Hi, new with a question..

Hello all. I went riding with a friend yesterday. We went trail riding, and I used a Western saddle. I was very uncomfortable, and couldn't seem to get a good seat. It felt like my pelvic bones were grinding into the saddle. Now I have huge raised bruises. This has never happened before, and I'm curious if anyone else has had this happen, and how they solved it. Thanks.

Sorry, can't help you ( I ride english) But I just wanted to welcome you to the forum!

What kind of saddle did you use; barrel, trail, roping, etc? Does the saddle fit you? How long were your stirrups?

If I go a long time without riding and then spend a long day in the saddle, I will be very sore on the points of my pelvis too but I have never had the raised bruises like that.

Do you maybe have a pic of you riding? That would help us see what your seat is and if it is balanced.

Welcome to the forum.

Thank you for the welcomes!

I have no idea on the specifics of the saddle, I'm a noob. I've ridden enough in my life to have a basic understanding, but never long enough to really develop skills. I had the good fortune to meet a woman who owns and cares for many horses, and she welcomed my help. So it was probably inexperience coupled with bad fitting? I'll be using a different saddle next time, for sure.

I'll be lurking and learning.

I'd guess it's a saddle. I had this experience couple times in barn I used to ride in. Those saddles were like piece of wood to sit on - very uncomfortable and I had issues with legs. Good saddles are dream to ride in. I spent lots of time looking for mine (and it's comfy) and when I tried couple saddles in cutting barn they were very nice to ride in as well. So I guess you were just unlucky. :)

Been there, done that...it tanks. Sorry to hear about the bruises. It took me a long time to realize that I needed shorter stir ups. I thought my saddle was just uncomfortable but then I shortened my stirups for a kid to ride one day and hopped on after them without adjusting them and I noticed that my saddle fit me better.

**LIGHT BULB MOMENT** I was supporting myself solely on my tush and with the shorter stirups my pelvis was rocked back just enough to put me on my seat bones instead of my pelvic bones, like I was riding on my back pockets more.

Now I adjust my stirups so that they are about ankle length with my feet out of them.

Hope you get to feeling better soon and Welcome to the Forum!!!

I will definitely shorten the sirrups next time as well. Thank you all so much.