Saddle seat savers for hip/ischia pain

[tobiano1984]

Currently feeling my age and taking a long time to recover from a hamstring injury (yes, seeing professionals and doing all the rehab!) I was considering getting a seat saver for my GP for hacking as it's uncomfortable sitting on my ischia, where the issue currently is (proximal hamstring tendinopathy). To add to my woes, rehabbing from this injury has caused problems in my hip - I think psoas tightness/some sort of impingement. My deep dressage saddle on my fat horse makes it worse, which is annoying.
I've been recommended to get a chunky seat saver for the dressage saddle to make the twist narrower and help relieve the hip while it's recovering. But also want one for GP for hacking. Any recommendations? I don't really like sitting on the gel texture ones, too sticky! But also don't love feeling perched on top of my saddle.

 

[penelope-pitstop]

I have a dodgy hip so have a hard time finding comfortable saddles, not sure if it fits with you preference to avoid gel, but I really rate the acavallo ortho pubis seat saver. I have the gel in so no sticky sensation and find it incredibly comfortable without feeling too 'perched' as a lot of them seem to do

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Some people recommend the Heather Moffat seat savers. I had one, once, and survived just a 30mins ride before I had to fling the damn thing off (to be collected later) because it was sooh flippin' uncomfortable.

Like wearing knickers made of sandpaper. You get the picture.

 

[Meredith]

I have the acavallo pubis seat saver but for different reasons to you. It is lovely.
I wear sticky bum riding tights so bought the gel in version. I couldn't be bothered to change all the tights.
It does seem different at first but I got used to it very quickly. Any one who has ridden my pony wants the seat saver for their own saddle.

 

[fatponee]

Another vote for Acavallo. I suffer from SI pain which is horrific when pony spooks. Seat saver (I've got the gel in version) has really made a difference.

 

[pistolpete]

I’ve found my acavallo horribly hot in the warm weather otherwise I’m a fan too.

 

[sbloom]

Most seat savers make the twist wider as they wrap around it making the circumference larger. Much better to have a saddle where the seat is the right shape for your pelvis - the gold standard being a neutral pelvis at rest without tension or discomfort - and for your knee to drop, the hip having the ability to articulate to get some inward rotation and to get the heel under the hip.

Sadly most saddle design, especially dressage, works against this, with high cantles and big blocks placing tension on the hips and the lower back, and generally the pelvis is not supported in neutral.

You won't hear this discussed in most saddle fitting circles and instead we keep on with these ill conceived designs and doing a very basic level of rider fit in the saddle. Menopause just makes us more sensitive to saddles that don't really work for us.