Due to a hip Injury, my physical therapist recommends that I try some saddles with a narrower twist and seat. What brands and models would you consider? I may need a narrower horse as well, though I hope it doesn’t come to that.
Any other suggestions for continuing this sport despite hip issues (SI specifically)?
Try a Delgrange dressage saddle.
From all the saddles I’ve tried, this one had by far the narrowest twist!
I need a narrow twist, and have a horse that needed a wide tree–I got a Hulsebos Dressage CC model. I don’t have hip issues, but do have a spinal fusion from L4-S1, I got this saddle back in December, and I honestly haven’t ridden a ton in it, but have really felt incredibly comfortable and secure in it. I’ve even been trail ridding her for up to three hours at a time and not had back pain afterwards.
Thanks so far! Will look into those. Any thoughts on the Trilogy Debbie McD? Someone recommended that as well but I’ve never sat in one.
This saddle is for shorter/smaller people, not necessarily for those who need narrower twists.
The seat is narrower, but not the twist.
The Verago has technically a narrow twist.
Hennig Sofa - my mare is wide and i prefer a narrow twist. I have a back injury and my hennig is amazing to ride in.
Hennig are truly custom, my sofa princess has a wide twist.
Stubben 1894 model has the narrow twist that worked best for me. I also have a Hennig (bought used) that is better for me than the Stubben but the Hennig doesn’t fit my youngster (who needs the wider tree). Stubben also has a couple of other models with narrow twists.
We have had the Debbie, Amadeo and the Verago. The Verago and the Amadeo had the narrower twists between those three. The Amadeo had a bit wider seat but still a narrow twist in comparison to the Verago that had a narrow twist and a little less width for the seat bones. The Debbie was a much more open seat and felt much wider through the twist in my opinion.
Overall the Trilogy saddles are incredibly comfortable!
Many of the Custom saddles have narrow twists and will work with the wider horses.
You might consider a monoflap, because that minimizes width as well. I have a Black Country Vinici X wide/hoop tree and it does not feel wide in large part because of the monoflap.
I like the Bates Innova, I didn’t notice too much difference comfort wise with the monoflap but my former trainer (who rides in the mono normally) likes the mono more.
I have whole system joint problems but if I need to treat it from the ground up or else I do feel it in my hips and back (very problematic hips - open joints, prior trauma, regular subluxation, something yet to be determined sticks with stairs or if I sit funny, etc). So jointed stirrups, really pay attention to knee block and stirrup bar placement, moderate seat (I don’t find Bates that deep or shallow personally), narrow twist, etc. My PT lectures me regularly on warming up off the horse and stretching once off since that really isn’t part of the normal riding culture (I know the BNT are shown getting physio before they ride but for us normal people, not so much).
I really do do better with narrow horses (did really well with a horse that was generously described as a 2x4) but with the above set up, made it work for a very round, pregnant ISHxArab mare.
About a year ago a saddle fitter solved my “wandering left leg” by mentioning that the twist of my saddle was probably too wide. I now ride in a Custom Wolfgang II. My horse is a wide Lusitano.
I would suggest talking to Custom, simply because they have such a huge range of models, many on the same trees, so you are more likely to find something to suit yourself as well as your horse.
My mare is xxxwide. I could not ride her without my narrow twist Hennig Sofa.
Most dressage saddles cripple me, I used to joke that before I sat in one, did someone have a crane to lift my spasmed body off it?
I VERY dubiously tried a used Custom Wolfgang Solo with a full thigh block because it fit all the boxes - right size for me, right width for Xan (wide), xl flap (!!) and best of all, in the budget… but I KNEW it was going to kill me because that thigh block would lock me in to one position and I was sure that position was Death to my IT band injury. I sat in it at the store. No spasms! That had to be a fluke. My IT band was toying with me, I was sure. I tried it for a few days to see if (when) it would kill me, and 18 months later it still has not killed me.
Prestige - all models
I tried the Debbie McDonald, it hurt my hips. I also need a narrow twist and my guy is a M-MW. So my guess is it would be a no go. Then again, it depends on your conformation.
Custom Advantage R and Black Country Eloquence are 2 that I liked for the narrow twist. I wound up ordering an Eloquence.
I have narrow hips and not all Prestige are narrow. The prestige Helen K is, and the Albion SLK comes with a narrow sweat option that is good. Antares is also comfortable.
My guy is XXW and we are having great saddle fit success and comfort for me in the Equipe Viktoria absolutely LOVE this saddle and I previously was a Trilogy fan Ill never go back 
much more comfortable and my horse is so much freer in the shoulder and moves much bigger/better in the Equipe…
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