Wow saddle - short flaps

shortenmyreins

New User
Joined
19 August 2018
Messages
9
Visit site
I am going to try a Wow saddle for my guy and if it works out I'm hoping to buy used panels and seat and order short jumping flaps for my stubby legs. I'm in Canada and the nearest fitter is about a 3 day drive away so I'll be doing a lot of the fitting myself and won't be able to trial different options.
For those who have short flaps on your jumping saddles, what flap do you have? I am leaning towards the Continental - I generally need a flap that is fairly straight, even in a jump saddle. My inseam is only 27" (68cm).
 
The jumping flaps are pretty short already so you should be OK. I have moveable block jump flaps swept extra forward, because I ride very short to jump and not quite so short to do a farm ride. And I've been able to fit big blocks, which are unpopular now but I like something to get my knee into.
 
Agree, the jump flaps are already relatively short compared to some other saddles, standard ones would probably be ok.

The continental ones are handy with the moveable blocks but I personally prefer the fixed block jump flaps but any jump flaps should work well.

Have you worked out what type of seat and panels you will require yet?
 
I just sold a saddle (literally just packing it up to ship out) so I'm just now ready to get things sorted out. I've been in contact with the "local" fitter, and she will send me the gauge first before sending me a trial saddle. I anticipate that I will be needing SD panels of some sort for my Andalusian cross gelding.

My last jumping saddle (which I still own but doesn't fit either horse) is a short flap version and measures 14" from the stirrup bar. Here (hopefully) is an old pic of me in the saddle. This is not my jumping length, which would be up probably 2 holes. I put a red line across where the bottom of the flap is on my leg. I could easily lose 2 more inches of flap, if not 3 for an 11" flap. You can also see how straight this flap is - my knees are in no risk of going over the front of the flap. I have a very short thigh.

There are short flaps, and then there are my version of short flaps!
30269881088_eeb49fec2f.jpg
[/url]
 
You can't really compare flap length between a wow and other saddles because the stirrup bars are set on so differently and will also depend whether you need to use the front or back bar.

I would just go for standard size flaps to begin with, you can always change them at a later date - standard flaps will be a lot easier to move on whereas if you buy shorter flaps and they don't work you may be stuck with them
 
And not that you've got much "fluff" but a really skinny bean will sit lower in the saddle, so inseam is only part of it. The more upholstery we have the higher we sit and shorter we need the flaps, and a very particular high block placement (and often a more forwards flap to enable them to be high set and finish high up too), not something many people talk about as it's a personal minefield :D.
 
Top