Who rides in a 17" saddle? Does 1/2" make much difference?

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DuckToller

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I had a friend's saddle on loan - a 17.5" albion K2 jump saddle. It fitted me and the horse beautifully, but friend needed it back for her new horse (selfish cow :) ).

Now another friend is selling the same saddle, but it is 17" - how much difference will the half inch make? He is bringing it over so I will be able to sit in it but just wondered if I am kidding myself.

The horse is fairly short backed so I think a half inch shorter will be fine for him, but not if I am bulging out of it like ice cream in a cornet!
 
My old saddle was a 17.5 inch, but have bought a new one to go with the new horse which is a 17 inch.

Tbh I can't tell the difference.......! I am approx 5ft 6'' and medium build.

If in doubt ask a saddler - I always assumed I needed a 17.5 but it was my saddler that said I would be fine in a 17''.
 
I have both and I can't say I really notice the difference but my friend noticed straight away. She does have longer legs than me tho so maybe that's why?

Can't you try the 17" first and see how it feels?
 
My long term saddle is a 17" and fits me well and is very comfy. I have now got a 17.5" that fits my difficult to fit mare but is too big for me, my thighs aren't long enough to sit on the knee pads properly and when I go xc I get bleeding sores on the inside of my knees where tey sit in the wrong place. One day when I can afford it I will get a saddle to fit both of us. Yes half an inch does make a difference!!
 
I had a 17inch for my mare then bought my loan horse the same iin 17.5 and I found it much more comfy, I've go a new saddle for my youngster and have bought him a 17.5 but I am 5'7 with really long legs! though the saddle people said id be fine in 17, I wanted more :)
 
I am around 5'6 in answer to that question.

I can sit in it tomorrow, but wanted to know what to look for - hadn't considered how it would affect where my thighs/knees sit! I have shorter legs and longer upper body so maybe 17" will fit me better...
 
It makes a difference to me. I had 17.5in saddles for years (I am 5ft4, quite petite and have short legs) then changed to a 17in this summer. It has made a huge difference, although that said I've gone for a pony-type saddle so the whole thing is much smaller than my previous 17.5in jumping saddle. I do feel a bit lost in a 17.5in though and feel much more secure in my 17in. It also makes a difference to the horse - saddler really wanted him in a 16.5in but couldn't get one to suit, so this particular 17in is a good compromise because it is such a small saddle.
 
It is to do with the length of your thigh bone - not your bottom.
So you can be short, but with long legs, or tall with short legs, or average with long/short legs, it all depends on you and horse.
 
It IS to do with your hip measurement - a skinny girl with long legs would swim in a big seat, leg length should be more influential in choice of flap cut. Longer legs mean a more forward cut. Going to a bigger seat size should be a last resort, or done if the rider genuinely likes it. It's only in recent years that femur length has been cited as a reason to go to a bigger seat size - it's seldom a good reason.

Bear in mind that a shallower seated 17" will ride more like a deep seated 17.5" - I find that riders find the generally-flat-seated saddles I sell very roomy.
 
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