Any recommendations?
I am currently shopping for a dressage saddle and I need something with short tree points (current saddle constricts my horse’s shoulder) and that has a slightly forward flap. My horse liked the voltaire monoflap and the roosli pilatus, but the flaps did not quite work for my leg.
I am 6 feet tall and disproportionately long from hip to thigh so the straight flaps that I have tried just have me hitting the blocks with my knee.
Any suggestions?
TIA
I have recently discovered similar issues with myself. I have a freakishly long femur bone even though I am short (5’4") I still a larger seat and no to minimal blocks. I am currently selling an 18" saddle because with the block it’s too small for me! It pushes me into the cantle and I am scrunched and unable to ride with long stirrups. Dreaded chair seat has been my life…
I just purchased as Black Country Eden and was SHOCKED at how much I could drop down my stirrups and still feel my leg was effective. Finally something that accommodates my leg.
And just yesterday my new Ideal Jessica came in the mail. it has a more forward flap as well.
These brands may have shorter tree points as they tend to make saddles for wider horses and ponies.
I also had a Karl Neidersuss that didn’t necessarily have a forward flap but let my leg hang nicely as well as it has minimal block.
Look for saddles that don’t necessarily have a deep seat as sometimes deep seated saddle are made with the stirrup bars to forward and away from the deepest part of the seat in order for people to have enough room in the seat. This is not good for a person who has a long femur. You need a bar closer underneath you.
Any who, these are my suggestions. Black Country is a good place to start as I had heard from several people with long femurs that they enjoyed these saddles, and they were right.
My County Perfection comes with forward flaps, also straight flaps. If you are looking for used make sure it is a forward flap, if you want a custom made you can order it with a forward flap.
I was lucky to find one used, an older one that has velcro in the flaps so I can make them as forward as I need. And my horse has big shoulders and loves this saddle.
My County Connection is a forward flap, but I definitely don’t have the long-leg problem. Comfy saddle, though.
Black Country will happily make any of their dressage saddles with a more forward flap for you. Consider a short block, too. If you are looking for used, you might consider looking at endurance saddles. Frequently they are made on dressage trees with a slightly more forward flap and short block, plus extra D-rings. The Frank Baines Enduro, for example, is built on the same tree as the Pirouette dressage.
The PDS Carl Hester Integro is built on a close contact saddle tree so the points would be shorter like need.
http://www.pdssaddlesusa.com/pds-saddles/pdsandreg-carl-hester-integro-monoflap-469618
Stubben’s Aramis model is supposed to be good for long-legged riders. Stubben also has a few options for saddle points.
I have long legs, and I ride in a Stubben Tristan. It works for my leg because it has no blocks, but I understand that that isn’t for everyone.
Look at www.fine-used-saddles.com They have a lot of used saddles, and mention in the descriptions how “straight” or “forward” the flaps are. Also the woman who runs it is GREAT for being able to tell you about things like points, shoulder freedom, etc.
I have the same issues as you. I have one saddle that was custom made for me by Revere. He was able to make one with a full, external thigh block, but place it exactly how I wanted it. Otherwise, full- length thigh blocks rarely work for me. (they also has one tree that has lots of shoulder freedom, but unfortunately they do not name their trees in a way that makes it possible to find the one you want in a used saddle).
Most Custom Saddlery saddles seem quite good for both of these issues if you get the 3/4 thigh blocks. Albion SLK and platinum saddles are very good for the rider anatomy you describe, but only average for the horse shoulder issue.
I have also been told that I should get “extended stirrup bars” - but none of the saddles I have been interested in have offered this option, so I don’t have actual experience with it. I think it was a Schleese rep that told me this – so I guess it is available on their saddles.
I had my Schleese Obrigado monoflap saddles adjusted so that the flap is more forward, I had custom smaller thigh blocks made, and I had the extended stirrup bars. FINALLY I am not fighting my saddle! It has made a world of difference. My Wave (which does not really fit my Lusitanos) worked from the start because the flap is more forward, and the thigh blocks were infinitely adjustable because they are stuck on with velcro, not screwed into the saddle like the monoflaps.
County Perfection!
Thanks for the input so far. Very helpful
The neidersuss is what I have now that interferes with my horse’s shoulder and I had a not-good experience with County when I bought a connection years ago so am unlikely to go that route but maybe I should reconsider.
