Leggy rider, short coupled horse... saddle dilemmas!

lex2501

lex2501

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A bit of a musing really but would be interested to hear people's thoughts. I am ludicrously long from hip to knee so find myself falling out of the front of knees rolls if in a saddle too small for me. I have an 18inch Albion dressage saddle which is great, and keeps me in a nice spot.

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It fits Murphy really well but is too long for Billy and Jammie (miraculously they are all m/w and same shape!). So here is the issue - the saddle that fits me well doesn't fit 2 of my horses so I have now bought exactly the same saddle in 17.5" as there is no way I will sacrifice horse's comfort, so I will have to sacrifice mine!

Any ideas on this? Are there any specific brands / makes that look to solve this issue?? What do the likes of WFP and Lucy Jackson do???

Keen to hear people's thoughts as I need to rethink jumping saddles. I have a 17.5" but my position is dreadful in it....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94770046@N03/8674553863/in/photostream/

I need an 18" but my horses won't take one... Please don't suggest I sell Billy and Jammie as hell will have to freeze over first ;)

A penny for your thoughts :D
 
The only downside to bespoke is that they're worthless if you ever need to sell :(

I've got an Equipe Emporio with a 16.5" seat, am 5ft8 with a 36" inseam and Fig is short coupled. It fits me perfectly and has really transformed my position.
 
nikkimariet said:
The only downside to bespoke is that they're worthless if you ever need to sell :(

I've got an Equipe Emporio with a 16.5" seat, am 5ft8 with a 36" inseam and Fig is short coupled. It fits me perfectly and has really transformed my position.
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Wow - I would never imagine a 5ft8 in a 16.5! Really interesting - thank you. So that's not even bespoke? Do you ride particularly long?

I am able to get away with "small" dressage saddles as I ride long so can just drop the stirrups a hole if necessary - it's the jumping where I really struggle but it sounds like Equipe might be the way to go... Will have a look. Thank you!
 
Made to measure is the way to go! I am 5'11" with a super long hip to knee and also need an 18" seat. I personally use Frank Baines saddles however I am sure most of the top saddle makers will be able to help you out. One of my horses is a short coupled 16hh and we have managed to fit a saddle to her that I can still jump comfortably in, and I like to ride quite short.
 
LJR said:
Made to measure is the way to go! I am 5'11" with a super long hip to knee and also need an 18" seat. I personally use Frank Baines saddles however I am sure most of the top saddle makers will be able to help you out. One of my horses is a short coupled 16hh and we have managed to fit a saddle to her that I can still jump comfortably in, and I like to ride quite short.
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Another glimmer of hope!! Thank you! Dare I ask what the damage to your bank account was?!?! Feel free to ignore/PM if not happy sharing :)
 
I'm pretty sure Lucy Jackson uses Luc Childeric saddles. Wow saddles can put an 18" seat on 17" panels for definite and that isn't M2M because they just screw together the different components, BUT they're marmite saddles. I love mine and my horses love them but apparently some don't.
 
lex2501 said:
Wow - I would never imagine a 5ft8 in a 16.5! Really interesting - thank you. So that's not even bespoke? Do you ride particularly long?

I am able to get away with "small" dressage saddles as I ride long so can just drop the stirrups a hole if necessary - it's the jumping where I really struggle but it sounds like Equipe might be the way to go... Will have a look. Thank you!
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I ride really long lol!!!

Have heard good things about the jump saddles too, if I ever win the lottery/rob a bank I'm def getting one (for all my clear rounds and stuff... ;) )
 
I'm 5ft 11" and tend to ride smallish horses (15.2hh) so I know just what you mean! Hitherto I've always shoe horned myself into 17" or 17.5" saddles because the horses backs could take not take an 18" tree.
I now have two new 18" Kent and Masters s series saddles, one a dressage and one a compact GP which my master saddler has adapted by 'shortening' the panels to 17.5" equivalent and hurray at last they fit both me and the horse! It was his suggestion to do this and I was a bit wary at first as to how it could be done successfully.
The adaptation cost around £90 per saddle (if I remember correctly) and if I didn't know it had been done I would never be able to tell, the panels look absolutely 'normal'.
Kent and Masters are budget saddles but the saddler had no problem in doing this adaptation. I only wish I had been advised years ago that this was an option by saddle fitters that I have used in the past but it was never suggested, and I never thought to ask.
 
I have the same issue on little mare; I'm 6ft, v long legs and shes 16hh 1/2 inch and fairly compact. Dressage saddle which the girls share is an equipe emporio 18", due to the shape (curving panels at back) saddle fitter is happy with length on little mare, but she couldn't take an 18" in equipe synergy jump. 17.5" equipe jump with max forward cut panel fits her beautifully but is still too small for me. The girls were also sharing jump saddle, but I notice the saddle being too small more on big mare as shes scopier and leaves the ground really snappy. I gave in with big mare dug deep into my pockets and have just ordered a butet jump saddle in 18". They have left me with a 17.5" version to use until mine arrives and its so much better than my equipe jump. I tried several brands of jump saddles and nothing was as forward cut as the butet (with their most forward cut panel). In an ideal world I would buy little mare a second hand forward cut butet 17.5", as whilst a little snug in the seat still it is the best by far for my leg length that would still fit her. However you might not be as lanky as me in which case an equipe with forward cut panel would be worth looking at as a first option. If they are too small maybe try looking for a second hand butet if you don't want to shell out for new, as at least a butet will hold its resale value unlike a M2M as nikkimariet pointed out. Sederholm are really good and you can have second hand saddles to try out from them and send back if they don't work :). However if that isn't an option I would get recommendations for M2M options :).
 
