Ugh. I don’t think I like my saddle.

HaloHoney

HaloHoney

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Apr 30, 2017
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I don’t think I like my saddle. :(

It’s a Thorowgood anatomical GP T8. I bought it new in June when I got Flash.

Since then, he muscled out a bit, so gullet bar was changed. And changed back.

Then I got a sheepskin LeMieux half pad with shims in it to help with the hollow behind his shoulder. Helped for a bit.

Then he was on box rest for 6 weeks. Saddle started moving around when we got up to trot and canter work.

The girth groove on it feels too far back for him- he has a very flat girth line.

I don’t actually find the saddle that comfortable to ride in- I feel like I’m constantly having to adjust my position. Or impaling my pubic bone on the pommel.

Every time he has changed shape I have had it fitted by the saddle fitter where I bought the saddle...

But the more I think about it, the more I’m wondering if I’m trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

At what point do I admit defeat and try a different saddle? Or seek a second opinion? I can’t afford to do anything for 2 months (I’m skint but I’m mentally spending H’s bonus).

Flash is actually working quite nicely in it- will work on a contact, in an outline, and will jump happily in it.

Bit confused about what to do.
 
I might not be the best person to answer this as I pretty much hate riding in GP's these days, all 5 of mine and my sisters horses have a dressage and a jump, and we have a few spares lying about as well!

However, this (and being a test rider for my saddle fitter at one point) means I havr sat in a lot of saddles!

It doesnt matter if the saddle fits the horse, it has to fit you as well. I've a long thigh and horse cant take more than a 17.5" saddle, so for me I find older models better with smaller blocks. My sisters jump I hate, holds me in the wrong place, her dressage has moveable blocks, so is a lot better. I believe the TG's have velcro blocks? Maybe try moving them?

I prefer good quality 2nd hand to cheaper new ones, I have sat in some new saddles (mostly harry dabbs ones) and the seats are rather unforgiving. My saddler sells very expenaive new stuff, but understands thats not my budget and advised on which brands/trees to go for from ebay and the like. I have an Albion dressage and an Ideal jump, neither cost more than £300.

In your position i would try and find a 2nd hand retailer, give them an idea of what you are looking for, see how many they have and if its 4/5 that might be useful get them out and sit in them! Doesnt mean you have to buy. :)



Its such an individual thing, both for the horse and rider.
 
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A friend literally tagged me in these on Facebook an hour ago! This is Flash in his saddle- you can see the angle of the girth strap (his saddle is set up on the points and balance strap - 1 & 4).
D970C1E3-FB75-4224-8AAD-2AAFADD68ACB.jpeg

More interestingly- this is how I look Riding (pony games, don’t ask!)
87B7C96D-22DA-4D9A-B7E9-C9B2D39EFF6F.jpeg
Hardly heel/hip/shoulder alignment is there?! I know it will be 6 of one, etc. In terms of half of it being rider position, half being saddle...

But if I feel like I’m fighting to maintain my position 90% of the time, and not finding the saddle comfortable, then this is why I’m questioning it I guess.
 
Tir said:
I might not be the best person to answer this as I pretty much hate riding in GP's these days, all 5 of mine and my sisters horses have a dressage and a jump, and we have a few spares lying about as well!

However, this (and being a test rider for my saddle fitter at one point) means I havr sat in a lot of saddles!

It doesnt matter if the saddle fits the horse, it has to fit you as well. I've a long thigh and horse cant take more than a 17.5" saddle, so for me I find older models better with smaller blocks. My sisters jump I hate, holds me in the wrong place, her dressage has moveable blocks, so is a lot better. I believe the TG's have velcro blocks? Maybe try moving them?

I prefer good quality 2nd hand to cheaper new ones, I have sat in some new saddles (mostly harry dabbs ones) and the seats are rather unforgiving. My saddler sells very expenaive new stuff, but understands thats not my budget and advised on which brands/trees to go for from ebay and the like. I have an Albion dressage and an Ideal jump, neither cost more than £300.

In your position i would try and find a 2nd hand retailer, give them an idea of what you are looking for, see how many they have and if its 4/5 that might be useful get them out and sit in them! Doesnt mean you have to buy. :)


Its such an individual thing, both for the horse and rider.
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That’s hugely helpful, cheers. I have a mate’s Stubben GP saddle downstairs that she wants rid of, for £100 but no idea if it would fit Flash... need to ask someone whether it’s worth a punt...

Interested in who your saddler is- my situation is complicated by the saddle fitter living onsite at my yard. Would love to get a second opinion. But don’t want to put noses out of joint if it can be helped. :confused:
 
As he’s used in the RS, pretty much can’t have anything other than a minimum of a GP as they use him for dressage lessons and jump lessons...

And I’m b***red if I’m buying him TWO saddles for them to use- I want them for me to use with him, not them! ;)
 
Hmm. Doesn't look like it fits you really. There doesn't seem to be enough room for your thigh & your seat is being pushed too far back, it looks like it's almost impossible to have your leg underneath you as it should... Does your knee come over the front?
 
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HaloHoney said:
Interested in who your saddler is- my situation is complicated by the saddle fitter living onsite at my yard. Would love to get a second opinion. But don’t want to put noses out of joint if it can be helped. :confused:
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http://www.montaguesaddles.co.uk

She's very good at what she does, but is a bit mad! :) Does a lot of remedial work, but I use her because she knows what she is talking about.

I am NOT a saddle fitter...but it kinda looks like your knees are almost off the front of the saddle, so that is not going to be helping you at all. Is it any better with your stirrups down a few holes?

He also doesnt look to be an especially odd shape and girthing on 1 and 4 is a bit unusual.

Since he is on WL id not be buying 2 saddles either...but I bet there is a better and not super expensive option out there!
 
