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| Opinion needed; saddle fit - with photos | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: May 23 2011, 04:36 PM (246 Views) | |
| Fish Cheeks | May 23 2011, 04:36 PM Post #1 |
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I posted this on TOB but at the time didn't have photos. I begged Mr. Fishy to help me by being photographer and after 5 minutes of Mac fussing and trying to eat his reins and me yelling at him to knock it off, we managed to get a couple decent photos. Anyway, here's what I wrote on TOB: I see so many people squeezed in to saddles that are too small for them - what about the too-big saddle? I'm interested in opinions on saddle sizing for the rider. I have various saddles that I ride in ranging from 17" (jumping saddle) to 19" (also jumping saddle - Mr. Fishy's that happens to fit my mustang). I've had a 17.5" Rembrandt Integra that I had to sell because it gave me serious crotch problems. I have an 18" Prestige (for Paddy) and now have an 18" Frank Baines Capriole on trial for Mac. After selling the Integra, I was so happy to ride in the Prestige - the more open seat was much more comfortable, as was a twist that is a little wider. I like having room to move around and realized I don't like a deep seat. I had a saddle fitter out last week to try some dressage saddles for Mac and after whittling the selection down to the final three, I loved the FB Capriole. I feel very centered and balanced in it and it is a good fit for Mac. I've got it on trial, but it is an 18", and I could probably go down to a at least 17.5 or even 17 due to the flatness of the seat. I don't feel like because of the extra room behind me that my butt slides back and my legs come forward; the saddle puts me in the right spot and it is easy to stay there. I got a price break on this because it was a demo. Oh, and the fitter did some flocking adjustments to give it a better fit for Mac. Is .5" of room worth getting a new saddle for and paying a few hundred more dollars (for new vs. demo)? I really don't feel like the larger seat size affects my riding. I'm 5'5" and longer hip to knee than knee to ankle. And here is the best photo we could come up with with the wiggle worm: I feel great in it, but don't want to look like I'm swimming or that it is a huge mis-fit. It really feels broken in already and I just love it! Here is a gratuitous Mac shot with just his tack: Note the hairy eyeball while trying to sneak a rein into his mouth! Do you think the saddle looks ok? |
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| Fish Cheeks | May 23 2011, 04:37 PM Post #2 |
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Ack! Meant to post in the Barn Aisle!
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| Trialbyfire | May 23 2011, 04:42 PM Post #3 |
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I don't show....so I'll let those people comment on that part. Honestly, I wouldn't have really given it a second look unless you asked for one...I don't think it looks obviously too big. (To me it looks like you are sitting in the lowest part of the saddle and if it were smaller...would you be sitting a bit on slope up to the cantle?) I think the most important thing is how it feels....and if you get this saddle .5" smaller will it *feel* the same? So my first inclination is to say that if you like it, you should keep it. BUT....does it make a difference in the show ring.....not sure. So....maybe others have a different opinion. I personally think that it wouldn't be noticeable unless it affected your riding OR looked ridiculous....(especially the too small look....when a rider's butt is hanging off the back -- which also must be very uncomforable/unbalanced). |
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| SnackPack | May 23 2011, 09:21 PM Post #4 |
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So I can tell why you feel balanced in it....your leg hangs beautifully and everything looks aligned like it should be. Now, that said...I do think the seat is too big. You've got A LOT of room in front and behind your seat. Like you could have a little tea party room. I don't know if it is worth more money to go smaller, though. I think you'd have to try the smaller ones (at least the next two sizes down) to see how they feel and align you. From there, you can make a better judgement. If the smaller seats fit you better and still align you the way this one does, they may be worth it. If they don't, maybe it's not. Not a lot of help, am I.
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| Fish Cheeks | May 23 2011, 09:45 PM Post #5 |
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No, you're not a lot of help! There's actually not a lot of room in front, most of it is behind. I had such a bad crotch problem (like bleeding from the nether regions from which I should not be bleeding) with the other saddle that I guess I'm scared off of something smaller. And it worries me to try something else. Like, this is THE ONE I like and if I try something else, will I not like it? I have until Friday to decide....
