Saddle recommedations for tall rider and small horse

Wagtail

Wagtail

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After almost a two year break I have been bringing my little mare back into work, but am still struggling with the saddle. I am 5' 10 and she is 15 hands. I currently have an Ideal Jessica for her and it fits her well but as you can see from the photographs, my bum tends to land on the cantel and it therefore tips me forwards and no doubt annoys her! Any recommendations? she is quite wide.

Taylah schooling 28th Dec 2019_Moment7.jpgTaylah schooling 28th Dec 2019_Moment6.jpg
 
If you've got enough dosh I'd go for a WOW with a size 2 'flat 'seat (they aren't flat, but they are a bit smaller than size 2 in other styles but with a bigger leeway in exactly where you sit ) and size 1 panels, and if you go for dressage flaps, moveable knee blocks so you can put them just where you need them.

She is beautiful!
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Thank you! My budget isn't huge as we have too many other commitments right now. Only around £800 so would be looking second hand.
 
ester said:
To me that looks like you could be riding longer to adjust your alignment?
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She can be a challenging ride (hence the body protector). My trainer had me take my stirrups up a hole. But I do see what you mean. Maybe I will try taking them down again.
 
It just looks like the current length is forcing you into a bit of a chair position.
I've had two jessicas, the first one I did get a bit chairy but that was partly because it started to get too high in front. I was without one for a while but when I got my second it was fine, I think partly due to improved fit and partly due to me having worked out what a loose leg really was :D.
 
Wagtail said:
Thank you! My budget isn't huge as we have too many other commitments right now. Only around £800 so would be looking second hand.
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You could do that, but only in the heavy versions, and I suspect you'll be concerned not to increase the tack weight?

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I’m 5’9 and ride a 14.2hh. I have a fairfax Gareth and I love it! I got it second hand and it’s super comfortable with lots of room for long legs because it has a thigh block rather than a knee block. It puts you in a deep secure position and the width can be changed as they change shape in summer and winter on the spot by any saddler. Love mine!
 
NinjaPony said:
I’m 5’9 and ride a 14.2hh. I have a fairfax Gareth and I love it! I got it second hand and it’s super comfortable with lots of room for long legs because it has a thigh block rather than a knee block. It puts you in a deep secure position and the width can be changed as they change shape in summer and winter on the spot by any saddler. Love mine!
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Thanks. Will have a look.
 
FWIW I don't think you are too big for her, but if you can lengthen your stirrups, sit up, bend your elbows and raise your hands your position would be 100% better. Saddles can only do so much.....the actual riding is up to you.

P.S. I'm 5'9" with stupid long legs and ride variously 14.2, 15 and 15.1 horses (all on the wider scale).
 
Uaually for a tall rider in a smaller than ideal saddle I do recommend a dressage saddle, but on these photos you look very long hip to knee (as I am) and it looks like, with the stirrups at the length, the large knee roll is making you put your backside to the rear, and then to stay over the centre of balance you are tipping forward, which is never ideal (especially on a horse returning to work).

I have found 2 solutions.

1. Keep a dressage saddle but use one (or change the block) so where the point of your knee is there is no block, so your knee can come forward. To ensure you are still safe in a whoopie-doo moment you need a large block but higher up than where your knee goes, so your thigh acts as the support point in a moment of crisis.

2. Go for a jump saddle, the close contact type where the flap floats over the shoulder, so the flap is well infant of the tree. I am thinking Butet here (as this is what I used to get over the long thigh bone) but I am sure other close contact jump saddles have the same. In the Butet mono XC I had, the flaps were very flexible and the shoulder glided under them. I did dressage at 3 day on one of these, could not quite have felt secure in a dressage. I did the dressage with a slightly shorter stirrup than is usual for dressage!

Either way, I would change it as with your current set up and what it is doing to you, if the horse did a spin and buck I think it would be time to eat sand!
 
Thinking outside the box a bit, have you thought of the total contact? I tried one and it definitely helps with the 'tall mast on a little ship' feeling. A couple of my friends have been using them for a long time and say they feel very secure and that the horses are happy. It could possible be a cheap interim fix and certainly lightweight. I know some people throw their hands up in horror but they've been around for a while now with no tales of disaster (that I've heard of).
 
Amirah said:
Thinking outside the box a bit, have you thought of the total contact? I tried one and it definitely helps with the 'tall mast on a little ship' feeling. A couple of my friends have been using them for a long time and say they feel very secure and that the horses are happy. It could possible be a cheap interim fix and certainly lightweight. I know some people throw their hands up in horror but they've been around for a while now with no tales of disaster (that I've heard of).
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They are an awful design. They put all the pressure and weight on the horses spine. If you want to ride bareback then ride bareback, but dont attach stirrups to a strip of leather that sits on the horses spine. If thats the route you want to go down, you'd be better off getting a decent roller with spine clearance and putting stirrups on that.
 
I don't think you're too big for her either... not by a long mile. I think you could do with doing some no stirrup work to force yourself into a more correct position. I also don't think your stirrups are too short!
 