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If he is on working livery with this saddle. Are people altering it around? I have to say personally I wouldn't want every tom, duck and harry using my saddle. I would have a saddle for the school to use that fits and then mine.

You are long in the leg so a dressage/wh might enable you to sit more central. You don't look as if you can fit a hand behind your bum. Your position has probably changed since you got him, been having lesson doing different work, riding longer etc. So it's possible you need something else.
I wouldn't expect a position doing mounted games, just being effective is all you want.

I have to say I have two saddles. Her workload and shape changes so much over winter that we have a dressage model. When is time to change I usually 'hang on' for a few more weeks and feel instantly better at changing, into either. :D
 
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Tir said:
http://www.montaguesaddles.co.uk

She's very good at what she does, but is a bit mad! :) Does a lot of remedial work, but I use her because she knows what she is talking about.

I am NOT a saddle fitter...but it kinda looks like your knees are almost off the front of the saddle, so that is not going to be helping you at all. Is it any better with your stirrups down a few holes?

He also doesnt look to be an especially odd shape and girthing on 1 and 4 is a bit unusual.

Since he is on WL id not be buying 2 saddles either...but I bet there is a better and not super expensive option out there!
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Girthing on any other combination meant it flapped- that combination stopped 90% of the movement.

Cheers for the saddle fitter details. Mad I can do. Mad is normal for me. I like mad. :D

Doing the dressage on him tomorrow- will see if I can get someone to point a camera at us (and hope it’s not too woeful). I usually ride with my stirrups much longer- but then the pommel becomes an issue...
 
newforest said:
If he is on working livery with this saddle. Are people altering it around? I have to say personally I wouldn't want every tom, duck and harry using my saddle. I would have a saddle for the school to use that fits and then mine.
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He is, but the staff tack him up, not just anyone, and I know them all and have watched them do it, so I know they don’t faff around with everything. I deliberately bought a new saddlecloth that isn’t a cheapo RS one (and his fixes through the sheepskin half pad) so that’s one less thing for them to get wrong or to slip...
 
What did your saddle fitter say about how the saddle fits you? The pics aren't great angles but I'd echo what others have said, it doesn't look the best fit for your thigh length.
 
Jessey said:
What did your saddle fitter say about how the saddle fits you? The pics aren't great angles but I'd echo what others have said, it doesn't look the best fit for your thigh length.
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Nothing, really. She asked if it was comfortable, but it wasn’t particularly remarkable either way- i think this has come about since I’ve been trying to ride better.

Complicating factors with me - I have hypermobile joints- hips, lower back & ankles. Long thighs but average lower legs. So I have to work to stop everything moving- and then work extra hard to control it all as I ride. :oops:
 
HaloHoney said:
Nothing, really. She asked if it was comfortable, but it wasn’t particularly remarkable either way- i think this has come about since I’ve been trying to ride better.

Complicating factors with me - I have hypermobile joints- hips, lower back & ankles. Long thighs but average lower legs. So I have to work to stop everything moving- and then work extra hard to control it all as I ride. :oops:
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Did he watch you ride in it?
 
I'd be tempted to get another saddle just for your use and let them use the other in lessons unless it doesn't fit and is causing him pain. If you're on a tight budget I'd stick with a good GP. You have the same problem I have long thighs, it's the first thing saddle fitters comment on, not the horse but my lanky legs lol. My horse is only 15hh and can't take over 17" so hopefully as Flash is bigger you won't find it as hard as I did. There doesn't look to be much room in the seat unless you're sat far back? If I were you I'd quietly arrange to for another fitter to come out. Try and find a fitter who deals with second hand and can bring a few. As already said saddles are really individual things and it's got be right for both horse and rider. A saddle that some people love you might hate so you really need to try a few both on the flat and over a fence.
 
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Sometimes I think saddlers are compelled (rightly or wrongly) to make an OK fitting saddle work, it might be worth a chat with the one you have been using to ask if he thinks a change is in order given what you are feeling now, it might prompt him to take a new direction :)
 
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I don't know anything about your condition. But I wondered if your stirrups could be hindering you?
I use the Flexi ride with cage and fair enough they are not the prettiest on the market, but they are so comfortable I can't go back to the small treads.
 
newforest said:
I don't know anything about your condition. But I wondered if your stirrups could be hindering you?
I use the Flexi ride with cage and fair enough they are not the prettiest on the market, but they are so comfortable I can't go back to the small treads.
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Just recently changed stirrups which have been instrumental in me getting Flash to round up at all! I’ve tried flex ones but adding in more flex where I’m already too flexible turned out to be counter-productive. These ones have a stellar amount of grip (really cheese-gratery) which means my leg actually stays a lot more still.
 
HaloHoney said:
Just recently changed stirrups which have been instrumental in me getting Flash to round up at all! I’ve tried flex ones but adding in more flex where I’m already too flexible turned out to be counter-productive. These ones have a stellar amount of grip (really cheese-gratery) which means my leg actually stays a lot more still.
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Perfect. Thought you would have liked into it. Sounds like it's maybe a saddle change.

My bottom expanded as well so changed up to a 17"
 
When riding the other day, I was struck by the pattern of wear on the saddle...

Only just noticed it. :oops:
22C7BB64-D2C6-4AB3-AC79-EB1BBFB2691A.jpeg

Schooling him today, If I sat at the deepest part of the saddle, sitting trot, no stirrups, he was hollow. If I wriggled myself backwards and sat without impaling myself, he was much more relaxed and round. Worst thing is, I’m so utterly skint I can’t afford to do anything right now. :(

HMRC just informed my husband that he’s been on the wrong tax code and we have to hand over the contents of our savings account.

Flash doesn’t seem upset by it, he’s just carrying on. It’s me that the saddle doesn’t fit, it would seem.
 
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