Does your Albion run small?

[killerqueen15]

I’m about to have a crisis because I think both of my saddles may be too small for me/I’ve been riding in the wrong size seat for years? I am 5’3, 155lb, size 8(US) with very short legs (I had to order custom boots for my 14” calf). If I measure from the tip of my knee to where my butt ends, the length is a little over 21”.

I have always ridden in a 17”. I recently switched barns and moved from H/J to dressage. I have a 17” T8 Thorowgood jump and a 17.5” Albion Comfort dressage. Which I thought was too big. My trainer pointed out that she thinks this saddle is too small for me… which sent me into a spiral because it’s the larger of my two saddles.

Could a 5’3” person need an 18” dressage saddle?? I always thought that was a tall person size. Do Albion’s run small? Do Thorowgoods run large? Am I just fat?? Lol. I have so many questions.

[exvet]

Without pictures to assess you in your saddle I can’t answer the majority of your questions; however, I’ve owned multiple Albions over the years, mostly the old Style and SLK. I didn’t find that either ran small. I went from a 17.5 to a 16.5 in both of them. I’m 5’2" with a long femur (for my height, I’m very short-waisted). I will say though that I found it easier to ride the upper levels with some extra room in the seat. Because I have such short-backed horses and I am easily able to fit in a 16.5 seat is the reason why I down-sized over the years. Due to the proportions of my current mounts I sold my albions and went to a 16.5 Passier GG (actually bought this back from a gal I had sold it to years ago) and a 17 inch Prestige X- D2K that was built on pony panels.

[soloudinhere]

How do you like the prestige? I am considering one but the price is heart stopping for a saddle that’s not popular and I can’t find anyone I know who rides in one.

[exvet]

I love it. I too was very hesitant to purchase one. I had never ridden in one. I had consulted with three different saddle fitters, all with solid reputations. My welsh cob is very short backed. His real estate is less than 15 inches; so, there was a repetitive theme from all 3 fitters regarding the saddles I should be considering, Prestige was one of them. I worked with Ron from AllSaddles.com who is a Prestige rep (and not one of the original 3 fitters I contacted which included an Albion dealer/fitter who I had worked with several times in the past). Ron offered me a deal on a brand new, semi-custom saddle that was far lower than the other saddles that had been recommended as ones I try (new) and when I looked at used with shipping and adjustments that would likely be needed (reflocking, etc) the cost was almost as much as what Ron was pricing for a new saddle. The prestige saddle is good quality craftsmanship. The guidance that Ron gave as to which to purchase, size and why was spot on. It has fit my gelding from the start without any additional adjustments but it came with free adjustments through the first two years of ownership. I’ve had the saddle for 18 months. My guy was showing second level when I bit the bullet. He’s competing at third level now. I’m sure prices have risen further; but, given what I’m asking of my gelding it was worth every penny to get him a saddle that truly fit and wasn’t going to cause permanent damage. Saddles are such a personal thing and I’m lucky that the model I have fits both me and the horse.

[MadTrotter]

So the seat may not be technically shorter but I do notice that Albion has a more dramatic “lift” at the cantle than does the Passier GG exvet mentioned. The Passier is a bit flatter and depending on your “junk in the trunk” it may feel bigger. I do feel more “locked in” to the Albion for better or worse.

So what I do as I have multiple horses with different backs is I buy multiples of the good old Passiers and Albions. You can find them in workable condition for like $600

If I were in your shoes/saddle I’d invest in a good independent fitter to come out and take a look. Your trainer may have an opinion but you didn’t really say how you feel in your saddles which is more important than if your butt is spilling a little.

[Paisley_Pony]

Thorowgood uses this to measure for rider seat size: https://www.thorowgood.com/fitting/10-measuring-the-rider. I’ve always gone by the same rule of thumb: the longer the distance between the end of the knee and the back of the bum, the larger (longer) the seat size needs to be. That said, personal comfort and balance are always the most important, IMO. I have read of one particular big name rider that thinks that everyone should ride in an eighteen inch saddle. I have short legs, and I tried it. It didn’t work for me at all.

Edited to add: The Albion Original Comfort that I owned years ago fit spot on by seat size.

[ladyj79]

I ride in a 17.5 jumping saddle and an 18 dressage. I think that’s fairly normal given the depth of the seat difference. That said, there are Albions that are more open seat, and those that are more closed–deeper. The deeper the seat, the bigger the seat size really anyone will need. I have had two 18 albions, but there are definitely deeper seated ones that I stay away from. Basically seat size means nothing, it’s all about how you sit and how your leg falls.

[Bogie]

I found that some of the Albion jumping saddles ran about a half inch small for me. A lot will depend on the model and the depth of the seat. I owned an Albion dressage saddle years ago and I don’t remember it as being particularly small. I ride in a 17.5" or 18" and my Albion Original Comfort was an 18". Ultimately, I found it to be too restrictive and I moved on first to a Prestige, which I loved, but which my horse outgrew, and then to a Roosli.

Just my experience, but I would stay very, very far away from Ron at allsaddles.com. You are welcome to pm me if you want details.

[blue_heron]

I am about 5’4" and 155. I think we sound similar build, my extra inch probably comes from my legs. I ride in an 18" Albion and an 18" Trilogy. If you have short calves you may have comparatively long thighs, which are the ultimate determinate of seat size.