Hey guys! Long time poster, made an alter because I don’t love this topic. But figured I really should be exhausting all my options at this point.
For years (like 20 of them) I have ridden in saddles belonging to other people (jump saddles, flat saddles, all sizes, everything from a cheap school horse saddle to Voltaire). The rub (literally): I can’t remember ever doing a dressage school or even going for a long hack without being in pain afterwards. Some of this was solved by underwear choice - avoiding seams that fell where my pelvis met my leg solved half the problem. But the rest of the problem is just from contact with the pommel. I have now had a saddle professionally fitted to me, so I know it is the correct size, and it noticeably allows me to sit with ease in the way my coach would like, but the problem persists even in this saddle (and all that I tried during the fitting process).
To describe it accurately while trying to keep things G-rated: when I am riding there is simply pressure. Perhaps more than I would like, but short of sitting in a way in which I have no contact whatsoever with the pommel (obviously incorrect), I can’t see a way of avoiding this. However, having a shower when I get home or whatever ends up feeling similar to washing your hands with a paper cut, just obviously in a different region. I think I’ve finally got to the point where I have to ask - is this everyone’s experience??
To try to answer the questions I know I would ask, I train with a reputable coach. As with anyone, I’m learning lots to this day, and over the years have made position adjustments to better my riding (to favourable reviews from both my coach and dressage judges), but no adjustment has ever made this problem substantially better or worse. I am well aware that the default reaction will be that I am sitting incorrectly - while I am sure I need minor improvements, as always, I find it hard to believe I could have had this many eyes on me over the years and still have a flaw major enough to change this (but who knows?). I am now riding in a saddle fitted by a professional specifically for me, and in some ways it’s amazing - my leg has never hung this well from my hip, that kind of thing. But again, this problem was no better or worse no matter which saddle I tried. I have gone through many different makes/models of breeches, it makes no difference. I work with no stirrups on a regular basis, and while this has yielded many benefits, none in this area. Is this the kind of thing where you just suck it up?
For those who find this topic too overt, I do apologize. But at this point I’ll try anything.
ive found saddles with narrower twists are more comfortable in general. And aren’t there saddles with channels cut outs now?
it’s a cream that ‘lubes’ the whole area so you don’t chafe and I use that when I ride more then one horse now too. Makes a difference for me!
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