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Question # 112: Can we talk about saddle fit for the rider? I am saddle shopping and have been for a year. (Current Freebie!)
...I tend to like a deeper seated saddle, but I find myself hitting the cantle or bringing my seat too far forward when jumping seemingly as a result. Can we discuss saddle flap length and position, and seat depth and width, and how it relates to the riders' position and ability to find balance? Thanks! (Aubrey)
Hi Aubrey!
Oh I feel for you, saddle shopping can be so frustrating! What you describe is exactly why deap seated saddles are NOT usually recommended for jumping. Especially for cross country - a longer, flatter seat and a more forward cut flap allow you to move your hips back without hitting the cantle, which is necessary for security. And this becomes REALLY important on the bigger drop fences!
Since saddle fit is not my specialty, I have asked my friends and saddle experts David Stackhouse and Lesley Gleave from Stackhouse Saddles (http://www.stackhousesaddles.com) for their insight. And they were kind enough to share their expertise with our members! Here is their response:
The most important aspect is the balance of the saddle as this affects where you sit in the seat and how your leg falls. The balance is influenced by two things - how the saddle is sitting on the horse, and where the balance was formed when the saddle was made.
I can not stress strongly enough that the balance is the key to everything, when that is correct everything else automatically falls into place. Once you have established the balance is correct, you can begin to look at the fit for the rider.
Thank you David and Lesley for taking the time to share your thoughts! I hope this helps you Aubrey! Keep us posted!
Hi Aubrey!
Oh I feel for you, saddle shopping can be so frustrating! What you describe is exactly why deap seated saddles are NOT usually recommended for jumping. Especially for cross country - a longer, flatter seat and a more forward cut flap allow you to move your hips back without hitting the cantle, which is necessary for security. And this becomes REALLY important on the bigger drop fences!
Since saddle fit is not my specialty, I have asked my friends and saddle experts David Stackhouse and Lesley Gleave from Stackhouse Saddles (http://www.stackhousesaddles.com) for their insight. And they were kind enough to share their expertise with our members! Here is their response:
The most important aspect is the balance of the saddle as this affects where you sit in the seat and how your leg falls. The balance is influenced by two things - how the saddle is sitting on the horse, and where the balance was formed when the saddle was made.
I can not stress strongly enough that the balance is the key to everything, when that is correct everything else automatically falls into place. Once you have established the balance is correct, you can begin to look at the fit for the rider.
- Make sure that you are in the center of the seat - take your feet out of the stirrups and wriggle into the deepest spot.
- While you are facing forward, have a friend or your trainer look at how much space you have behind you (you cannot do this yourself.) For hunter/jumper and dressage you need four fingers - little finger touching your bottom, fourth finger level with the top of the cantle. Cross country should have room for five fingers.
- Forwardness of the flap - for jumping/cross country you need to be at your shortest stirrup length when evaluating this. For dressage you should be at your longest stirrup length. You need to have at least 3/4" of flap in front of your knee. Your leg should snug up to the block, not be on top of it. (Make sure you are in the center of the seat when you do this, so many people have developed the habit of scooting back in the seat to keep their knee behind the front of the flap.)
- Flap length - the bottom of the flap needs to be mid calf. Long enough so that it does not catch on the top of your boot, but not so long that you cannot get your leg on the horse.
- Ideally the back of the flap should be slightly wider than your thigh at the top, however you are unlikely to find this on most off the rack saddles. The important thing to look at is the position of the back block (if there is one). You should not be able to feel the back block when you are just sitting in the saddle, it should only come into play if your legs swings too far back.
Thank you David and Lesley for taking the time to share your thoughts! I hope this helps you Aubrey! Keep us posted!
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