Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Hi Kris,
    Most saddle shoppers think they've finished their Great Saddle Hunt
when they find a saddle that appears to fit their horse.  You
discovered that they only got to second base ('scuse the mixed
metaphor!).  I've talked with lots of saddle makers and know that many
are aware of the need to fit the rider as well as the horse but no one
has come up with a good way to measure a rider's crotch shape.  You are
lucky to have a well stocked tack store nearby so you could try a
variety of saddles.  And thanks for sharing your discoveries; you
described the problem very well!  And your solution: only dealing with
saddle makers/sellers who give a (generous) trial period is the way to
go.
Laney

Kris wrote:

I recently started shopping for a new saddle for Salty, my 6 year old gelding who is currently with a trainer.  Since I didn't have him around to measure, I thought I would take a different approach to the Great Saddle Search, and start by trying out a few saddles to see what fit me, then see if what I liked could fit him.  So, I visited a tack shop that has a pretty good selection of saddles, English AP, dressage, western, and many different makers. 

 

What an eye opener!!!  I'd been looking at the Wintec Isabell dressage saddle, and thinking that the deep seat looked pretty secure and comfortable.  Not for me.  Tried the Wintec 2000.  Okay, needed a smaller seat size than I thought (17").  Tried a used Wintec 250 (17.5").  Fit me just right, and was very comfortable.  (Don't think they come with the changeable gullet system, though, so it might be a problem getting it to fit Salty).  Tried a Stubben AP, tried a Collegiate, tried both dressage and AP styles.  I needed different seat sizes in different brands or styles.  That was a surprise.  I thought a 17" was a 17".  

 

I also tried western saddles.  Several people had recommended the Big Horn as a good, low-budget saddle that seems to fit a lot of horses well, and has a balanced seat.  I tried one.  Way too wide a twist for me.  Tried a Crates, it was okay.  Tried a Circle Y, and it felt good, but didn't have a very balanced feel (I thought I would have trouble posting).  Again, I needed different seat sizes in different makes of saddle.  And none of these western models were endurance models, which I would prefer. 

 

I have also ridden in an Ortho-Flex Patriot saddle (size unknown) that was very comfortable for me.  And my old, old Tex Tan western saddle is pretty good - size and balance-wise.

 

So the big lesson I took away from that visit, was that I really need to try out the specific brand and size of saddle before I know if it will work for me.  When I look at saddle websites now, I really look for saddle makers that offer a saddle trial period.  I would not buy a saddle unseen unless I had tried that specific model and size beforehand.  That may seem obvious to many of you, but the wide variation in saddles was an eye-opener for me.

 

Kris in Idaho

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=