Dressage saddle help for the chair seat inclined tiny person with no butt

[SheSizzles]

It kind of stinks having a natural chair seat position and no butt. I am about 5’2" and currently looking for my next dressage saddle for me and my thoroughbred mare. Fortunately, she is a fairly easy fit and has fit in most “mediums” quite well and has an average build. I have always had trouble with my hip flexors and did physical therapy to help them stop “popping” when I would try to ride a bike. I also have knee arthritis from Lyme Disease, and so a big hard knee block is generally not my best friend if the saddle is not fit well.

Does anyone out there have saddle brand suggestions who might be similarly built or have some of the same struggles? My budget is around the $1100 mark unfortunately, otherwise I would go more custom but that is what I have to work with. We do not have any tack shops in the area, so therefore I cannot sit in many saddles to see what works either. I’ve sat in what I can and it seems like the super deep seat is not my best friend. But I will take any advice you have. Thanks in advance!

[Cameraine]

I am also small 5’3", have some knee issues if I ride for a long time, and a bad ankle with permanent hardware. My gelding is a shorter OTTB, built compactly so he was a bit harder to fit. We settled on a Prestige Lucky Dressage saddle (VTO Saddlery has them) The blocks aren’t huge and are made to be able to reposition them. This saddle is made for teenagers and small adults, the flaps are shorter than normal so you don’t feel like you’re drowning in the saddle. I love mine.

[GoForAGallop]

I have the non-easy suggestion:

As a fellow shortie on a wider horse with bad hips (I have one that regularly pops out of the socket), I struggle HARD with chair seat and my leg being shoved forward. I have cycled through 10+ dressage saddles.

The thing that’s helped the most? This winter of regular hot yoga. My hips (and hamstrings) are finally starting to stretch and loosen. I usually take the winters off from riding, so when I got on last week for the first time, I was amazed at how my leg was instantly better, and I dropped my stirrups a hole from where they were last fall.

It’s still not perfect, and I have to do my stretches every day or everything tightens right back up. (I do two 90 minute classes a week, but I have a 20 min daily routine to do at home.) But it’s made the greatest improvement. I also sit at a desk all day, but have 60 second stretches to do and I sit on a heating pad to keep things loose as well.

Other than that I’ve had the best luck with the bare bones saddles that are purpose-built for smaller people (although I do have a big butt.) Stubben Juventus, Kieffer Weins, etc. As Cameraine notes, they all have shorter flaps that result in less bulk.

[no.stirrups]

Consider a GP or GPD, General Purpose Dressage saddle. Flaps will have a more forward cut than a dressage saddle. GP saddles are very common in the UK so you may find something very nice in the classifieds there.

[Hilary]

An older Roosli will be in your price range. They fit tbs well, do not have a big knee roll and have a narrow twist. Pelham saddlery has a few in stock and are good about trials.

[Bogie]

Stretching your hip flexors will definitely help. Also look for a saddle where the stirrup bars are set back. This allows your leg to fall more naturally under your body.

I love my Roosli dressage saddle. They are not trendy right now, so you can pick them up used for a reasonable price, but they are very well made and comfortable for horses, too. I’d also look at Kieffers. They also are underpriced in the used market. They have the hidden benefit of using a plastic/resin tree which can be adjusted using an infra-red system. Very handy if you need a different tree width down the road. One of my jumping saddles is a Kieffer and i find it to be very well balanced and comfortable.

[SheSizzles]

Thank you all so much for the very helpful suggestions! I will certainly look into all of those.