Female Saddle Fit - may be NSFW?

[NMK]

Monistat creme. Take it from a former cyclist. It works.

[sdlbredfan]

I really question your saddle fitter’s expertise. There is a ‘sweet spot’ designed in saddles, where the human is supposed to sit, and it is not right up against the pommel. If the saddle really does fit correctly, noone should be getting rubs from the pommel. That means the saddle is too small!
Edited to add, the width of the twist is important too.

[sdlbredfan]

@Jealoushe

Try a different brand of toilet paper. I had a similar issue and it turns out I was allergic to the TP - but it would only be aggravated when I rode! Changed my TP…no more issue.

Which brand of TP was ‘bad’ and what brand did you find that has been better?

[sdlbredfan]

@AnastasiaBeaverhousen

1. Check your detergent - it may cause a reaction with your skin when you sweat.
2. 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.

That is a really good reminder! I hope something works for the OP.

[ObviousAlter11]

@AnastasiaBeaverhousen

1. Check your detergent - it may cause a reaction with your skin when you sweat.
2. 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.

I will. I do use two different detergents (depending on the fabrics) and know I have thrown my underwear in with both at different times without noticing a difference. But I will try to be more scientific about the process.

If I am going to ride incorrectly, my tendency is definitely to rock that way. But even in a private lesson where I KNOW I won’t get away with it, not even for a second, this is an issue. I have never ridden without having some part of my…inverness…involved in the process. I can’t see how anyone could. It’s a great suggestion though!

[ObviousAlter11]

@betsyk

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…

I am certainly blaming human conformation as a significant part of the equation at this point. Interesting that a wide twist was better for you!

[ObviousAlter11]

@NMK

Monistat creme. Take it from a former cyclist. It works.

Thank you, good to know!

[ObviousAlter11]

@sdlbredfan

I really question your saddle fitter’s expertise. There is a ‘sweet spot’ designed in saddles, where the human is supposed to sit, and it is not right up against the pommel. If the saddle really does fit correctly, noone should be getting rubs from the pommel. That means the saddle is too small!
Edited to add, the width of the twist is important too.

I would too, if I were reading a post like this from a stranger on the internet. But I can assure you that I have sat in quite the collection over the years, and not one has made a bit of difference in this area. I think it must be a human conformation issue - anywhere the “front” of me encounters the saddle, this happens. I don’t think it’s possible to ride without at least some of that contact, is it?

[IFG]

@frugalannie

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!

Consider trying shims. They can switch your weight just a touch differently, and that might make a world of difference. I have not used the Mattes pad, but I have a Thinline Trifecta that I bought shims for as my horse aged, and I needed to lift the back of the saddle. In your case, you may want to buy all the shims, and play around to see what might help.

[sdlbredfan]

I am wondering, what happens when you ride bareback, OP?
Have you tried buying larger underwear? (just in case the pressure is at least partly from undies too small)

[lmlacross]

@Jealoushe

Anything BUT Charmin! I steer very clear from the bears ahhaha. Seriously, my ex husband and my bf both always bought it, I don’t know why men love it so much but I had the problem both times…and it was getting so painful recently. Then I checked the TP and low and behold it was the Charmin…so I think I have cottonelle now

I feel so validated. It’s the lintiest sh!t on Earth, and I swear it’s the only brand my husband will buy.

[tldickinson]

May be a crapshoot but have you tried riding commando? TMI warning:

I cannot ride in undies. No matter what kind. They crease into me, rub, etc. it would seem. My former instructor also never wore them riding. Every time I have worn them I end up with the same problem you’re describing. If no undies, no problem.

[jaybird660]

I read most of the posts but not all so this may have been mentioned. Often, it is the steeper rise of the pommel or the balance of the saddle that can cause this. The twist may also factor in. Even if the saddle is balanced, the available seat area might be smaller than some other saddles. Some are more bucket shaped and sensitive riders have more issues with this. “Glide”, a rub on product, monkey butt powder and/or padded undies that others have mentioned might help somewhat but I would be curious as to how steep the pommel and cantle rise are and how flat the available seat area is.

[Jealoushe]

@lmlacross

I feel so validated. It’s the lintiest sh!t on Earth, and I swear it’s the only brand my husband will buy.

Lmao so nice to know I am not alone! No idea why men love it so much.

[ObviousAlter11]

@IFG

Consider trying shims. They can switch your weight just a touch differently, and that might make a world of difference. I have not used the Mattes pad, but I have a Thinline Trifecta that I bought shims for as my horse aged, and I needed to lift the back of the saddle. In your case, you may want to buy all the shims, and play around to see what might help.

Thanks! I am getting the saddle fitter out sometime soon. Would this be something to mention then, do you think? (Saddle is flocked)

[ObviousAlter11]

@sdlbredfan

I am wondering, what happens when you ride bareback, OP?
Have you tried buying larger underwear? (just in case the pressure is at least partly from undies too small)

I haven’t ridden bareback in years, but that’s an interesting thought experiment! I will see if I can fit in a try (one horse is shark finned enough that I think he’d kill anyone in that area, but the other may provide some insight). What should I be looking for?

I will try larger underwear. At the risk of TMI, I normally ride in thongs due to the VPL issue. Just in case that info affects anyone’s recommendations.

[ObviousAlter11]

@tldickinson

May be a crapshoot but have you tried riding commando? TMI warning:

I cannot ride in undies. No matter what kind. They crease into me, rub, etc. it would seem. My former instructor also never wore them riding. Every time I have worn them I end up with the same problem you’re describing. If no undies, no problem.

I can honestly say I have never tried this! I feel it will take some bravery, but it’s a cheap experiment, so I’ll run it this week! Thank you so much

[ObviousAlter11]

@jaybird660

I read most of the posts but not all so this may have been mentioned. Often, it is the steeper rise of the pommel or the balance of the saddle that can cause this. The twist may also factor in. Even if the saddle is balanced, the available seat area might be smaller than some other saddles. Some are more bucket shaped and sensitive riders have more issues with this. “Glide”, a rub on product, monkey butt powder and/or padded undies that others have mentioned might help somewhat but I would be curious as to how steep the pommel and cantle rise are and how flat the available seat area is.

The saddle in question is my dressage saddle, which has what I would call a moderate cantle rise for a dressage saddle, and perhaps a slightly steep pommel? However, this also happens in my jump saddle (it’s actually worse in that, but I rarely sit deep in it for long) which is as flat as can be with a cutback pommel. It has happened to some degree in every saddle I’ve sat in for the last twenty years, covering just about every size, shape, and brand I can think of - that’s what directed me to blaming my own conformation, not the saddles.

[sdlbredfan]

@ObviousAlter11

I haven’t ridden bareback in years, but that’s an interesting thought experiment! I will see if I can fit in a try (one horse is shark finned enough that I think he’d kill anyone in that area, but the other may provide some insight). What should I be looking for?

I will try larger underwear. At the risk of TMI, I normally ride in thongs due to the VPL issue. Just in case that info affects anyone’s recommendations.

Heck yeah, ditch the thongs!!!
For bareback, definitely avoid the sharkfin one. Without a saddle constricting you in any way, you should be able to assess whether your weight is on your seat bones, as it should be, rather than rocking forward onto the pubic area.
I edited this to add, if you get some briefs style underpants, you then have a way to use panti-liners for padding. Experiment with what length, etc, but my guess is that you want one to be long enough it completely pads the pubic area.

[IFG]

@ObviousAlter11

Thanks! I am getting the saddle fitter out sometime soon. Would this be something to mention then, do you think? (Saddle is flocked)

I would play with balance with a shim pad first, before having a fitter reflock any saddle.