Saddle skirt catching me

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CluelessShowjumper

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I’ve finally taken the plunge and since we are now starting to compete at BE100, I’ve bought a dressage saddle.

It fits horse beautifully and is super comfortable but….when I do rising trot, the saddle skirt catches my inner thigh and it’s really not comfortable at all, which results in me having to do sitting trot the whole ride and my back does not appreciate this.

Any idea on why it could be catching me? Is there a way to stop this? Or am I destined for a life of sitting trot.
 
CluelessShowjumper said:
I’ve finally taken the plunge and since we are now starting to compete at BE100, I’ve bought a dressage saddle.

It fits horse beautifully and is super comfortable but….when I do rising trot, the saddle skirt catches my inner thigh and it’s really not comfortable at all, which results in me having to do sitting trot the whole ride and my back does not appreciate this.

Any idea on why it could be catching me? Is there a way to stop this? Or am I destined for a life of sitting trot.
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Might it stop catching once its worn in a little more do you think.
 
What stirrups leathers are you using? if traditional ones with buckles it could be that they are just to bulky under the flag/skirt. I have a similar problem with a 15inch saddle I ride in. I end up with bruises on my thighs due to the edge of the material (plastic in my case) digging in and rubbing when I rise.
 
dorsetladette said:
What stirrups leathers are you using? if traditional ones with buckles it could be that they are just to bulky under the flag/skirt. I have a similar problem with a 15inch saddle I ride in. I end up with bruises on my thighs due to the edge of the material (plastic in my case) digging in and rubbing when I rise.
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They are Antares (I think) mono leathers that buckle at the bottom near the stirrup.
 
smolmaus said:
Weird one. Is it the same no matter what breeches you wear? It's not silicon grippy ones catching the leather, is it?
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Yes unfortunately. Although now I come to think of all, all of my breeches have silicone, but none have gripped like that and they are all old so it’s not like the silicone is in great condition: however, it could be that that is the case.
I’ve never had it on any saddle before. So it’s all new and strange to me aswell.
 
Just thinking outside the box here ....

On a couple of dressage saddles I had over the years, there was a strap attached at the bottom of the saddle flap, which then did up over the top of the girth, between the legs.

So, I'm wondering if you could do something similar, but have your saddler attach a thin strap to the bottom edge of the saddle skirt, which then does up over the top of the girth between the legs? This would keep it in place and stop it riding up.
 
CluelessShowjumper said:
Any idea on why it could be catching me? Is there a way to stop this? Or am I destined for a life of sitting trot.
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I dont think dressage saddles are designed for rising trot. I rode my previous long term share in a very open Podhajski saddle which I loved. When it went away to be re-flocked, I was sent out hacking in a beautiful Jessica dressage saddle.
This Jesica saddle (I feel) is simply not designed for rising trot.

Sitting trot was no problem for me. I was used to lots of sitting trot in the school, on both reins, but even so, when out hacking my share in the Jessica saddle, I felt very precarious fixed into it. I liked being able to shift my weight.

But not all RIs feel this way. My current yard actually own a Podhajski saddle, but it cant be used with my share mare because she is the horse allocated to new riders and people seem to believe it is easier to fall off the flatter saddle. At my RS I hacked in an old fashioned GP saddle and these days in a modern one. It isnt my choice but we RS riders ride in what we are given.

It seems to me this is catch 22 as I rarely fall but I find it increasingly difficult to mount, and mounting would be easier if I were using the flatter saddle.

I think the silicon breeches question is different. More modern breeches all seem to have silicon dots on them and I was forced to buy them when I needed a larger size. But when riding, I notice no difference. The dots dont actually glue you to the saddle. I do rising trot and I dismount regardless of whether or not my breeches have silicone dots.
 
Skib said:
I think the silicon breeches question is different. More modern breeches all seem to have silicon dots on them and I was forced to buy them when I needed a larger size. But when riding, I notice no difference. The dots dont actually glue you to the saddle. I do rising trot and I dismount regardless of whether or not my breeches have silicone dots.
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CluelessShowjumper said:
Yes unfortunately. Although now I come to think of all, all of my breeches have silicone, but none have gripped like that and they are all old so it’s not like the silicone is in great condition: however, it could be that that is the case.
I’ve never had it on any saddle before. So it’s all new and strange to me aswell.
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Yeah, was just a thought if the flap was on the verge of lifting anyway (which is still an issue, shouldn't be doing that) a silicone seat might help it along where a thicker smooth breech material might slip past.

