On a never ending hunt for the right saddle that fits me, and the horse and my budget. Finally landing on something that seems can work. In the past I’ve riden in a 17.5 (basically in whatever saddle I can find/comes with the horse, I’ve never bought a saddle that fits me specifically) and they feel too small in both seat and especially flap. This one is an 18” Palm Beach 3AA flaps. I love the feel of it on me and the horse but worried now it may look a bit big in the seat? I felt quite balanced while riding in it. I’m tall, 5’11 with long femurs and have always ridden in saddles that were too small so getting into bigger saddles feels like an adjustment. At the canter it feels like it might look big. If it doesn’t feel large, is it a suitable option then? I ride primarily in hunters and equitation, and suffer from major indecision especially for big purchases like this haha I can only upload one image as I am a new user, but happy to share more. Not sure if I would be better suited for a smaller seat size with more forward flaps, but the very forward and long flaps are hard to find in my budget
I’m 5’ 10" (with long legs), weigh 138, and I ride in an 18.5" dressage saddle and 18" cc saddle.
If the saddle feels good to you, and if it’s working for the horse, then by all means go for it! I don’t think that saddle looks too big for you at all.
Far too many people are riding in saddles too small for them. They have zero wiggle room and are sitting too much on the cantle area.
This saddle looks great for you. It likely seems like it looks like it’s a bit too large because it doesn’t have a curvy cantle, it’s pretty flat. If this saddle had a more typical upsweep back there, you ,likely wouldn’t think twice about its size for you 
And if it DID have a typical upsweep, I’d say it was too small for you.
It’s fine! Put your stirrups up two holes to jump a big stick and you’ll see that it gives you plenty of room to keep your seat in the saddle even with the change in your hip and femur angle.
Agree - it looks like it fits you very well!
Ps I currently ride in a saddle that’s admittedly too small for me because it fits my horse and I struggled for a long time to find one that fit her. I can relate to the struggle!
Agree with others! I’m on the taller side and long legged and I ride in an 18” 3AA Voltaire as well (Stuttgard, not PB) - this current saddle was my first 18 after many many years in a 17.5” and now I can’t imagine going down again. It might seem big at first but looks like it fits you quite well, and if you ride more in it may adapt quite quickly!
I definitely want to stress this. So many people ride in tiny saddles. It’s like they find out what size they ride in at 15 yrs old and think that’s their size for life. When they sit in a saddle that actually fits they feel like it’s huge, but it’s just not what they are used to.
I’m 5’11 and all legs as well. First pic is me in my 18 " 4AA flap Voltaire and second pic is my current saddle, an 18" Renaissance (also with an extra long and forward flap). I can technically “fit” into a 17 or 17.5", but my balance is not where it needs to be.
Hope this helps! You look great in the Voltaire.
I sure wouldn’t want you in a saddle any smaller than your 18 for sure! It’s one thing to “fit”, it’s another to ACTUALLY fit
Everyone needs a little wiggle room, and nobody should be sitting on the back of the panels
Thank you! I can’t find a 4AA in my budget. Do you think sticking with the 3AA will be a massive regret with flap length?
Agree completely! A smaller size doesn’t actually fit me at all, although I can sit in one and look ‘normal’ to most riders. Again, I think it’s because the majority of people are riding in saddles that are too small. I also think there is a bit of stigma around 18/18.5" saddles, which might be why some people cling to smaller sized saddles.
No, I don’t think it will be a massive regret if it otherwise fits you and your horse. I do agree a 4AA might fit your leg a little better, but I think it looks fine! As long as your balance is good, I wouldn’t stress about it.
I think people get hung up on saddle size. It’s not like it’s on a label on the back!
That said, seat depth, flap length and position, and location of the stirrup bars all contribute to how a saddle fits a rider. And, if the saddle is unbalanced on the horse, it will also impact how it positions the rider.
I think the saddle looks great for you! I’ve ridden a few horses for people lately and you know right away if a saddle is good or bad for you! I had to hack 2 horses in saddles that were too small for me and man was I out of balance and couldn’t maintain a good position at all! Then rode in one that fit me great and all was good with the world again! lol
If this saddle you’re in fits the horse and you and you love it …. Then it’s the right saddle 
How I love when the board’s Tall Girls Advisory Committee convenes.
As a teenager, I was riding in an 18 while my peers all had 16 or 16.5. It was embarrassing because I thought it had to do with butt size, and I wasn’t particularly butty. But I’m 5’11”. It took a lot of education, when I was saddle shopping in my (gulp) 50s, to understand that saddle fit, for oneself and Pookie, is so much, much more than butt.
A young woman I know rides in a 19. She’s average height and build but at conception she opted for the femur deluxe upgrade. She rides well and looks great in what I, long ago, would have assumed is a big guy’s saddle.
You look terrific in that saddle. Good for you!
A small update. I managed to find an 18” 4A for a bit higher than my budget, but it fits me perfectly and I know it’s a saddle that I’ll keep for a long time. Thank you to everyone that gave in some input. It really helped!
Oh good…glad you found one! I was going to suggest a 4 length flap.
