[Meaghan1011]

hi

I bought an 16.5 all purpose saddle to break my 2 yr old in , now she is 5 and im looking for a real leather saddle, my problem is my legs are short, im under 5 feet and my knee doesnt reach the knee roll/block thing, when i ride with my leathers long for flatwork it doesnt reach and when i ride short since my legs are short it tilts me forward and i lean forward and dont sit up straight becuz i feel like im riding like a jockey, lol do i need a close contact saddle, and small size than 16.5, a saddle with a short flap,??? any brand/ suggestions are greatly apprecitaed!
brands (pessoa, HDr, dover circuit, CWD, m.toulose,mondega, wintec, thorowgood, bates, collegiate, wylde, )

please help!!!
pictures show the problem as best as they can with the angles

0318091341 pictures from horses photos on webshots
0322091641 pictures from horses photos on webshots
0322091640b pictures from horses photos on webshots
DEeDEe feb 15th 010 pictures from pets photos on webshots

 

[horsea]

have you tried a youth or childs saddle? They look the same as an adult saddle they are just built for people on the smaller side. I know that Dover has some really good ones but you can usually find them at any tack store. Hope this helped!

 

[luvs2ride1979]

In this photo, your rear end says you need a 17" or 17.5" saddle.
0318091341 pictures from horses photos on webshots

You should have 2-3 fingers of room behind your hiney ot the back edge of the seat, minimum, preferably 4-5 fingers of room.

I would suggest looking for a 17-17.5" saddle with extra short flaps. They are out there, though not often used. You might look at VSD or Dressage saddles if you want to do mostly flat work. If you're looking at jumping, with little flat work, then you might look at saddles with a higher and more forward flap, like a XC saddle.

If you can't find anything used, then you're going to need to buy semi-custom new. Most manufacturers can order you a saddle with shortened flaps, you'll just have to pay extra and wait longer for it to be made.

 

[Meaghan1011]

bump

some people say i need smaller, some say i need a bigger than 16.5, should i get a close contact or all purpose, i am looking to do jumping mostly. help what should i get???????

 

[sillybunny11486]

go to your local tack store and have them fit you.

 

[luvs2ride1979]

You need a smaller/shorter flap, but a larger seat. You basically need youth cut flaps on a 17" tree.

If you want the saddle to fit right, you're going to need to go semi-custom. Talk to your local tack shop to see what brands and models they can order semi-custom for you. If your local shop is not helpful, then some of the bigger stores that have web sites may be willing to help. I would call around and see what they can do for you.

 

[upnover]

My first thought is exactly what luvs2ride said. The seat of your saddle is too small for your body (i've always been taught you should have a hand's width behind your butt) and that the bottom of the flap of your saddle hits too far down on your leg, which means it's too long. The bottom edge should hit higher up on your calf.

HOWEVER- the more i look at your picture the more I think the size MAY not be as far off. i think it looks improperly sized due to your position. (perhaps your position is off because of your saddle?). You're sitting far back in the seat (Where you should be closer to the pommel) which makes the seat look smaller then it is, esp since you're resting your hands on the pommel. Makes it harder to see how much saddle is in front of you. And with your leg out in front of you, where your heel should be directly in line with your hip. That will give you a shorter leg as well. While there's a good chance you'll need a larger size with a short flap, the degree of how much will be harder to tell without a more correct position. If you take a picture from the side of you sitting in the middle of the seat and just let your leg dangle down it's easier to see where the flap is in relation to your leg. Another major issue is that your flap is set very forward, too far forward then what you need. Unless you ride with a very short stirrup your knee will not touch the knee roll. But regardless, I do think you need a new saddle. These are the kind of saddles that I usually warn people away from, they do not encourage proper position! Pretty much any saddle you listed is a better brand then what you're sitting in now. Always get the best quality your wallet can afford (heck, you can swing a CWD go for it!).

 

[upnover]

PS- i know you weren't asking for a critique and if you're offended i (sort of) gave one, i apologize. just think it's one of the factors to consider.