I can't have grippy tights, I hate them, so possibly I am biased 😂
 
Skib said:
I dont think dressage saddles are designed for rising trot. I rode my previous long term share in a very open Podhajski saddle which I loved. When it went away to be re-flocked, I was sent out hacking in a beautiful Jessica dressage saddle.
This Jesica saddle (I feel) is simply not designed for rising trot.

Sitting trot was no problem for me. I was used to lots of sitting trot in the school, on both reins, but even so, when out hacking my share in the Jessica saddle, I felt very precarious fixed into it. I liked being able to shift my weight.

But not all RIs feel this way. My current yard actually own a Podhajski saddle, but it cant be used with my share mare because she is the horse allocated to new riders and people seem to believe it is easier to fall off the flatter saddle. At my RS I hacked in an old fashioned GP saddle and these days in a modern one. It isnt my choice but we RS riders ride in what we are given.

It seems to me this is catch 22 as I rarely fall but I find it increasingly difficult to mount, and mounting would be easier if I were using the flatter saddle.

I think the silicon breeches question is different. More modern breeches all seem to have silicon dots on them and I was forced to buy them when I needed a larger size. But when riding, I notice no difference. The dots dont actually glue you to the saddle. I do rising trot and I dismount regardless of whether or not my breeches have silicone dots.
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That’s interesting as people would normally say you’re less fixed into a Jessica than other more blocky saddles (I was ok rising too)
 
Even I've not come across this before! I would want to see the design of the saddle, the skirt but the seat and flap too, and then see you ride in it, especially seeing you from the front, to see if there's more contact under the upper thigh on the skirt than under the knee. Otherwise I'd have to REALLY study to work out what's going on. Have you informed the fitter?

ester said:
That’s interesting as people would normally say you’re less fixed into a Jessica than other more blocky saddles (I was ok rising too)
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It's not as deep as many dressage saddles but it's deeper and blockier than a GP. It's not a minimal dressage saddle in quite the way it's portrayed, it's just everything else has got even deeper and blockier!

And that's without getting into seat size and rider fit...it will depend on seat size, rider size, pelvic shape and size, hip articulation AND thigh length as to whether cantle and blocks interfere!
 
ester said:
That’s interesting as people would normally say you’re less fixed into a Jessica than other more blocky saddles (I was ok rising too)
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I never had a more blocky saddle to compare it with. And I was no slim youngster. I always had a fat bottom and thighs. In fact someone French once told me that in French my seat was known as a saddle seat because it made riding so comfortable.

idealsaddle.com

Podhajsky Dressage - idealsaddle

This saddle was designed and built with Colonel Alois Podhajsky, then Director of the Spanish Riding School, to address the need for a sound, comfortable saddle which facilitates a deep seat without a restricted 'locked seat'. RRP: from £P.O.A Available from leading retailers nationwide.
idealsaddle.com idealsaddle.com
 
Northern Hare said:
Just thinking outside the box here ....

On a couple of dressage saddles I had over the years, there was a strap attached at the bottom of the saddle flap, which then did up over the top of the girth, between the legs.

So, I'm wondering if you could do something similar, but have your saddler attach a thin strap to the bottom edge of the saddle skirt, which then does up over the top of the girth between the legs? This would keep it in place and stop it riding up.
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This is actually a good idea. A friend suggested sticking Velcro on the skirt aswell.
 
sbloom said:
Even I've not come across this before! I would want to see the design of the saddle, the skirt but the seat and flap too, and then see you ride in it, especially seeing you from the front, to see if there's more contact under the upper thigh on the skirt than under the knee. Otherwise I'd have to REALLY study to work out what's going on. Have you informed the fitter?



It's not as deep as many dressage saddles but it's deeper and blockier than a GP. It's not a minimal dressage saddle in quite the way it's portrayed, it's just everything else has got even deeper and blockier!

And that's without getting into seat size and rider fit...it will depend on seat size, rider size, pelvic shape and size, hip articulation AND thigh length as to whether cantle and blocks interfere!
Click to expand...
Thanks @sbloom. I have asked my yard owner to have a look and she said I’m not gripping with my thigh (I didn’t think I was).

I have informed fitter but I also have my once a year fitter whom I have trusted for 15 years with my saddles coming mid September so think I’m rather going to wait for her (she comes to the UK once a year and looks at all of us who used to use her in South Africa).

It really is the strangest thing.

I will attach a photo of said saddle.
 
CluelessShowjumper said:
Thanks @sbloom. I have asked my yard owner to have a look and she said I’m not gripping with my thigh (I didn’t think I was).