I am going to be at the Middleburg Tack Exchange this weekend (returning the 2 I thought would work and had on trial :() so this is giving me ideas of what I should sit in while there.
Keep them coming!
CWD
[QUOTE=Parrotnutz;8878265]
My County Perfection comes with forward flaps, also straight flaps. If you are looking for used make sure it is a forward flap, if you want a custom made you can order it with a forward flap.
I was lucky to find one used, an older one that has velcro in the flaps so I can make them as forward as I need. And my horse has big shoulders and loves this saddle.[/QUOTE]
Bambam - I have one of the above-mentioned County Perfections with the velcro flap - I think I am also in your general vicinity. PM me if you want to try it (it sadly is for sale as it belonged to my last horse and won’t fit my new guys…)
Older Stubbens and Passiers are what still work best for me. I have an uber long femur (planes NEVER have enough room for my thighs, and neither to 3/4 of the cars and trucks) so I stick with saddles without big thigh blocks and with more open seats, and if possible more forward flaps. I usually run right up to the edge in everything but a jumping saddle. I’m also not sure about that comment regarding stirrup bar placement. If it’s too far back it can easily cause many other position issues. Personally, I ride with the ones that are more forward. Too far back and it creates a forked seat. It depends on your pelvis more than leg when you ride in a saddle with bars that are further back.
Hermes Corlandus. monoflap that curves forward. Non restrictive block. Allows you to sit how you want. 2 position stirrup bar. Horse a d I both love it and we both are a hard fit.
Are you buying new? Any of the British brands (Black Country, Detente, Bliss, Patrick Keane) can and will put a forward flap on whatever saddle you want. It’s not an option that costs much more than the base model to do. I would imagine any handmade, custom, or semi-custom saddle could be made that way.
You could also consider a saddle with a moveable block. They velcro on and you can move them forward and back to get a better fit.
[QUOTE=Halfling;8880746]
Hermes Corlandus. monoflap that curves forward. Non restrictive block. Allows you to sit how you want. 2 position stirrup bar. Horse a d I both love it and we both are a hard fit.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, because so many of us can afford a Hermes saddle. :lol:
[QUOTE=Tanny98;8878240]
I have recently discovered similar issues with myself. I have a freakishly long femur bone even though I am short (5’4") I still a larger seat and no to minimal blocks. I am currently selling an 18" saddle because with the block it’s too small for me! It pushes me into the cantle and I am scrunched and unable to ride with long stirrups. Dreaded chair seat has been my life…
I just purchased as Black Country Eden and was SHOCKED at how much I could drop down my stirrups and still feel my leg was effective. Finally something that accommodates my leg.
And just yesterday my new Ideal Jessica came in the mail. it has a more forward flap as well.
These brands may have shorter tree points as they tend to make saddles for wider horses and ponies.
I also had a Karl Neidersuss that didn’t necessarily have a forward flap but let my leg hang nicely as well as it has minimal block.
Look for saddles that don’t necessarily have a deep seat as sometimes deep seated saddle are made with the stirrup bars to forward and away from the deepest part of the seat in order for people to have enough room in the seat. This is not good for a person who has a long femur. You need a bar closer underneath you.
Any who, these are my suggestions. Black Country is a good place to start as I had heard from several people with long femurs that they enjoyed these saddles, and they were right.[/QUOTE]
How does the tree on the Ideal Jessican fit your horse? I’ve been eyeing a used one but it’s a MW tree and I have no frame of reference for that.
[QUOTE=snowrider;8881703]
How does the tree on the Ideal Jessican fit your horse? I’ve been eyeing a used one but it’s a MW tree and I have no frame of reference for that.[/QUOTE]
Actually very nicely. I’m considering contacting Ideal to find out more about the saddle I bought. I bought it used and have heard that the model has been around so long that they have changed and not all Jessica’s are the same. So it was a gamble when I purchased but worth it for me. My horse had a large laid back shoulder, good wither and is wide and round like a barrel, with a curve behind is wither. Quality is comparable to Albion I would say. There a tons of them for sale over seas cheaper than here in US. Super simple saddle with minimal blocks and a medium deep seat.
That is encouraging. The horse I would like to fit is wide like a barrel but has quite a wither too. When she’s unfit I have to pad the front of the saddle. She’s in a Duett Fidelio now, which is their semi hoop tree and it fits her well but the flap is way too straight for my leg.
