Looking to fit myself for a saddle

[FrostKitten]

I'm purchasing my own horse shortly and wanted to make sure I get a saddle that fits both myself and the horse. Doing some research, I've measured myself up and it looks like I need a 17.5" saddle, but wanted to ask a few questions to make sure I am considering the right options.

I'm only 5ft 4, but my bum to knee length (whilst seated) is 56 cm. I also have seen from my research that because I am so short and my upper leg so long I may have an issue with stirrup placement.

Any advice will be really helpful to direct me to look in the right places.

 

[Leo Walker]

Worry about the saddle, after you get the horse! Whats right on paper might not be right when you sit in it

 

[cobgoblin]

You'll find out when you have a saddle fitted to your horse.. The fitter will be used to all shapes of rider.

 

[Baywonder]

I agree with @Leo Walker - worry about this when you get your horse. A good saddle fitter will be able to advise you what is best for you and your horse.

 

[FestiveFuzz]

It’s not really possible to buy a saddle without already having the horse to fit it to. Well of course you can, but there’s no guarantee it’ll fit. You’re much better off waiting until you have the horse and then organising a saddle fitting.

 

[Shay]

Echo all that. You need a saddle that fits you as well as the horse. That said - if you know you are likely to need a longer saddle, perhaps steer clear of a short coupled horse! If you know you need a good length in the upper leg look for a horse which takes up your leg- so wider rather than narrower. Although that will also depend on overall height of the animal - so if shorter, opt for wider. If taller, you might have more scope. Absolutely don't buy a saddle before the horse!

 

[FrostKitten]

It’s not really possible to buy a saddle without already having the horse to fit it to. Well, of course, you can, but there’s no guarantee it’ll fit. You’re much better off waiting until you have the horse and then organising a saddle fitting.

I'm sorry if it wasn't clear but I have no intention of purchasing a saddle before I get the horse, but I was hoping for some insight from those who have already gone through saddle fitting so I at least have some idea of what to ask for - or could go and bum test some saddles to get an idea without having to sit on every single one.

My knowledge is pretty limited as I left the horsey world over a decade ago, and saddle fitting definitely wasn't something that people on my yard used - they'd just buy online or purchase second hand, so wanted some idea of what I was working with to get something perhaps on trial to fit.

Breed wise I am looking at getting an ID or an ISH, although if I see anything else around my area I'll take a look but not keen on getting something too stocky (there are some Vanner breeders here).

 

[sbloom]

I would read read and read some more, but mostly find a really good fitter who covers your local area (they may not be local themselves) and suits your shape of horse. An average ISH might be an average shape, a pure ID may be wider (both might be very wide) and you might be better with a specialist wide horse fitter, and I would say reputation and experience can be more important than qualifications. Ask around, read FB and Google reviews, and if they don't have any, run!

At 5'4 I would be very unlikely to put you in a 17.5, ignore online guides, they can't take everything into account (and hip size is more often the most important factor, no matter what websites say), a skinny tall rider will swim in too big a seat. Also bear in mind that one 17.5 rides very differently from the next, and your horse might not be able to take that seat size either.

What to ask for? You need to know what you want to do with your new horse, your fitter will advise what sort of saddle (eg GP, VSD, jump etc), for me customers are often right about the sort of saddle they think they want, not not always, just say what you want to do, and then your body geometry (that long upper leg) may come into play at the actual fitting. So more important is not what to ask for but how to screen fitters - do they ask all these sorts of questions, do they ask about the shape of your horse (I ask for very specific newly taken photos), do they ask your budget (no point paying a callout if they have nowt in your price range) and how much time are they going to allow? Will they see you ride (every fitting, new saddle fitting and every saddle check in the future)? Is there a trial period, and what are their full terms and conditions and could you have a copy?

So you can see why asking for the right saddle isn't really the starting point. Don't buy independently unless a fitter has told you exactly what to look for (ask if they can provide this service and what the costs are), it's a minefield and you'll pay heavily, for vets, physios, farriers and another saddle, if you get it wrong.

Also bum testing saddles isn't always that helpful, they feel very different once fitted to a horse. You might find it useful to see the quality in the flesh, if you know what you're looking for, but most people can't spot a straight saddle (and are swung by marketing that says their trees literally can't be "off"), don't know what a well made saddle looks like or what good quality leather looks like. Many do, but if you're out of practice, and with the questions you're asking, I'm not sure it will gain you much. Better to read as much as you can, select a fitter you think you can work with, and see how the saddles feel that they bring you.

 

[Quigleyandme]

Brilliant answer sbloom.