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Discussion on Saddle fit question for women only! ;-)
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Member:
lisam
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Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2010 - 3:16 pm:
I am sort of joking about "women only" because I'd welcome input from knowledgable men . . . but my subject line will give you a clue to my question. I am in the process of buying a new dressage saddle. I've found one that fits my horse *exceptionally* well, and I am struggling with the seat size for me. The 17 was clearly too small and it tipped my pelvis forward, leaving me on the front part of my crotch (ouch!). I now have the 17 1/2 for a trial. It is much better, but here's my question: my weight is centered on the center of my crotch. The, um, you know. The child-delivering area. I can feel my seat bones, but they are not carrying the bulk of the weight. Should they be? My Centered Riding books seem to say that they should be, but I also seem to remember that this might be a debate between classical and modern dressage folks. Help, please! How do I tell when my pelvis is truly in a neutral balance? Thanks in advance.
Lisa
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2010 - 3:50 pm:
Hi Lisa,
I found this article helpful in comparing the classical to the modern seat. At least the author does a good job of explaining the differences and similarities.
https://www.classicaldressage.co.uk/html/the_seat.html
I am sure others will have more insight for you as well.
Linda
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Monday, Jun 21, 2010 - 6:34 pm:
Hi Lisa; when you say "the weight is centered..." do you mean that the rear of the saddle is pushing you forward and holding you so that you can't roll back onto your seat bones? If so, imo the seat is too small. You should, again imo, be riding on your seat bones which are behind and to either side of the area you mention. You don't mention the saddle width or twist. This measurement will make a big difference in fit. If I ride a saddle that is too wide I get very sore. In a good fitting saddle I can ride for ages, even when I haven't ridden for awhile, without getting sore.
There have been other discussions on finding good saddle fit, and I think a couple of HA members are in the midst of the struggle to find a saddle that fits both them and their horse right now. If you do a search, you can find the posts and probably learn from them. Good luck! Too things I hate to buy are new saddles and new boots!
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Member:
lisam
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 - 1:53 pm:
Thanks everyone! Yes, my concern is that the seat is too small and pushing my pelvis forward (or preventing me from rolling my pelvis back, to level). But honestly, I am not totally sure about that. As the attached photos show (sadly for me!), it may very well be a matter of my lacking muscle tone in my abdomen. When I look at the photos, they make me want to scootch my butt under myself and engage my abs (if I had abs to engage). I just don't want to buy a saddle that makes that harder. Also, no doubt, my horse is built a little downhill, and I think that my pelvis looks more level in the photo where she is standing up more.
I am only 5'2" and 125 pounds, and no one seems to think that I am likely to need an 18" seat. I do have at least 1 1/2 hands width of space behind me. The twist is quite wide, wider than the Kieffer I am replacing, and the tree is wide (my horse is wide!). This is a Lynn Palm Alliance saddle (the Ecole) that is made to fit stock breeds like my Appdx QH mare.
On the question of the baby delivering area, though, I found this interesting quote in my old Centered Riding book, describing the goal as "the well-known three-point seat -- seat bones and crotch ... The relaxed upper front of the thighs provide a solid cushion on either side of the pommel, giving the desired crotch contact. . . . [the weight] is no longer only on your seat bones and buttocks. Quite a lot of the weight is now dripping down over the stirrup bars ... A wide band of weight, emanating from buttocks, seat bones, and thighs ...." So, maybe I am not entirely on the wrong track here!
Thanks again.
Lisa
 
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 - 2:17 pm:
So hard to tell from photos! And we aren't the ones sitting in the saddle.  However, in the top photo, imo, it does look like you are rolled forward a little and like you don't have much room. In the bottom photo you alignment looks better. I can't tell if that's from the photo or horse's angle, or if it has something to do with the stirrups/knee roll, as your feet aren't in the stirrups in the lower picture.
I can't imagine you needing an 18" saddle at your size and weight. I'm taller and heavier and am very comfortable in a 16" seat. Just out of curiosity, have you actually measured the saddle yourself? It just doesn't look that big!
btw - I like hour horse's dappled neck.
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Member:
gramsey1
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Posted on Thursday, Jun 24, 2010 - 7:11 pm:
I agree with Sara. That saddle does not look like an 18. And would add the saddle does appear to tip you forward a bit.
Your horse, which is very pretty, appears to be a little down hill. We just went through a tough saddle fitting. Our TB, though a little larger, has similar conformation. Dressage saddles are for horses like ours are hard to find.
Is the saddle a little wide and set forward on the horse?
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Member:
lisam
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 18, 2010 - 2:58 pm:
First let me apologize for taking so long to respond -- my home computer konked out (bad timing, shopping for a new saddle and a computer all at once), and I have not had time at work to post.
But I do very much appreciate your input! Here's is what I've done from your suggestions. First, I did measure the saddle myself; it's a 17 1/2 inch, no doubt. The saddle *is* wide, but so is my horse . . . I can't rule out my putting it on her wrong, but the saddle fitter who tried it on her was so excited about the perfect fit that he used the saddle, and my horse, as models for a saddle-fitting demonstration.
Sara, you are very nice to compliment my horse's dappled neck without mentioned her neck's overdeveloped underside. ;-) Yes, Guy, she is definitely downhill. What I did recently was put the saddle on another horse that it fits well, a higher-level horse (in terms of an uphill build and self-carriage) than mine. My overall balance (neutral spine and pelvis) was much better on that horse than on mine. But, of course, I have to buy a saddle that fits the horse that I own at her current level of training . . . it was interesting, though, because I had a great lesson on her yesterday, working on self-carriage for her and for me, and during the lesson my position in the saddle improved.
This is also consistent with what I learned last weekend when I tried a whole bunch of different saddles (including hunt seat and western) just to compare their effect on my position. What I learned is that I sit much more correctly in a deep seat saddle -- seemed like a large pommel keeps me from rolling my pelvis forward. Not sure that I am going to go that direction (I trail ride too, and want to be able to take a half-seat on a steep hill), but this was interesting information.
In the meantime, I signed up for a Pilates class . . . . :-)
Thank you again for your thoughts! More feedback always welcome. Still gathering info.
Lisa
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