So sore today 😞

[pistolpete]

Blooming K and M saddle does me in! It’s starting to get me down a bit. Not my horse and everyone else coped fine with it. Tried two paracetamol and two ibuprofen today but if anything it’s worse! I didn’t change to the cavallo pad just used the heather moffett which is definitely worse. Such a shame. I’m considering giving him up. It’s a share ride so not the end of the world.

 

[teapot]

I've never got on with any K&M saddles, spawn of satan imho.

Depending on where the pain is - under/hips/back, have you thought about padded pants etc? If the saddle doesn't fit you at all though, tricky

 

[poiuytrewq]

I sympathise. Not a K + M fan either sadly

 

[HappyHollyDays]

PP I have a K&M on DP and the only way I can ride in it is to use an Acavallo Gel out seat saver with Acavallo Opera stirrups. It really does make all the difference to me and my dodgy disc.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Another yay for the gel seat saver, £70 to save your butt bones will definitely be worth it

 

[pistolpete]

It’s my front fork area. I have an acavallo seat saver which helps a bit. I have padded pants had them on today. I really am cheesed off!

 

[MereChristmas]

It’s my front fork area. I have an acavallo seat saver which helps a bit. I have padded pants had them on today. I really am cheesed off!

I’ve just ordered one of these. ( not from this website)

Gel Seat Saver Hexagonal Ortho-Pubis for Dressage Or Jump Saddles

Acavallo Ortho-Pubis Seat Saver Hexagonal Gel-Out Dri-Lex - perfect for riders who need pressure relief on their frontal seat bones (pubis). This state-of-the-art seat saver combines the non-slip, shock-proof and breathable properties of the Hexagonal Gel Acavallo models with a hollow part in...

equizoneonline.com

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Try vaseline.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Bum butter might work, i use it when I go out cycling

 

[pistolpete]

It’s not chafing it’s pressure. Only helps if I push myself to the back of the saddle. Not ideal for the horse!

 

[MereChristmas]

It’s not chafing it’s pressure. Only helps if I push myself to the back of the saddle. Not ideal for the horse!

Just suggestions because I have a similar problem (I started a thread about it last week)

Does the saddle tilt you into the pommel rise?
Is the saddle seat too steep between the cantle and the deepest part of the seat?
Do your knees go over the front of the knee rolls?
Does changing the stirrup length help?
Would putting a small loop of leather on the stirrup bar to set the leather further back help? See sbloom’s suggestion.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Blooming K and M saddle does me in! It’s starting to get me down a bit. Not my horse and everyone else coped fine with it. Tried two paracetamol and two ibuprofen today but if anything it’s worse! I didn’t change to the cavallo pad just used the heather moffett which is definitely worse. Such a shame. I’m considering giving him up. It’s a share ride so not the end of the world.

I like my K&M rode today mind you mine is the S class which I found more comfortable than the other.

 

[pistolpete]

Here I am!

 

[MereChristmas]

To add to my previous post.
I had a K & M Original Jump on my pony. It has never been ideal for me. About 6 months ago it no longer fitted the pony. The saddle which has been fitted to my pony is better but not wonderful for me.
I cannot afford to risk £££££ on a new saddle which may or may not fit either of us hence the Acavallo purchase.

 

[YourValentine]

I from the photo the saddle maybe too small/ wrong shape seat for you unfortunately and no seat saver can fix that

I can't ride a friends horse for more than 10min before her saddle breaks me. My thigh/hip/whatever just doesn't work for her saddle.

 

[pistolpete]

I from the photo the saddle maybe too small/ wrong shape seat for you unfortunately and no seat saver can fix that

I can't ride a friends horse for more than 10min before her saddle breaks me. My thigh/hip/whatever just doesn't work for her saddle.

Exactly. Think it’s hopeless! I’ve just agreed to go next week. Hope I’m healed by then!

 

[Andie02]

Here I am!

It looks like the problems that you are having is down to the shape of the saddle, (as YV has said above) and too small for your hip to knee length, which is causing you to not have enough bum room, which is tipping you forwards on to your front. A saddle with a flatter seat / more bum room would relieve the pressure on your 'front'. Not suggesting that you have a big bum, saddle shape is not suitable for you.

