I recently purchased a County Sensation as my horse needs a narrow tree, and I know County saddles fit him well. While he is loving our new saddle, I am having some trouble finding my balance at the canter. The saddle is quite comfortable and I feel very secure in it at the walk and trot, but when half seating the canter I feel like my leg is in front of me. I feel that I need to be over the pommel to find my balance, and when my bum gets close to the seat I find that I feel like I am falling behind the motion. I am able to comfortably sit the canter in this saddle. I could probably put my stirrups up one hole, but I don’t think that will fix the issue? Does this sound like a stirrup bar placement issue? Or something else entirely?
1 Like
I’m no expert, but it sounds very plausible. I once found an article written by Jimmy Wofford in which he discusses that problem.
It does sound probable. I sold a County Symmetry when I realized I had the same issue. Can you post up-up-down in good balance or stand up in the stirrups in hood ornament position without tipping backwards?
1 Like
I have the same issue in most of the saddles I’ve ridden because I’m kind of oddly proportioned, so I’ve kind of had to make do with workarounds. One thing you might try is putting a rubber band or something similar on the stirrup bar in front of the leather. (A cattle banding band works perfectly if you happen to have some!) It’ll set the leather back a little bit, so it might help shift the balance point back a little.
2 Likes