I get away with it by having ridiculously short hip to knee measurements! I'm 6ft, with a 36inch inside leg, but I swam around in all the 18inch saddles I tried! All my length is in my calf and my 5ft3 friend has the same length hip to knee as me, which is just plain freaky!

I realise this is of no help to you whatsoever :D I have to say though, I feel I have bags of room in my 17.5 equipe synergy, so might be worth a shot!
 
I have 34" legs but extremely long hip to knee and couldn't get away with albions etc for jumping. I have an ideal impala pro for jumping in 17.5" when normally I go for 18" but my 15.2hh J can't really take much longer! When I save for a shiny dressage saddle will hopefully go for the ideal impala dressage as think same tree shape etc.
 
My daughter is 6ft with legs up to her armpits over 36". We bought a Mark Todd 17.5" jumping saddle for her hunter type horse, with the jumping saddle the blocks are postioned in such places that it doesnt matter if your knees extend beyond as they are secured from above the thigh at the front and below at the back giving you a very secure position.
 
This is really interesting, I didn't know you could have a seat on shorter panels either. I had a bespoke ideal for a (previous) short coupled horse but we still had to compromise between the length I needed and the horse's back. It was never perfect because she was a big mover and there was always a degree of movement at the back.
I do wish my saddler had mentioned this.
 
Which Albion saddle is it? Some of the albions do have long panels that stick out further than the back of the seat. Other makes panels finish where the back of the seat finishes so even off the peg saddles could be used without needing to be m2m. In addition to this I know that kieffer do a saddle with short panels (think it was built with the haflinger in mind) and prestige do one called the Icelandic that also has shorter panels although the likes of prestige, amerigo and a couple of others tend to have shorter panels anyway than albion, k&m etc
 
Tiddlypom said:
I'm 5ft 11" and tend to ride smallish horses (15.2hh) so I know just what you mean! Hitherto I've always shoe horned myself into 17" or 17.5" saddles because the horses backs could take not take an 18" tree.
I now have two new 18" Kent and Masters s series saddles, one a dressage and one a compact GP which my master saddler has adapted by 'shortening' the panels to 17.5" equivalent and hurray at last they fit both me and the horse! It was his suggestion to do this and I was a bit wary at first as to how it could be done successfully.
The adaptation cost around £90 per saddle (if I remember correctly) and if I didn't know it had been done I would never be able to tell, the panels look absolutely 'normal'.
Kent and Masters are budget saddles but the saddler had no problem in doing this adaptation. I only wish I had been advised years ago that this was an option by saddle fitters that I have used in the past but it was never suggested, and I never thought to ask.
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Wow - that's much cheaper than I would expect! I will definitely bear that in mind... I wonder if it only works for K&M saddles? Really interesting... thank you!

becca1305 said:
I have the same issue on little mare; I'm 6ft, v long legs and shes 16hh 1/2 inch and fairly compact. Dressage saddle which the girls share is an equipe emporio 18", due to the shape (curving panels at back) saddle fitter is happy with length on little mare, but she couldn't take an 18" in equipe synergy jump. 17.5" equipe jump with max forward cut panel fits her beautifully but is still too small for me. The girls were also sharing jump saddle, but I notice the saddle being too small more on big mare as shes scopier and leaves the ground really snappy. I gave in with big mare dug deep into my pockets and have just ordered a butet jump saddle in 18". They have left me with a 17.5" version to use until mine arrives and its so much better than my equipe jump. I tried several brands of jump saddles and nothing was as forward cut as the butet (with their most forward cut panel). In an ideal world I would buy little mare a second hand forward cut butet 17.5", as whilst a little snug in the seat still it is the best by far for my leg length that would still fit her. However you might not be as lanky as me in which case an equipe with forward cut panel would be worth looking at as a first option. If they are too small maybe try looking for a second hand butet if you don't want to shell out for new, as at least a butet will hold its resale value unlike a M2M as nikkimariet pointed out. Sederholm are really good and you can have second hand saddles to try out from them and send back if they don't work :). However if that isn't an option I would get recommendations for M2M options :).
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Good to hear I'm not alone in trying to fold myself into saddles! Really interesting that Equipe keeps being mentioned... I actually have a 17.5" equipe synergy in my tack room but my mother has comandeered it and stuck a dead sheep on it for hacking!! Might have to try and steal it back... but seeing as I stole one of her horses I may struggle ;) Worth trying though for sure, thank you!

kirstyhen said:
I get away with it by having ridiculously short hip to knee measurements! I'm 6ft, with a 36inch inside leg, but I swam around in all the 18inch saddles I tried! All my length is in my calf and my 5ft3 friend has the same length hip to knee as me, which is just plain freaky!