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| SnackPack | May 23 2011, 10:09 PM Post #6 |
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That most likely wasn't a small seat, but rather a high pommel. I've had the very problem with a Black Country. And I was worried it would be a problem with my Delgrange and was going to order the "female" pommel (read: lower) to avoid it. Turns out with the flatter seat, I didn't have any problems. I fully understand and empathize with the fear of that particular problem. It is NOT fun. It looks to me like you can fit a hand and a half in front and probably two behind. It looks quite large in the seat. However, the position it puts you in is great. If you can find the same position in a smaller seat (with no crotch busting issues) I would say it's worth it. If you can't, it probably isn't. |
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| jn4jenny | May 24 2011, 05:47 AM Post #7 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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I'm going to be the voice of dissent. I'd pay the few hundred extra bucks and get the smaller saddle. If you look closely at your photo, your leg is actually slightly in front of you because the stirrup bar is too far forward (the whole saddle is built for a much bigger rider, so that's no surprise). I really don't want to offend you and in fact I am guilty of this very same equitation fault so please understand I'm only saying it to help you see the saddle issue: imagine your shoulders and head actually pulled back into line with your hips, not hunched over the way they are in the photo. What appears in the photo to be a perfect line with your ear/shoulder/hips/ankle bone is actually an illusion caused by your slight hunch forward. If we imagine you sitting up in classical dressage position with your shoulders open and your head in alignment with your spine, then we can see that your whole leg is slightly in front of you. My guess is that at basic w/t/c Training Level stuff, you probably can't even feel this. So if you have extremely modest goals, like just trail riding and Training Level dressage, then maybe you could get away with this saddle. But as soon as the horse starts lifting through the withers at First Level and above, it's going to magnify the "chair seat" effect and give you issues. I know it sucks to heap a few hundred extra bucks and a waiting period on top of $2K+ already, but if you're going to spend that kind of cash, get the absolutely PERFECT saddle--not the one that's "almost good enough." |
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| Fish Cheeks | May 24 2011, 06:43 AM Post #8 |
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Thanks for your input, jen. There's no way I could have possibly gotten a photo of me in a perfectly aligned position considering Mac wouldn't stand still! So looking at the saddle, what size seat would you suggest? Unfortunately they don't have all saddles in all seat sizes so there isn't a 17" or 17.5" for me to demo - I'll be "stuck" with whatever I get. |
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| Kassandra | May 24 2011, 08:25 AM Post #9 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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DITTO everything jn4jenny said, the saddle looks way too large and my guess is you will be struggling to keep your leg under you and your seat in the right place. You do not want to have to even think for a moment that your need to pull your leg back, or move your leg at all even slightly to get it back into position underneath you. Anyway, all that said, I would recommend getting a 17" demo if you can. If they cannot provide you with one or let you demo one before you buy it, then find someone that will. Maybe contact Trumbull Mountain and get one of their demos, they are great to work with http://www.trumbullmtn.com/store/new-saddles/dressage/frank-baines-dressage-saddles/capriole/ Edited by Kassandra, May 24 2011, 08:28 AM.
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| jn4jenny | May 24 2011, 05:20 PM Post #10 |
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Is the meadow on fire?
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This is probably not the answer you want, but I'd ask the fitter what they'd advise. If you're asking purely about stirrup bar placement, my guess is that you'd need to go all the way down to 17" to get that right. But then there's the question of the flap. My guess is that your leg will swing back into a more correct "dressage position" once you're in the right seat size, but your fitter knows this saddle model best and can advise about whether a slightly more forward flap would be advisable. |
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| Fish Cheeks | May 24 2011, 05:33 PM Post #11 |
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Well I'm getting a 17.5" on trial from Trumbull Mtn. I sent them the picture of me in the saddle and they thought that with my length of thigh that 17" may not work out. It was the original fitters opinion also that a 17.5 would be better but they didn't have one that I could demo. I've got some other questions for the saddle fitter and I'm waiting to hear back so we'll see. Why is this so difficult? Sigh. |
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| jillincolorado | May 24 2011, 08:32 PM Post #12 |
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I'm sorry, did you ask something? I was too busy drooling at the photo of your lovely Mac-a-do and wasn't paying attention. I'm glad you had already agreed to tgry one a wee bit smaller. I too, think it's just a bit too big all over for you. I bet down the line you will have some trouble with your position in it and feel like you are swimming. |
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| hijumpin1 | May 24 2011, 09:49 PM Post #13 |
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Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back.
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If it were used and very reasonable I'd say keep it. I'd rather have a saddle too big than too small. If you are buying one new and spending the G's, you should probably spend extra and get one a size smaller to fit better. It actually looks like it might be two sizes too big. Don'tcha hate saddle shopping? Oy. |
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