Don’t worry, no offense taken - and while I am fairly average in general, that part of me would be the largest. My body type is very in style right now, but does require a larger seat. That said, I have ridden in everything from a 16.5" (ouch!) to an 18.5" (I was swimming), and seat size does not appear to be the problem. The narrow twist I have now seems to help “on the borders” shall we say, but the pressure that does remain is causing just as many problems as ever.
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As others have said, no perfumed products, and try lots of different saddles in lots of different sizes. Different flap lengths too. I found saddles that are comfortable, but I sat in a lot of them.
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^ More on that thought: what ‘shape’ have they been? Have you tried a smaller flatter saddle compared to larger deep one or vice-versa? Maybe you need much less of a knee roll if any, or maybe more?
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I had this happen once in a western saddle, and I know how painful it was - when you go to the bathroom to pee after you get off, it hurts so bad you wanna cry!
Have you tried different underwear with different seams? I noticed in that particular saddle the seams were rubbing me raw.
Trying different breeches might help too, like maybe full seats?
I second the Vaseline idea, though I’d probably try KY Jelly first…Vaseline isn’t really supposed to go in that area while personal lubricants are.
You may need to take a break from riding to let yourself completely heal too if you haven’t tried that.
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Unfortunately, at this point I’ve been in just about everything. Dressage saddles with really deep seats, jump saddles that are more of the “pancake” variety, cutback (that is worse, I know that much!), saddles with big blocks and saddle with very little. There are some that definitely help, and that’s what I own now, but it comes down to the fact that ultimately I can’t avoid all contact with the pommel, and the contact I’m left with creates issues. You are definitely right though that some are much worse than others!
Yes, exactly! I have tried underwear with different seams, and can say that easily half my problem was seams. Any seam that fell directly where my leg meets my pelvis turned into some kind of knife over the course of my ride, and was quickly removed from the riding rotation!
I hadn’t thought of full seats. I often don’t ride in them - I find them annoying to walk around in (although maybe not with the new silicone grip ones?), but I’ll give it a try! Good thought on the appropriate kinds of lubricant.
Fortunately, while very painful, I seem to heal quite quickly. Mostly good to go in 24 hours, back to normal in 48. Unless of course I’ve got into some dreaded seam issue, which takes longer. I don’t generally identify as a diva, but it seems I’m heading that direction right now! Thanks so much for the tips 
One more thought, Patagonia briefs have no seams, nor do the Kerrit’s tights (with the herringbone pattern). Those might help a lot.
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Thank you!
So sorry for your discomfort! I partnered with a horse for years and in her younger days this was a real problem. No trainer/ coach/ clinician was able to give me any advice that worked, and all said I was sitting just fine until one finally noticed that the mare was pulling me forward in the saddle into the pommel. The fix for that horse was a stint in a double bridle (bit and bridoon, Weymouth, whatever you want to call it: a bridoon and curb like all the big dressage horses wear). Mare learned to balance without pulling on me quite so much, and I learned to not pull back and life was good.
The only other time this happened it was solved with a thin shim in the two front pockets of a Mattes pad.
Best of luck in finding your personal solution!
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My issue was solved with a high quality, real sheepskin seat saver.
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While I cannot help with saddle/clothing suggestions, I can suggest you avoid Vaseline. Difficult to wash out of your clothes, and it will “migrate” when it gets warm. Try Desitin. It will stay in place between your upper inner thigh and your torso, which is where you need it from the clothing seams rubbing. Desitin is marketed for diaper rash, but also great for all sorts of skin irritations, rashes, chaffing, etc.
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OMG i had forgotten how much that hurts. I rode with moleskin over the blisters - had to soak in a tub to remove it without doing more damage. then put that thick white cream used for diaper rash i think, on at night to help with healing (“pana … something” can’t remember the name - my kids all have 4 legs).
I have had no issue in years. I can only guess that it was the saddle I got about 6 years ago - good quality 20 year old saddle which i bought because it fit my difficult to fit horse, and had enough padding for my delicate butt.
my “damage” was to butt, seat bone, panty line area, not the “inverness”
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There are less stinky options than Desiten. I used Balmex when my kids were little. I still use it on my dogs when they get minor razor burn if I clip them too close (Standard Poodles).
Hm. That’s an interesting thought! Certainly one of the horses I ride could be considered a puller, but the other one (where it’s actually worse) is not at all (I could walk-trot-canter an entire warm-up with no reins if I really felt like it). I will think about a shim though! Thank you so much
Someone else suggested the Thinline one. I’m really considering that - it seems a bit silly considering the rest of the world seems to get by just fine, but not as silly as walking funny for days!
That had been my hesitation to trying it in the past, for sure. Thank you for the tip!
Yes, my issue is definitely the “inverness”. The rest of me, fortunately, gets along fine. I don’t think it’s a padding issue there because as I said, I’ve ridden in a variety, and even the Voltaire (which felt just beautiful until I tried to walk later) somehow managed to do this. I will look into this cream. I think moleskin on the inverness may be a bridge too far!
Good option, thank you so much!
- Check your detergent - it may cause a reaction with your skin when you sweat.
- Are you riding on your public bone?
. If you have a sway back you may tilt your pelvis forward which makes your public bone come forward and down.
. Keep your pelvis neutral and see if you notice a difference.
hope this helps. Good luck.
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Human conformation + horse conformation + saddle style. The type of saddle that works best for me is the low pommel, wide twist types, like my county eventer and a friend’s Balance saddle. They’re not typical dressage saddles but if I can’t sit comfortably, I can’t do dressage at all…
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