16.5 in vs 17 inch saddle for short legged rider

[omare]

I am considering shopping for a second used saddle. I have always had 16.5 inch close contact saddles, but the last used one I bought ( a lovely used Pessoa) is a 17 inch with a small knee roll. It is wonderful for flat work and hacking, but it seems if I try to shorten my stirrups (for jumping) my knee ends up on the roll/edge of flap, so I end up riding too long for the activity.

Is that because I am so short legged (5’4" w short legs) that the point of my knee ends up too high up on the saddle flap? I guess I thought a 17 inch would have more flap for a longer leg…does it make sense a smaller/short legged person does not fit in a “larger saddle”. I have never had this problem before, but I also have never ridden in a 17 inch before.(And I will make sure I try “shortened stirup” on any next saddle I try!) TIA

[Highflyer1]

It depends a lot on the saddle itself. It may just not be the right fit for you, or for riding with shorter stirrups. I am 5’4 with short legs and a big butt and I ride in an 18". But some saddles are cut with more forward flaps than others.

[OfCourseItsAnAlter]

A saddle that is characterized as an all purpose saddle will have straighter flaps, so not as much flap ahead of your knee to accommodate shorter stirrup lengths.

Some brands offer different flap options on some of their saddles. If the saddle has the more forward flap option, then you have more knee room for shorter stirrups (or more room for the leg of a rider with a proportionately longer femur). So, the same saddle in the same seat size can be better or worse for shorter stirrups depending on which flap option it has.

All things being equal, a longer seat should make it easier to shorten your stirrups without having your knee go over the front of the flap because your seat can slide back farther away from the front of the saddle (a broad generalization ignoring other factors like the location of the balance point of the seat).

I’d guess that your issue with your 17 inch Pessoa is more about the shape/size of the flap and not so much about the size of the seat itself.

[Rel6]

It sounds like the length of the flap isn’t the issue, but rather that it wasn’t forward enough. Even as a shorter rider, you could be longer from hip to knee meaning that when you shorten your stirrups your knee is going to poke out the front of a straighter-cut flap.

[findeight]

Remember the seat measurement is to fit your femur, hip to knee, not hip to heel. Nothing to do with butt size or total leg length. Am 5’4” too, but have long femur and shorter lower leg, I fit best in a 17.5 but would choose an 18” over a 17. Have a 5’7” friend thats built opposite, shorter above the knee then below, she takes the 16.5. That can very much effect where your knee hits the flap.

On top of that, different brands may fit differently due to different seat shape and rise/twist. Really need to sit in them before deciding if its a good fit or not. Preferably on your horse or one of the similar build as yours.

[JB]

@omare

I guess I thought a 17 inch would have more flap for a longer leg

that’s not quite how it (always) works.

Seat size is firstly about your actual seat size. But, if that model in a 16.5" seat technically fits your butt, but because of a longer thigh it forces your knees too far forward with an appropriately adjusted leather, than going to a 17" may be all the room you need to move back a little and still be centered in the seat.

This is also why many models have a standard, a more forward flap (and sometimes multiple degrees of forward.

Seat size has everything to do with butt size, it’s the only thing in the seat.

BUT also, the flap degree of forwardness has everything to do with an average femur length for that butt size. Someone with my butt size and femur will fit nicely in the same seat as someone with my butt size but a longer, or shorter femur, with our feet out of the stirrups.

However, the longer-femured person will either need a 1/2"-1" bigger seat to be able to move back and still be centered in the seat, OR a more forward flap. Usually it’s easier to go up a seat size. If they are super long in the femur, they should get a more forward flap and not a seat size 2" bigger.

The shorter-femured person should not move to a smaller seat size or they will be sitting too much on the back half of the saddle. You can go bigger, to some point, and still be effective, but you should never go smaller such that you’re center of weight is behind the center of the seat. At best that compromises your ability to stay centered in the seat, and at worst it means you are sitting “on” the cantle and putting undue pressure at that point of the horse’s back. They may need a slightly shorter flap, or just deal with a bit more in front than ideal, which is more acceptable than having a knee hanging over the front edge.

It also matters whether the seat is deeper and more U-shaped, or flatter with that U having a flat center. A 17" seat will fit larger with a flat center, smaller with a U shpae

[omare]

Thanks all, sounds like I need to pay better attention to the forwardness of the flap (and make sure I try it riding “short” enough for jumping.)