I have informed fitter but I also have my once a year fitter whom I have trusted for 15 years with my saddles coming mid September so think I’m rather going to wait for her (she comes to the UK once a year and looks at all of us who used to use her in South Africa).

It really is the strangest thing.

I will attach a photo of said saddle.
Click to expand...

It's not about gripping, it's about contact and support versus none :), concepts rarely talked about in saddle fitting (and poor saddle fit for the rider can contribute to gripping anyway!).

The skirts do indeed stick out, if you push them down do they sit flush above the block? If not then that could be the root of the issue, which probably would affect some riders more than others depending on the fit in terms of contact etc. There are so many factors that may play a part, the pommel looks relatively low for the height of the cantle and the fact it looks to have a rear balance point, is there any chance your pubic arch is collapsing and leaving you with a slightly hollow back? A tipped pelvis can cause all sorts of odd things to happen with our legs...
 
sbloom said:
It's not about gripping, it's about contact and support versus none :), concepts rarely talked about in saddle fitting (and poor saddle fit for the rider can contribute to gripping anyway!).

The skirts do indeed stick out, if you push them down do they sit flush above the block? If not then that could be the root of the issue, which probably would affect some riders more than others depending on the fit in terms of contact etc. There are so many factors that may play a part, the pommel looks relatively low for the height of the cantle and the fact it looks to have a rear balance point, is there any chance your pubic arch is collapsing and leaving you with a slightly hollow back? A tipped pelvis can cause all sorts of odd things to happen with our legs...
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No, the skirts are not flush. They stick out. The leather is very stiff in that department (maybe I could soak them in saddle oil).

Will revert with the rest of your questions when I next sit in it. In fact, will find someone to film me so I can see.
However I not feel as though it’s throwing me forward and have never felt more comfortable in canter (horse is 17.2) in it.

I really appreciate your help. Thank you.
 
If it was my saddle, and I was having the same problem, I think I would be tempted to punch a small round hole at the front of the saddle skirt above the d-ring, and use a short round shoelace to fasten it to the d-ring below - with a small bow so you can undo it if necessary.

Screenshot_20250811-191259.png
 
Is it the stitching on the top of the knee patches on your breeches catching the bottom of the skirt that covers the stirrup bars? I’ve got some breeches that can do that depending on how the knee patches are stitched on.
 
Northern Hare said:
If it was my saddle, and I was having the same problem, I think I would be tempted to punch a small round hole at the front of the saddle skirt above the d-ring, and use a short round shoelace to fasten it to the d-ring below - with a small bow so you can undo it if necessary.

View attachment 164797
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Bloody good idea this! Thank you!!
 
Spotherisk said:
Similar to @Northern Hare suggests, use an elastic surcingale as an over girth as a temporary measure. You might need to run it through a martingale or breastplate loop so it doesn’t slip back.

Do you think the saddle has been put up with the stirrups crossed over the seat, causing the flaps to lift?
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I think that’s very possible but I cannot confirm as the saddle is 2nd hand. I take my stirrups off if I’m using mono leathers.
 
ester said:
That’s interesting as people would normally say you’re less fixed into a Jessica than other more blocky saddles (I was ok rising too)
Click to expand...
I tend to agree, I hacked quite a bit in Jessica dressage saddles, including to occasional mad fling across the fields! But, getting back to the point: I recall a strap under the flap at the bottom which stopped them riding up. I am average height but have long legs so the catching could be an issue if the flaps moved a lot.
 
I have seen similar in the past, on those occasions it was the stirrup bar sticking out too much and not recessed enough, once the stirrup leather is on them it then pushes them up even further. The leather over time will eventually "block" to shape, a term we use for moulding the leather to the desired shape when making say , winkers on a driving bridle. It also happens with lumpy flock in saddle panels, stubbens tend to do this or the ones I have flocked have done so. Even a complete reflock doesn't always , if ever, get rid of the blocked bulges in the panel even using leather conditioner to soften it, it is hard to do. The skirt in the photo looks like the stirrup bars and possibly buckles from previous use, have blocked the leather (see the raised area) and that can lift the skirt up in to an odd shape.
Just my view but I have seen it in the past. It's hard as I say to mould them back in to the right shape and make them behave.
A lot depends on the hide they used to make them, some is more malleable than others, some is firmer than others.
Oz
 
Yes that's true, the bulk of a regular jump leather with reinforcement could be enough to cause a permanent bulge, riders don't realise how much it can affect their leg let alone the saddle! And as you say, once leather has stretched/deformed it can be very difficult to get it to sit flat, especially as structurally it's being held away from the saddle at the block.
 
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