 

[Meaghan1011]

upnover, no no thank you, any info i can get is helpful, thanx so much, i will deff take some more pics from the sides and try and sit taller and straighter, where my stirrup is, is where i normally ride for flatwork, and i bring it up a hole for jumping, i will post the pics tomorrow afternoon

 

[Meaghan1011]

bump

does this picture help understand the problem? im sitting up straighter,

0426091856 pictures from horses photos on webshots
0426091856b pictures from horses photos on webshots
0426091856c pictures from horses photos on webshots

hope those help, they arent the best but... i will try and get better ones tomorrow

 

[upnover]

MUCH better pictures! (and position! ) Definitely showed a little more... and that you need a bigger seat and shorter flap. It looks as though your calf is a little shorter in comparison to your thigh length. The size of your saddle is essentially based on the length of your thigh. So I would agree with Luv2ride that it appears that you're going to need a bigger seat and shorter flap. Whether that means a custom short flap or a brand with a flap that tends to run short, don't know. You're going to have to sit in several because different brands fit differently and you'll just have to see what brand and what model fits you best. I'm 5"2 and used to have a 16.5 that fit me perfectly. Bought a 16.5 in another brand? Way too small. Had to return that saddle and go up to a 17. I rode in a 17.5 the other day? Ridiculously big! I don't know what your budget is but if you're willing to spend a bit you should check out Antares. They offer several different flap lengths. (i think it's 0-5. 0 is quite short) and several different forwardness of flaps. Different narrowness to the twist, etc etc etc. So you can get a very custom saddle to fit your body perfectly. antaressaddlery.com is their website. smartpak did just start selling them, but they don't have as many custom options. good deals do come up on ebay as well.

 

[luvs2ride1979]

0426091900 pictures from horses photos on webshots
Looking at this photo, one reason you may be constantly in the back of the saddle is that the saddle is too narrow for your horse and sits too low in back. The saddle should set evely, so the deepest part of the seat is more toward the pommel, not toward the cantle.

 

[Meaghan1011]

bump bump bump

 

[Meaghan1011]

bump bump

 

[Seahorseys]

The saddle is way too small. I would try a stubben roxane S or VSS AP close contact. 17". It's hard to tell, I also don't know the quality of that saddle you are in. I'm 5'8 and ride in an 18" stubben Tristan special with no knee roll at all. Contrary to recent saddle trends, you don't really need huge knee rolls/blocks for any discipline. They have a tendency to force your leg into a cookie cutter "correct" position that isn't right for everyone. There are 3 used roxanes on ebay right now.

 

[Becca93]

That is a slightly better position but in my opinion you are still going to need a 17" seat.

 

[my2geldings]

Changing the size of the seat won't fix the problem. A lot of saddles fit differently. I had the same issue as you tho. I'm 5'5 but I have a very short upper leg. I had to custom my saddle with a short flap and add some blocks(oooooh so comfy!).
You go take a look at your local consignment store and see what they hae. Maybe try a couple saddles. There are some great second hand saddles out there.

 

[Polaris]

Don't mean to hijack the thread, but My2Geldings....you have some very beautiful photos in your Albums. Wow.

 

[PaintingMissy]

I have this same problem and I am currently saving up to by a Zaldi by Bt. Crump. Had this one fitted to me by a local tack shop. and would recommend looking into it. I didnt have to have it customized so it must be a pretty standard flap for them. You could also look into getting a saddle where the flaps dont come out so far in the front and are a little straigter. My saddle runs at about 1400 dollars which is quite alot for me but since it will be putting me in the right seat well worth it.

 

[Tack Collector]

I think a Stubben CS series close contact saddle lile the Artus or Edleweiss CS on a 17 or maybe a 16.5" might fit. (edited that to say might after reading the short thigh comment. I have a long thigh, maybe longer than yours and these saddles are not too forward for me in a seat size 16.5") I ride a 16.5 and I know I am heavier than you. The flap length on those is shorter than most ccs. 13.5" from top of stirrup bar straight down to bottom of flap.

That was 31cm 16.5" Artus, a CS series close contact.

Edleweiss or Edleweiss CS will be easier to find. This one is the 32cm and seat size 16.5"

eBay 260532129192 is a 32cm but 17.5" seat. There is also a dark brown called Ebony. I think 17.5" would be too big. But if the flap is too long on the Edleweiss, it would be pretty easy for a saddler to shorten it b/c the knee pad won't also have to be shortened.