People with long legs and short horses

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Walrus

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Hello,

This isn't a pony-squishing style thread but I do have a question for those of you with shorter horses / ponies and a taller rider. My pony is quite short in the back and I have quite long legs. I'm struggling with saddles (been hunting for a while) - my instructor has noticed that my main problem seems to be that due to my long hip to knee length my bottom is quite far back in my (little) saddle so I'm landing right at the back of the seat of the saddle. This is having 2 effects - it seems to be shoving the saddle forwards a bit and also it's also obviously concentrating the pressure in one area at the back of the saddle.

Has anyone else come across a similar issue and have you found any particular style of saddle to help (more or less knee roll?) or have you made any alterations to your position to help?

Thanks

:)
 
Have you measured your thigh bone? Just curious because I'm 20" thigh bone and 15" ( I think) knee to foot. I struggle to get balanced correctly on short stirrups when I have jumping lessons as my knee will be over the knee pad or my bum too far back and it feels wrong.
My son is 5'11" and we have the same length thigh bones. I'm 5'5" .
 
Not measured my thigh bone before - not sure where to measure it from! Just had a look and it's 20" from knee to about half way up the side of my bum! it's about 17-18" from knee to ankle. Bear in mind I'm 5'8" on a 16.5" saddle on a 13.2hh!
 
The directions I followed was from point of hip joint to point of knee whilst sitting in an upright position or with your leg bent at right angle.
 
I'm 5'10 with 36" legs, & a 14.2. I ride her in a 16.5" jeffries. But, I do ride very long, & sit in a bareback/ classical position, & have a scrawny bum, so seat size isn't an issue, I'm happy enough in a 15" saddle. Only issue is saddleflaps when I put stirrups up to jump. When I competed mine I had a 17.5", these days she's older & unaffiliated is her limit, so I just leave my knees poking. Same if I'm jumping someone else's pony. But, I only jump under my capabilities with poking knees. Otherwise I think I'd look at getting bigger flaps on a smaller seat.
In your case though it sounds like its not the seat size that is the issue, if you are at the back of the saddle, its a position problem. Whether that's a fault of yours, or because the stirrup bars are in the wrong place for you, or the saddle isn't level. The only relevance seat size has is to bum size, its the size of the flaps that's relevant to leg length.
 
Oh dear, then my bum is obviously too big! I'm looking at WH cut saddles, it was suggested that I could try a GP cut if I needed more knee space. Saddle is level and instructor thinks it puts me in the right place so obviously it's my bottom size!!
 
I am 5'10, think my legs are 34" ish and have to have a 17.5 saddle really, probably more a bum issue! However when I tried the 17" of my saddle before I ordered it my knees were hanging over the front and it was all round not ideal. I have always ridden long as possible and I'm starting to see why as I have never been riding in a saddle I have purchased to fit me, always someone else's. Luckily in this model my horse can accomodate that size where in other saddles it might be a case of bigger seat, smaller panels. It is more of a straight cut due to horse having big shoulders and if I do jumping (never been my thing but hoping to get brave) then I will deal with pokey knees!

A square cantle makes a big difference for me, the last saddle I had really wedged me into position and was my worst nightmare when it came to unbalancing, bad position, everything!
 
Hi, I'm having the same problem. I'm only medium-tall (5' 5.5"), but very long-legged, and have been told I should probably ride in about an 18" saddle. My pony is 14.1, short-coupled, and can take as maximum 17" (would prefer shorter). My 17" dressage saddle is ok because I can ride very long, but the 17" GP causes problems, especially when I get tired. I'm investigating a few options, among them saddles made with a longer seat over shorter panels.
 
A saddler can help you with this. I have a 17.5" I use on a 13.1&14.1. I have a 16.5" which is longer on their backs, than the one I use. I have an abnormally long thigh bone too :o. Seat size and actual length of the saddle varies enormously between makes and types. Worth speaking to a saddler who can put custom additions on for you (that's what my saddle is).
 
Thanks for the replies.

Not got photos for here. I am working with a lovely saddler, unfortunately we're doing it by phone, photos, video and with input from my fab instructor as I can't find anyone locally to fit saddles. I think we're getting closer but i was just wondering if others had had the same challenges as it's so frustrating having saddle issues!!
 
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