the horse's sides, but it's barely addressed by the industry. Well designed saddles will have a fit that at least keeps out of the way of the majority of riders, allowing them to be fairly well aligned, and comfortable, but beyond that you're in the hands of the Gods, and the bigger the blocks and deeper the seat the bigger the downside if they're not absolutely perfect for you.

 

[Orchardbeck]

This is all dead right!! It's something I have thought about for ages!! For example, I can't get on with K&M/Tg saddles or anything wide as I have narrow hips to start with. My cob, strangely isn't a normal cob shape, more of an A Frame and is a 'wide', as opposed to XW or any of the cob Xxxxxw shapes! Which I guess is a blessing for me.

I feel Mary W is having her moment at the min which is great as she speaks so much sense! I feel like I've had a bit of an epiphany today re my position, I need to stop thinking so much and start riding!!

 

[Palindrome]

I don't use the blocks on my dressage saddle but I have used dressage blocks on the GP saddle as my legs were riding forward too much while galloping. I somehow always feel unbalanced in GP saddles and like I have to tip forward to compensate my legs being in the wrong place. I think it depends a lot on your individual conformation where the blocks should be and what sort of blocks.