stupid saddle question, please help!

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ThePony

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Hi,
I'm sure this is a stupid question, but I am struggling! Hope you can help!
I have a recently 'new to me' Ideal saddle for my mare that I just don't seem to be getting on with. It is a gp with medium deep seat, 17 inches medium wide. However I sit and whatever length I set my stirrup leathers I don't seem to be able to fit quite properly! Is this because the saddle seat is too small for me (I'm size 12 and 5'8'') or is it because the saddle I have doesn't suit the way I like to suit? Or a magical unknown answer?! The pommel seems to be more under me than I would like - if that makes sense? Not v comfortable, but I can't sit further back because of the rise of the back of the seat going back to the cantle. The saddle is sound and good condition so it isn't that. My mare can take a fair bit bigger saddle seat as she is fairly long in the back, so if that is the prob at least I can change it.
Comments and words of wisdom much appreciated, sorry about the waffly length!
Steaming cup of tea for all who get this far!
 
to me it sounds like it doesnt suit, I have just bought our first proper new saddle and have a 17 seat and I am 5'5 and size 12 so its poss not accomodating your legs very well?
 
Yeah sounds as though you could do with a longer seat, did you have the saddle fitted? I would ask a saddle fitter to come and have a look at you ride in it and perhaps bring some alternatives for you to try. I am 5'4'' and ride in a 17'' ideal GP saddle which feels about right for me.

I asked a saddle fitter to come and check mine last week and it cost 30 quid for the call-out.
 
Hi,
Yes it was fitted by a master saddler and he watched me ride in it. Not sure I would use the same one again though! I did wonder about a longer seat. Do you know how you would calculate the length of seat you might want? Is it directly related to your height and build or are there other aspects? (as well as obv fitting the horse well!).
 
Sounds like it doesn't suit you. I had the same with an Albion K2 that my saddler fitted, and I never got used to it. I felt like it was tipping me forwards. A different brand, or a different style would probably suit you much better. It's so fustrating when that happens, as I thougt oh 'i'll just get used to it' but I never did and so I ended up losing a lot of money replacing it, because I left it too long. In hindsight I should have insisted on trying more saddles.
 
Sorry to hear yours cost so much to fix. Trying to get the saddler to bring out anything other than brand new 1.5k saddles was like trying to get blood out of a stone!! Have a recommendation for a different saddler locally so I'll try my luck again.
 
Do you know anyone that has a 17.5" saddle that you could just sit on, even on a saddle horse, or can you go to your local saddlery shop and sit on a 17.5" seat. I'm 5'6", size 10/12 and only feel comfy in a 17.5, especially if it is quite a deep seat
 
most people on my yard seem to have a 17''! Never thought to try one on a saddle tree, thank you for the suggestion! Shall pop out to the saddlery tomorrow for some window shopping and see what I can have a sit on.
 
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