Those who ride in 16.5" saddles.

Not sure how you measure 'bottom size' lol but I wear size 10 jeans if that gives you an idea. I do have quite a large bum in comparison to the rest of me aha so I woul look more elegant in a 17in but hey thats the joys of riding ponies!
 
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It's not the bottom size that causes the issue, it's the leg length. I too wear size 10 jeans, but have longish thighs, this can mean that either my knees stick over the front of the saddle, or my irons are too long, or I sit too far back. My mare is 15.3, but cannot wear a saddle longer than 16.5" :(
 
It is more to do with how it sits on the horse and how long your thigh is than the size of your bottom, unless it is very large, if the saddle sits well there should be plenty of room, I have sat on far smaller than 161/2 in saddles and had no problems as long as you are able to sit in the middle, my bottom is not that small anymore!!
 
Yep 8/10 and I am 5'3" but have short legs in comparison to my body. My sister is a little taller and lighter but has longer legs so doesn't fit so well. We have a flat seated dressage (can't sit in a deep 16.5").
 
Definitely leg length more than bum size, I am a size 8 but 5ft10 and I don't really feel comfortable in anything smaller than 18" unless it's a very deep seat
 
It very much depends on the saddle too, I'm 5ft10 but my horse can't take longer than a 17" saddle. I ride him in an Albion K2 jump saddle. The saddle is cut forward enough to take my leg length, the pro that rides him is 6ft2 and also doesn't have a problem with the saddle.
 
I'm 5ft 1in and size 12/14 I ride both ponies in 16.5" saddles, A Barnsby and a Sabre, The sabre is a working hunter saddle and the barnsby is straight cut. both fit the ponies and me very well.
 
Not technically answering your question as I now ride in a 16" Thorowgood dresssage saddle, but I used to have a 16.5" Ideal WH and I am 5'2 and a size 6/8. My 16.5" was perfect, I would struggle with my 16" if it wasn't so straight cut.
 
I am a size 10/12 and 5ft 3in. I ride in a 16in Saddle Company WH saddle. It has quite a flat, square cut seat which helps my bottom fit! My pony cannot take any more than 16 inches so I did struggle finding a saddle!

Not the best picture, but you can see that I only just fit. I am comfortable in the saddle, but jumping can be difficult as I cannot ramp my stirrups up high enough without my knees poking over the front.

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I disagree with it being more about leg length. If you think about it, going for a 1/2" bigger seat means you only get 1/4" more to sit further back before you are too far back in the saddle, whereas a more forward or bigger flap gives you leg room much more easily. I think it was something that some fitters started saying that it was about leg length a while back and it became the current thinking. For some people it might work, but I fit a lot of adults on short backed ponies and cobs, it's the bulk of what I do, and seat size is much more about your hip measurement and weight.

Haffies rock, although you are snug in the seat, your bottom size isn't to bad inthe saddle, but because it is straight cut you have little leg room and, as you say, cannot get your stirrups up. If you had a more forwards cut saddle you would have more leg room - I often sell a very neat GP model to showing people with long legs who are doing purely workers. If you HAVE to go straight cut then a larger seat size offers a little more room for someone with long legs but it is a poor compromise and not all horses can take that longer seat of course.

For long legs block placement is also important - the bigger the block the less femur room, but equally if that block is more a thigh block and placed up above the knee then it gives more femur room. A standard block that is in front of and slightly below the knee will cause your knee to come away from the horse if you leg is too far forwards.

Bear in mind two things - the flatter the seat (and square cantles have a smidge more room than round) the more room it sill feel like you have, hence many people have a dressage saddle 1/2" bigger than their jump saddle, and that if you are a little heavy for a smaller saddle then a wider seat spreads your weight, but not all horses or ponies can take wide seats, they can be unstable and lack contact on less well sprung ribcages.
 
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I am 5'2 and about a size 8 but don't have a tiddly bum. I happily ride a 15'1 hh in a 16.5 GFS GP saddle. Suits me and I find I have quite a variety of happy leg lengths in it - ie, I can go up or down two to three holes for jumping to dressage quite easily. IMO its more the panels and blocking that affect the leg length the saddle will take than the seat size. also the position of the stirrups relative to the deepest point of the seat....
 
I'm 5'7 and a size 10 on the bottom half and my 14hh boy wears a 16.5. I do have to ride quite long to avoid my knees coming over the knee rolls, but it is a WH style saddle. My legs aren't long, I wear regular length jeans!
 
Blythe Spirit said:
IMO its more the panels and blocking that affect the leg length the saddle will take than the seat size. also the position of the stirrups relative to the deepest point of the seat....
Click to expand...

You are entirely right but it's the flap, the panel is the bit that contains flocking or foam, it does of course come down the front of the flap which is I think where the confusion arises. The placemement and size of block is definitely important - our GPJ with a high placed triangular block as more femur room than does our GP with normal blocks.
 
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