I’m 5’10 and ride a 14:3hh chunky cob, I fit in a Kent & Masters GP Slimline saddle with the knee rolls and thigh rolls swapped round.

Excuse the slightly ‘perched’ defensive position, it was her first time at the beach and it was very scary for her apparently! ?

Can I also suggest a biomechanics lesson might help? I found them really helpful in sorting out my height/saddle proportions. Got me sitting right where I should be (scary beaches aside) instead of tipping onto my foof, which was pushing me back in the saddle, I was able to realign myself more upright which scooted my bum forwards in the saddle.
 

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I'm 5'9 and mostly leg and ride a 16hh slightly built TBx. I have an Albion Kontact Lite which accommodates my insanely long thigh, you can also adjust the knee blocks as they are velcro. I previously had an Albion K2 and loved it but found the big knee blocks and deep seat pushed me to sit on the back of the saddle, behind the movement, whereas the Kontact Lite was designed for tall lanky riders (think it was designed by William FP).

I also second Cortez in that saddles can only do so much! You don't look too big for her but it can be harder for tall riders on small horses to stay in balance. Just tipping forwards a little bit puts much more weight on their forehand than a rider who is 5'2 for example.
 
Red-Nose said:
Uaually for a tall rider in a smaller than ideal saddle I do recommend a dressage saddle, but on these photos you look very long hip to knee (as I am) and it looks like, with the stirrups at the length, the large knee roll is making you put your backside to the rear, and then to stay over the centre of balance you are tipping forward, which is never ideal (especially on a horse returning to work).

I have found 2 solutions.

1. Keep a dressage saddle but use one (or change the block) so where the point of your knee is there is no block, so your knee can come forward. To ensure you are still safe in a whoopie-doo moment you need a large block but higher up than where your knee goes, so your thigh acts as the support point in a moment of crisis.

2. Go for a jump saddle, the close contact type where the flap floats over the shoulder, so the flap is well infant of the tree. I am thinking Butet here (as this is what I used to get over the long thigh bone) but I am sure other close contact jump saddles have the same. In the Butet mono XC I had, the flaps were very flexible and the shoulder glided under them. I did dressage at 3 day on one of these, could not quite have felt secure in a dressage. I did the dressage with a slightly shorter stirrup than is usual for dressage!

Either way, I would change it as with your current set up and what it is doing to you, if the horse did a spin and buck I think it would be time to eat sand!
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Thanks. I think you are right about using a thigh block instead. I am going to search for some saddles to try. My mare can throw in some impressive acrobatics at times which is why my trainer wanted to shorten my stirrups. I can see how lengthening them could improve my posture but would reduce my ability to sit the antics I fear.
 
What a beautiful little mare, she is really very lovely. How old is she now?

I’ll be watching the answers here because I’m 5’8 but with long legs and a short body, and my little horse is 15hh at a push. I’m looking at an Arabian saddle company saddle for her as she’s high percentage arab and I’ve had a few recommendations.
 
LadyGascoyne said:
What a beautiful little mare, she is really very lovely. How old is she now?

I’ll be watching the answers here because I’m 5’8 but with long legs and a short body, and my little horse is 15hh at a push. I’m looking at an Arabian saddle company saddle for her as she’s high percentage arab and I’ve had a few recommendations.
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Thank you. She's 8. Will be 9 in June. She's a sweet little thing but can be very exhuberant at times! She's a little dynamo and it's nice to have a horse that's nice and forward. I've learned a lot from the answers on this thread and will probably now look for a saddle with thigh blocks rather than knees rolls. I wish I had a spare £4k because I would consider one of the reactor panel flapless saddles https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/riders-stable-saddles-without-flaps-study-finds-656370
 
FWIW I also am long hip to knee and can't cope with big knee rolls, the Albion K2 dressage was redesigned a couple of years ago and does not have big knee rolls although I think the old version probably did. Your mare is very pretty. Good luck in finding a saddle to suit, it makes such a difference when you do.
 
I wrote a similar thread not that long ago, it might be worth looking at the replies on there, I learned loads.
Im only 5ft 4 but long in the thigh and on my 13.2hh welsh exactly the same happened to me that is to you. I can also testify to likelihood of eating sand and lack of anchorage :p

I had a fitter out who works for Native Pony , not Steph on here but she offered great advice on the thread I posted.

What I wanted was something straight cut for showing but after the fitter watching me ride she said it was going to be like fitting a square peg in a round hole. I either had my knees over the front or my balance fell back into a chair seat. She brought a few different makes for me to try, not just AH saddles but I really saw what she was saying and realised I needed something with upswept panels to allow a bigger seat for me but more GP style to accommodate my leg.

A few years ago I had a Black Country Wexford on my 14.2hh Sec D and it always suited me really well and put me in a great position, now I know why! I ended up going for an AH GP Sport, it's not that forward cut and will be fine for showing but watching videos of myself on the flat - that heel, knee and hip alignment is back and I feel SO much more secure.

Good luck!
 
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