 

[pistolpete]

It looks like the problems that you are having is down to the shape of the saddle, (as YV has said above) and too small for your hip to knee length, which is causing you to not have enough bum room, which is tipping you forwards on to your front. A saddle with a flatter seat / more bum room would relieve the pressure on your 'front'. Not suggesting that you have a big bum, saddle shape is not suitable for you.

Ha ha thank you. It’s bizarre. I’ve never been in a saddle like it. Wish it was just a hard saddle. You’ve described exactly how it feels. Constantly forced forward. His mum is taller than me but slimmer and she finds it super comfy!

 

[Jambarissa]

Do those knee blocks Velcro off? Might give you a little more room.

Sheepskin is a very good pressure reliever, which is why you see it so often on wheelchair seats. A sheepskin seat saver over a get one maybe?

 

[Jambarissa]

If you like the horse and the owner is willing you could buy a used adjustable saddle like a wintec or saddle company and have it fitted. At least it's an easy resell or could be used on future horses.

 

[pistolpete]

Will be giving up riding him by the end of the year so not worth buying a saddle. He’s very sensitive to fit too. Is a bucking bronco if not comfy so can’t just risk a random change.

 

[Tiddlypom]

I agree with the other posters, unfortunately the saddle is not a good fit for you.

Is the knee block removable or can you swap it for a smaller one? Worth a try?

I like K&M saddles , but they must fit the rider as well as the horse.

 

[Elno]

I luuuuv them (and TG), as well as my horse as it's the only bloody saddle that she currently accepts, the daft cow. But only with an Acavallo gel out pad I have the ortho coccyx one.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think the saddle looks too small for you.

If you can remove the knee blocks it may help you dont have to have them, I've ridden without mine loads of times and felt fine.

I've ridden on to K & M saddles and they were both horrible.

 

[Widgeon]

It’s my front fork area. I have an acavallo seat saver which helps a bit. I have padded pants had them on today. I really am cheesed off!

From that photo it looks like it's tipping you forward and pushing your legs back. Is the seat big enough for you? I'm no saddle expert (haha) but having had similar problems myself, I don't think that saddle looks a good fit for you. Removing the knee blocks might give you a bit more space?

Do you or the owner have a decent saddle fitter who could come out and give you a professional opinion? I'd definitely try to get some trusted professional help on this....then at least you know where you stand (or sit. Sorry).

ETA just read all the posts and seen that you're not riding him for much longer so maybe that's not worth doing. Sorry it's hurting you so much. Saddles that don't fit are the pits.

 

[Fransurrey]

Agree that you're being tipped forward. All I can think of to help is a hip saver to reduce the 'sweep' between the cantle and pommel. Much more bulky than a normal HM Seat Saver, and you will feel perched when you first get on, but reducing the depth of the saddle might allow you to sit more upright and thus reduce pressure on the pubis. I have one you could borrow if you're in Surrey (but have a feeling you're not!).

 

[Elno]

Mm, I can also add another thing that I've noticed (and also read here btw from other users!) and that is that K&M and TG sometimes run a bit small in size. I previously had a TG cob dressage 17" on a hairy cob and hated it because it tipped me forward. When I got a new horse and tried the same saddles again I tried them in larger size- 17.5 and 18 (gp and dressage respectively) and didn't get the tipped forward feeling at all.

 

[TheHairyOne]

I rode one horse briefly where I had to ram the stirrups up, rather than down, and remove the blocks to stop this. My knees were far too far forward, but at least it didnt hurt and i could actually sit in the saddle. My thigh bones just didnt fit.

 

[holeymoley]

Brutal saddles to ride in. They look nice though. Same with TG, awful. I had a lovely brand new K&M beautiful saddle, stuck with it for a year then decided to sell it. It was quietly forcing me on to my seat bones to avoid the pain in front. I can’t understand how they have such high sales as everyone you hear about that has them has the same problem.

 

[pistolpete]

Agree that you're being tipped forward. All I can think of to help is a hip saver to reduce the 'sweep' between the cantle and pommel. Much more bulky than a normal HM Seat Saver, and you will feel perched when you first get on, but reducing the depth of the saddle might allow you to sit more upright and thus reduce pressure on the pubis. I have one you could borrow if you're in Surrey (but have a feeling you're not!).

He’s near Milford don’t know how far that is from you?