Custom Saddlery - long blocks vs short blocks

[normandy_shores]

I suppose this question could apply to non Custom Saddlery saddles as well, but I was curious about the difference between a short block and a long block. More specifically, why you would choose one over the other, or what type of build suits one over another.

I’ve previously owned a Custom Coronado, currently own a Custom Monte Carlo (their monoflap jump saddle), and trying to get my butt back into an Icon Flight. I demo’ed it many years ago but it was out of my budget, and the similarly shaped trees (like the Steffen Advantage) didn’t ride well for me. My short backed pony wants a saddle with a smidge more curve like those trees, so keeping my eyes peeled for a Flight and it made me think about the short vs long block comparisons.

[sigrid.sijtsma]

short or long blocks are always what is the lenght of the upperleg in the saddle, sometime long blocks, for short upperlegs, the knee will touch the block and dosnt give you the good sbility and freedom to ride the /sit the correct way.

i have a custum wolfgang solo II dressage saddle, with short block and they are in angle, for me thats ride the best, as my lower leg can go every way i want and my upperleg give the light pressure that i need, also open sit, so i can move enough and are not sitting very tight on a saddle.

so the blocks on a saddle is personal for evry rider, as the lenght of the person, lenght of legs, and the way you like to sit in saddle, if you need a lot support form the saddle or not.

[Viranh]

I’m so short that my knee jams into a longer block rather than falling below it. That makes it almost impossible for me to ride in it correctly or comfortably. I have to have a short and angled block to fit in the saddle.

[see_u_at_x]

According to Custom’s website:

• Short knee rolls provide more support for your upper legs, preventing you from raising your legs
• Long knee rolls ensure a more straight leg position and a stable posture

Long knee rolls always made me feel “stuck” in the saddle and I used to have more of an issue trying to raise my knees anyway, so the short blocks work better for me. For the record, I’m 5’5" and am longer from hip to knee than from knee to ground. I ride in a Wolfgang Gemini R with the I2SR block option.

[sigrid.sijtsma]

yes and a correct rider/amazone, dosnt need a block for not raising your upper legs, or straight leg position or stable posture, lol

that has to do with the mentality the rider has.

everybody who can ride a horse without a saddle, has blocks on a horsesaddle, but not to much, cause then you get @see_u_at_x says, STUCK in a saddle…

cause a lot of riders who are stuck sitting and find that comfortable, need to ride a horse for 6 months without a saddle, then the know what horseriding is, and that you have to balance your self, use your own musscles/body to sit in balance on a horse. and go in motion together with your horse!!

[eightpondfarm]

i agree with you.

[outerbanks77]

I think it’s an individual thing and you just have to sit in different saddles (or preferably ride) and see. Both of my saddles have short blocks and forward flap. I’m 5’9" with a ridiculously long femur. A longer block that went down in front of my knee would push me towards the cantle unless it had a lot of forward angle.

The tropes about being able to ride bareback, or in a minimalist saddle on every one of these threads get old. Anyone who would like to come ride my 17H green warmblood bareback is welcome to come give it a shot. I can ride my smaller mare bareback (though her rear spooks yesterday would have dumped me), and in a pencil roll jumping saddle, but not with the finesse needed to do our best work, or not upset her balance as we develop the medium gaits. I see it kind of like a double bridle - check that you’re not totally dependent upon it as a crutch, but also see it as a tool to help advance and refine the work.

[rothmpp]

Why must every discussion about blocks turn into a “if you like blocks you must not know how to ride” debate?

OP - FWIW, my Custom rep said that her experience was that riders with longer thighs tended to like shorter blocks better, and those with shorter thighs tended to the long block. Of course, everyone is different about what they like. I rode in a Wolfgang Solo with long blocks through PSG (I had to retire the horse). I never felt “stuck” or “locked” into the saddle. I was able to adjust as necessary but they provided a bit more stability for me through some of the movements.

I’m 5’7" but have stupidly short legs for my height. I’m all torso.

[Arlomine]

I’m 5’1”, hate long blocks, and have three customs with short blocks. I feel claustrophobic in long blocks, and I don’t feel my blocks when I ride.

[netg]

@see_u_at_x

According to Custom’s website:

• Short knee rolls provide more support for your upper legs, preventing you from raising your legs
• Long knee rolls ensure a more straight leg position and a stable posture

Long knee rolls always made me feel “stuck” in the saddle and I used to have more of an issue trying to raise my knees anyway, so the short blocks work better for me. For the record, I’m 5’5" and am longer from hip to knee than from knee to ground. I ride in a Wolfgang Gemini R with the I2SR block option.

I’m not positive on the blocks, but same saddle for me with short blocks.

I’m also short with long thigh blocks actually hitting me as knee blocks which wedge me in horribly. If they are knee blocks, they don’t fit you properly and try something different. It’s not like knee rolls which your knees went over in old school jumping saddles.

It seems as if most often a small group in the 5’7"-5’9" height group are those who most commonly fit well in long blocks. Both taller and shorter folks frequently have issues with them.

