Seat saver options

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Miggy99

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Which seat saver does everybody use? I suffered a fractured vertebra in a fall last year and have been back riding now for 3 weeks. My Wintec Isabel Werth saddle used to be so comfortable, but not since my fall. I actually made myself a seat saver for our weekend hack (vet bed and elastic!!) and tried a friend’s acavallo gel out today in the school. I’m looking to get a new saddle later this year and want a seat saver to use with it to give my decrepit back some cushioning/support.
The acavallo gel out was really comfy today but I worry it may be sticky when I start doing a bit more. I love the look of the gel in but concerned it’ll mark a leather saddle. Who uses something different that they’d recommend?
 
I’ve got the Acavallo pubis gel in. I used it briefly on a leather saddle. The marks came off when the saddle was cleaned. I now use it on a synthetic saddle and, to be honest, I’ve not looked under the seat saver since I put it on.
I decided that my comfort over rode any worry about the saddle getting marked.
 
Meredith said:
I’ve got the Acavallo pubis gel in. I used it briefly on a leather saddle. The marks came off when the saddle was cleaned. I now use it on a synthetic saddle and, to be honest, I’ve not looked under the seat saver since I put it on.
I decided that my comfort over rode any worry about the saddle getting marked.
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Part of me feels that my comfort is more important. But also if I’m going to be buying a brand new saddle (which is the plan) I don’t want to mark it 🙈
 
I have a Christ Lammfelle sheepskin one, which I love. The only downside is if I'm riding in the rain, it gets pretty squelchy!

I previously had an Acavallo gel-in for a couple of years, and it didn't leave any marks on my leather saddle.
 
The acavallo gel pad. Has the same material they use for wheelchair seats so very comfy and secures under the gullet.
 

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I’ve got the avacello gel seat saver but only used it a couple of times as my back issues were quickly sorted by the chiropractor. I found it very comfy at the time! That reminds me, I need to sell mine as trying to have a clear out and get rid of stuff that I don’t use!
 
Pippity said:
I have a Christ Lammfelle sheepskin one, which I love. The only downside is if I'm riding in the rain, it gets pretty squelchy!

I previously had an Acavallo gel-in for a couple of years, and it didn't leave any marks on my leather saddle.
Click to expand...
Yeah the fleecy one I had on my old boy’s saddle used to get squelchy! Oh that’s good about no marks with the acavallo. I want to do some showing with him next year so was worried about marks as I’ve read some people struggle with marks on the saddle.
 
It depends on the location and type of pain, and what "lack" is in the saddle relative to that, so it will change with the new saddle.

It's seldom discussed but the gold standard of saddle fitting to the rider is to have the pelvis supported by the seat shape, from seatbones to pubic arch, in neutral, without restriction, tension or discomfort. It's a high br but the more you struggle with existing injuries and pain, the more important it is for you. It's actually a game changer for the horse as a stable, well placed load is the easiest to carry without compromise.

If it's a concussive type pain, shock going up your spine, then I'd look at Thinline. Of it's a direct pain into her pelvis, or in your back from your pelvis dropping out of alignment (which you may have coped with perfectly well before the injury) then it's about how you need to change the shape of the seat which determines how your pelvis, spine and hips/legs sit.
 
sbloom said:
It depends on the location and type of pain, and what "lack" is in the saddle relative to that, so it will change with the new saddle.

It's seldom discussed but the gold standard of saddle fitting to the rider is to have the pelvis supported by the seat shape, from seatbones to pubic arch, in neutral, without restriction, tension or discomfort. It's a high br but the more you struggle with existing injuries and pain, the more important it is for you. It's actually a game changer for the horse as a stable, well placed load is the easiest to carry without compromise.

If it's a concussive type pain, shock going up your spine, then I'd look at Thinline. Of it's a direct pain into her pelvis, or in your back from your pelvis dropping out of alignment (which you may have coped with perfectly well before the injury) then it's about how you need to change the shape of the seat which determines how your pelvis, spine and hips/legs sit.
Click to expand...
It’s a really deep pain in my left bum cheek. I’ve always been a bit less “ok” on my left side. If a knee is going to grip up and lose a stirrup it always tended to be the left, or I’d be less comfortable on a left rein canter. But now the pain in that buttock is agonising after 15 minutes riding, like a cross between cramp and sciatica 😩
 
I bought a real sheepskin saddle cover (many years ago I used to do endurance riding), it is/was so comfortable. Not sure though if you could still get one - or perhaps get a sheepskin and cut it to shape and attach some fastenings. Mine is somewhere in the attic so can't provide pictures, sorry!
 
I used an Acavallo gel out for years on my GP saddle - I didn't find it too sticky, even with the sticky jods.
Years ago I tried a Heather Moffat seatsave which I found very comfortable but it put extra height on the seat - admittedly not a massive amount - but I could feel it and didn't like being that tiny bit more 'perched'.
I've now switched saddle to a TCS with synthetic suede seat and it's the most comfortable seat I've ever known. I think it's memory foam, like the Heather Moffat. My back and hips are no longer sore.
 
Miggy99 said:
It’s a really deep pain in my left bum cheek. I’ve always been a bit less “ok” on my left side. If a knee is going to grip up and lose a stirrup it always tended to be the left, or I’d be less comfortable on a left rein canter. But now the pain in that buttock is agonising after 15 minutes riding, like a cross between cramp and sciatica 😩
Click to expand...

It sounds like you're pulling that side of your pelvis up, which may indicate a too narrow seat (and bear in mind our pelvis can change shape, even without injury widening during fertile years and narrowing through and beyond menopause). If you were a customer I'd suggest working with someone like Equimech in NI or Pilates at Blue House on Teesside to help you work the best you can with your body, to reduce painful compensations etc, and to either have a full rider assessment for your new saddle (rare) or try a few saddles, even just if sitting on a saddle stand to try and assess a few basic parameters - wider/narrower, higher or lower pommel etc and then find a fitter who focuses on rider fit to help you find something that works.

Most seat savers widen the seat a little, but even if it works, it's not solving the issue really, so it would be good to look at the other things that may help. And bear in mind that "optimising" you really does help the horse, it's not to be sneered at (so many customers say not to worry about them, just fit the horse, it's not really how it works!).
 
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