Saddles - bum/seat ratio?

T

Technique

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In a moment of insanity and possibly a last ditch attempt to regain my riding skills and my figure/life, I am going to help a friend bring on some cob type horses. They have a mottley assortment of tack (they do not belong to my friend, who has huge warmbloods, all matchy matchy made to measure etc).

I however have loads and loads of tack, not being used, in various sizes. The problem is, it is all 300 miles away. I was going to get a selection brought down so we could have a try out, not my good stuff (Fylde etc) but decent all the same.

My question is this- I think most of my saddles are 17" - 17.5". I am 5'6" tall and they suited me fine. However, I have put on quite a bit of weight, will they still be ok? Odd I know, but it got me thinking, I don't want to freight down stuff I can't use - and I don't want to have an overlap!

Also, what length stirrup leathers should I bring down, I have a 31" inside leg and will be sorting through a bag full as I don't want to take the good ones off my saddles. What do you ride on/with? How tall are you?

I have been away from the game for so long, that the practical aspects are a bit of a mystery just now. Just to say, the saddles will be fitted, not just chucked on, in case anyone is concerned.
 
Right, just how fat have you got? :D

I am also 5'6 and weigh 11st which could easily be classed as fat but only if you think everyone should be just bone with a light dusting of skin... I ride in a 17 inch which fits my delicious bottom quite nicely. I don't bulge out anywhere and there is room left! So I am sure you will be fine with your old saddles.

Can't remember what length stirrups I use... 56" i think havent bought any for at least 6 years. i am 32 inside leg and ride long as I'm into dressage.

Sounds lovely that you are getting back into it. How exciting for you! Keep us updated with how you get on x
 
Hi, I still use my 16 1/2" saddle that I used when I was a size 6, (am 5'4"), I'm a curvy 10 now & it still suits me fine :)
 
:D About 12.5 stone, but 'normally' I am 10ish, so they should be okay - phew! I was hoping they would be; my skinny mate rides my warmblood mare still in my good ones (when she is not in foal), but I have a few to chose from - including Lovatt & Ricketts and Ideals. TBH I can't bare the thought of riding anything in poorly fitting tack, so thought it would be a good job for mine.

I am quite excited, they are somebody with land's lawnmowers and although they have been ridden in the past, they haven't for some time. I come from an era where coloured cobs belonged to our rag & bone man and it has been a huge learning curve to see how popular they are now - and how much they can command!! :eek:

I am quite looking forward to the challenges it will bring. Thanks :)
 
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I'm 5'9" and 13stone on the nose (weighed myself today, I seem to have lost half a stone since I last measured myself?) and ride in 17 1/2"- 18" saddles. I don't have a huge butt (not small but not ginormous) and my thighs are muscley. I've got a 34" inseam and find 60" leathers most comfy for me as with the standard 54" ones, I'm close to the top holes and can't tuck the ends into the keepers which annoys me to no end.
 
i'm just over 5ft7 with a 31-32" inside leg. Ride in dressage saddles pretty much all the time and have a 16" saddle i rode in til it stopped fitting pony. Now have a more comfy 16.5" and ride in a 17.5" on the other horse. Have a 17" GP for her too. Stirrup length - i have 60" leathers which have stretched a little :rolleyes: so am on the 3rd from the top hole but at least i can tuck the end away :p
 
I think it also depends on the shape of your frame.... are you an "apple" or a "pear". When I gain weight it all goes onto my hips, bum and thighs, unfortunately.... I'm definitely a pear. Apples tend to accumulate it around their waist and their bums and legs don't always get much bigger. I'm 5'6" and 12-stone and suit square cantle saddles much better....
 
I'm an apple, in fact more of a heart, even when I'm skinny :eek: back protectors are a whole different issue - him indoors says I'll always be alright if I land on my front! :D

I get on great with fylde saddles, but they are staying with my girls. I have a few section D and show cob fit saddles that I no longer have ponies for, so they should do nicely. One of the monsters (as they are known) is 15h+ and looks to have quite a lot of welsh in there with his coloured blood, the other is slightly bigger in every respect, half horse, half teddy bear ;) with a very kind face. At least my weight will keep em down a bit...
 
5' 8", 12st and 33" inside leg... I'm comfy in the TB's 16.5" (although it's a maxam so the seat extends slightly) and a 17.5"...

I ride very long though so tend to er, 'hang' my legs down each side and am not back on my bum at all... Shorter stirrups pushes me back in the saddle a bit...
 
I weigh rather a lot more than you and was gobsmacked to recently fit very nicely into a 17" with room to spare! :eek: I used to ride in an 18" with a bit of bulge when I weighed less, so maybe it depends on the make.
 
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