[sigrid.sijtsma]

it is the use of the blocks, that is the discussion if you can ride or not. i like the blocks, but i know where they are used for and when i want to use them, and that is using blocks with the correct sitting and riding on a horse, in balance…

for example, shoulder hip ankle or in 1 straight line, everybody who knows how to ride can do that, and dosnt need blocks for it, people who dont know how to ride or ride de easy way, need the blocks so they can be pushed/ sticked forced in the correct position, and dont have to do anything for it,…

so the difference for "liking"the blocks, is personal…

why does every rider/amazone like the blocks? for personal benefits? or for the use they are orginaly made…

@rothmpp so not every discussion is if you like blocks you must not know how to ride debate…

if your read correctly you know what i mean, and i didnt say if you like blocks they dont know how to ride…

i wrote, cause a lot of riders who are stuck sitting and find that comfortable, need to ride a horse for 6 months without a saddle, then the know what horseriding is, and that you have to balance your self, use your own musscles/body to sit in balance on a horse. and go in motion together with your horse!!

and if for you a person who is stuck sitting, glued in the saddle, is FORCED sitting, if that is the people who like blocks, you cant read or intrepetate my text the way i mean it to be, cause we think and read on a different level in the meaning of horseriding…

the people who are blocked/ sticked in a saddle, so no space to move, just sitting there and in movement of the horse, not in balance, and behind the movement, pulling bit and the legs bumb around, only can sit in the saddel and on the horse cause they are stuck in the saddle.
are the people who cant ride and they are a lot in the horseridingworld…

the people who know how to ride, use the blocks were they are for.

[soloudinhere]

Boring.

We all know that a saddle can’t make someone able to ride. Lot of words for not a lot of substance.

[sigrid.sijtsma]

thanks, my answer to your message, your own words:

Boring.

We all know that a saddle can’t make someone able to ride. Lot of words for not a lot of substance.

[soloudinhere]

Hahahahaha.

[normandy_shores]

I appreciate the relevant answers to my question, versus the high-horsed holier-than-thou elitist answer.

With that, I’m reminded why I left COTH in the first place. So much knowledge here, but also a lot of dinks.

[rothmpp]

You can try to pretty it up all you want, but the underlying message was and still is that you don’t think blocks are a good idea for most people and most of those who use a saddle with blocks need to learn to ride to your standards, bareback, for 6 months.

Who are you to say that someone else who says they are comfortable in the way they sit in their saddle are stuck? I’ve never heard a rider use the phrases “I feel stuck” and “I’m comfortable just like this” together. I think you are reading way too much in the word “stuck” when some riders describe their feeling in a blocked saddle.

OP did not ask if blocks were a good idea or not, OP asked for opinions/experience about short vs long blocks. That’s it. Hard stop. And for their efforts they got judged by you. How much you want to bet OP will think long and hard about asking any questions or contributing again any time soon?

[sigrid.sijtsma]

Im not prettying it up, @rothmpp

If you read what i wrote/typed you understand.

@rothmpp you type this,… that i mean this: you don’t think blocks are a good idea for most people and most of those who use a saddle with blocks need to learn to ride to your standards, bareback, for 6 months.

what i type is this: cause a lot of riders who are stuck sitting and find that comfortable, need to ride a horse for 6 months without a saddle, then the know what horseriding is, and that you have to balance your self, use your own muscles/body to sit in balance on a horse. and go in motion together with your horse!!

Hard to see and the read the difference…???

i say, the people who are stuck/locked in saddle, dont ride the way it should be!!!

but if you @rothmpp never felt stuck or locked in a saddle that says a lot about you experience with riding, knowledge about saddles or how people should fit in it the right way… In how many saddles did you sit in your live?

and that as well says a lot about you riding PSG level??

I think you are overrestimating yourself… @rothmpp

[soloudinhere]

Wait so…people who are stuck sitting and find that comfortable need to ride without a saddle for 6 months, but people who have never felt that way don’t ride well either?

I’m so glad you could clear that up for us.

[joiedevie99]

I adore the Icon Short Roll. I’ve had it on quite a few different models now. There used to be a photo online showing all the options they offered (but I can’t find it now). It’s a good width and softness level for my conformation, and it doesn’t interfere with my knee at all.

[rothmpp]

C’mon. I’m not sure if you’re really that obtuse or if you’re intentionally being argumentative.

You’re not reading for comprehension. I never suggested that there were NO people not riding in the right saddle for their body shape/style. But they also don’t need to ride bareback for 6 months to improve their seat. You’re the one who insists most everyone is “stuck sitting” and needs remedial riding lessons.

I’d merely point out that a pretty large group of international riders use saddles with external blocks. Charlotte, Heather Blitz, and Laura Graves are just a couple that come to mind. You also might be surprised at how large the blocks are under the flap of those without external blocks. I like external blocks as I feel like my leg is closer to the horse without the slope of the leather rising over the internal block, but to each their own.

I also never said that I did not change saddles several times over the years. FOR ME, the Custom Wolfgang Solo with the longer blocks was the right saddle. Blocks do not overly influence me, these are at the right angle for how my femur comes out of my pelvis. I have a more unusual pelvis, quite narrow and my pelvic floor tips up. Most people do not find my saddle particularly comfortable, the rise is too steep and the twist is too narrow for most. It works for ME.

You may not believe me and insist that I overestimate myself, and that’s ok. My lovely horse that I entirely trained on my own from a barely broke 4yo to a wonderful PSG schoolmaster that got me my medal scores and taught numerous people how to ride some of the mid/upper level movements simply don’t care whether you believe me or not.