I realise this is of no help to you whatsoever :D I have to say though, I feel I have bags of room in my 17.5 equipe synergy, so might be worth a shot!
Click to expand...

So very jealous of your leg measurements! And I know for a fact that you have the best behaved lower leg I have ever seen - green with jealousy here!! I think I am going to have to remove the equipe synergy from my mother's hack and give it a go!

Kirsty+Java said:
I have 34" legs but extremely long hip to knee and couldn't get away with albions etc for jumping. I have an ideal impala pro for jumping in 17.5" when normally I go for 18" but my 15.2hh J can't really take much longer! When I save for a shiny dressage saddle will hopefully go for the ideal impala dressage as think same tree shape etc.
Click to expand...

I have always really liked the look of those - thank you for recommendation. I really wish there was a way of getting 1 saddler out to try a range of loads of brands. It seems that saddlers are like car salesmen and are just trying to push a sale of their preferred brand (i.e. the one they get commission on). Haven't got the time or energy to get a million saddlers out!!

Bobbly said:
My daughter is 6ft with legs up to her armpits over 36". We bought a Mark Todd 17.5" jumping saddle for her hunter type horse, with the jumping saddle the blocks are postioned in such places that it doesnt matter if your knees extend beyond as they are secured from above the thigh at the front and below at the back giving you a very secure position.
Click to expand...

That's well worth a look - thank you! Mark Todd stuff is always reasonably priced too - thanks!

horserider said:
This is really interesting, I didn't know you could have a seat on shorter panels either. I had a bespoke ideal for a (previous) short coupled horse but we still had to compromise between the length I needed and the horse's back. It was never perfect because she was a big mover and there was always a degree of movement at the back.
I do wish my saddler had mentioned this.
Click to expand...

I had no idea either - I'm going to do some homework on this - will keep you posted!
 
Wheels said:
Which Albion saddle is it? Some of the albions do have long panels that stick out further than the back of the seat. Other makes panels finish where the back of the seat finishes so even off the peg saddles could be used without needing to be m2m. In addition to this I know that kieffer do a saddle with short panels (think it was built with the haflinger in mind) and prestige do one called the Icelandic that also has shorter panels although the likes of prestige, amerigo and a couple of others tend to have shorter panels anyway than albion, k&m etc
Click to expand...

It's the K2 Genesis.... I'm afraid I'm totally clueless when it comes to saddles. I was going along very merrily with an Ideal Jessica which worked for all of us but sadly that was stolen. The 18inch K2 was the replacement, but it's only ok for largest horse so now need one that works for my 2 little dinks!
The jumping saddle is great on all of them, but useless for me. Dressage saddle is priority at the moment but definitely want to find a better jumping solution as can't bear what it's doing to my position!
 
I'm 5ft8 and my ponies are 13.1h and 14h. My inside leg is 34" and mainly hip to knee.

I have a Barnsby Milton on one, and a Prestige Paris D on the other. Both very flat with little in the way of blocks but super secure
 
It's difficult isn't it! Are you looking for second hand or buying new? as could recommend a fitter who stocks different makes including the impala pro's without pushing one particular make however they only stock new saddles - my impala as I said above is great for my long legs so would be good if you could find a fitter who stocks ideal - especially as they are in the 'cheaper' end of that type of saddle!
 
Javabb94 said:
It's difficult isn't it! Are you looking for second hand or buying new? as could recommend a fitter who stocks different makes including the impala pro's without pushing one particular make however they only stock new saddles - my impala as I said above is great for my long legs so would be good if you could find a fitter who stocks ideal - especially as they are in the 'cheaper' end of that type of saddle!
Click to expand...

I would be really keen to have your recommendation....Thank you! It's something that I need to get right, so I'm expecting that I might just have to splash out on a new one!
 
Hard to say if mine is more forward cut, I am nearly 5ft8 with really long thigh to knee riding a 14.1 in a 17.5" Oliver Townend which is the same as a Kentaur performer. I can't believe the difference in my leg room having always had my knee off the front of everything most of my life. Maybe worth looking at the Kentaur (OT is discontinued).

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I haven't read all the replies but if you can't go up in seat size, your options are:

Flatter seat - feels roomier
More forward flaps - even if a dressage saddle, in recent years they have got straighter and straighter cut. A long femur needs a slightly forward flap whilst still staying aligned shoulder-hip-heel.
Higher placed knee/thigh block - so your knee can sit under it, while the thigh still has support. Triangular shaped.

Bear in mind that women have proportionately longer femurs than men so don't look to what WFP uses, especially as his legs are not all that long compared to his height.

I recently fitted a little Morgan cross mare who was being backed by a local 6'4" event rider with VERY lone legs and he was okay in her 16.5" GP - very flat seat, and his knee sat almost off the flap but below the block so it didn't get in his way. He is now riding very comfortably in a 17.5" jump saddle I have fitted for another client/owner of his, on the same very flat tree on a warmblood, again with a high placed thigh block.
 
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