Riding in saddles with big blocks?

[spurofthemoment]

UPDATE:

I took the front and real blocks off and I actually like the saddle more without the blocks. I think the rear block was getting in the way of my leg’s contact with my horse. Now I don’t need to turn my ankle to give a spur aid - I can keep my toe straight and apply leg or spur pressure.

All that said - now it’s the deep seat getting to me. I sat in my flat seat again and noticed how “little” there was in front of me (less pommel). I notice I have to swing my leg more carefully over to dismount. I worry now if I eff up my distances, I will pay the price of getting my pelvic region destroyed by my tack. But the seat WIDTH is phenomenal. I noticed pressure points in my flat seat saddle where the width of the seat did not accommodate my anatomy. Not the case in the couch deep seat (built to be wider in the seat).

Saddle fit is hard and I hate it. That’s it. That’s the thread.

[spurofthemoment]

Here’s a fun laugh (well, laugh to keep from crying). Stirrup bar length/placement (this one is a long bar vs my old saddle) and blocks absolutely play a role in where your leg hits the saddle….

The demo model’s flap was a little long/more than halfway down my leg, and I didn’t care for the blocks (even the small set felt too big). I ordered a short flap with no blocks. I’m hoping I was sitting oddly in this photo (riding felt fine) but I’m feeling so defeated. Especially because this saddle fits my horse SO well. I’m going to give it a second chance, and my rep has been great. Maybe we can make it work? I have a lot of faith that no matter what, everything will work out and be correct in end.

In French brands, I need a forward flap. Here, it almost looks like I need a pencil flap. I’m honestly a little fascinated by this incredible difference

Word to the wise: if you mostly like the demo saddle…. BUY THE DEMO SADDLE.

[Posting_Trot]

I’d say that saddle looks too small for you. You should usually have a fist’s distance from your butt to the cantle, and in this saddle you look like you’re almost up to the edge of the cantle.

[spurofthemoment]

Yes - which is funny because it’s the same seat size as the demo. I didn’t change size or weight since I ordered. That’s kind of what fascinates me!!

I could very well be sitting funny in it - this was from my first ride and the saddle I had been using is the complete opposite. Perhaps it’s just a matter of finding the balance point? We shall see!

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

If you don’t mind my saying–you’re a fit rider with excellent flexibility and leg position…but if I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d popped on a kid’s pony to school it! The saddle looks way too small (and kind of under-padded, frankly) and your stirrups look very short (unless you were schooling cross-country or something like that).

[spurofthemoment]

Aww thank you!!

I’m truly baffled by how the saddle ended up too small - perhaps the shorter flap affected placement/construction.

I had my stirrups down a hole or two before this photo. I do prefer to ride with something a little shorter/at the length in the photo, which is another reason why I opted for a short flap.

[Bogie]

I have seen a lot of discussion recently about how saddle designs with deep seats (and blocks) put a rider so far back in the saddle that it completely changes the rider’s balance and puts them in a braced position. Just something to consider.

[Baysn_Blondes]

Out of curiosity, have you put a tape measure on the seat of your saddle? It definitely looks small and makes me wonder if something got mis-sized or an order got written down wrong.

[spurofthemoment]

So I actually did and it’s a true 17!

I’ve been in close contact with the rep, who has been nothing short of stellar about the whole ordeal. We are working on finding a solution. Her fitting skills and customer service are the entire reason I went with the brand (and wanted a Prestige or Renaissance to work for my horse so badly), and I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed/left out to dry if the saddle ended up not fitting.

All that said, we’re thinking about attaching a small/pencil knee block. The entire situation is to be continued as she’ll be coming out to do an assessment. She would be visiting later regardless in order to confirm fit for my horse after the break-in period for the flocking.

While I’m bummed that it’s not working perfectly right away, I’m still happy/not giving up. It’s also very settling to ride in a saddle that properly fits my horse.

[dmveventer]

Adding the block is probably a good idea, just to feel like the flap is coming back to meet you a bit instead of being so far forward. I actually prefer having a small block over none IF the saddle fits me well overall. When the saddle doesn’t fit and the blocks aren’t in the right place I’d rather get rid of them. If the demo model wasn’t a great fit for you then you may find you like having a block on this one. I’ve ridden in my saddle with and without blocks (they’re velcro) and was surprised that I actually wanted a small block there. It just provides support for where my leg wants to sit anyway, and without it my knees feel like they’re floating a bit.

But if the saddle feels fine when you’re riding I wouldn’t spend too much time worrying about it. You may just need time to get used to something different. You’ll drive yourself crazy trying to find something absolutely perfect for both of you, especially if you or your horse are hard to fit.

[spurofthemoment]

What’s funny about the forwardness is that I’m used to having to seek out saddles with forward flaps. I wonder if it’s a French saddle brand thing. The balance point in this one is further back (both for what I ordered and in the demo) so I guess I don’t sit in a spot that necessitates a forward flap.

When I was riding with the big block, I could feel the front block making contact with my upper thigh. I didn’t like that at all. I don’t know how dressage riders in the newer style saddles that have the ginormous blocks can be comfy.

My only “concern” at this rate is how the saddle will look to a judge - I like doing medals and I ride in the hunters. I worry that the seat fit might be distracting. I have noticed that in motion, the seat fit doesn’t appear as bad. But beyond that, this saddle is far more comfy than my French saddle, fits my horse PHENOMENALLY, and additional width at the back of the seat keeps me comfortable and in the seat when shifting my weight.

[spurofthemoment]

Thank you for this awesome explanation! I was always wondering about the purpose of blocks. I have two knock knees and long femurs. When I squat, to do so comfortably and balanced, I have to angle my feet outward. I actually notice in a lot of my over fences photos, one of my knees is making no contact with the saddle.

My biomechanics also make it very hard for me to stand straight up in the stirrups - I need a forward tilt in my hip in order to pull off a half seat comfortably. I think I might be able to fix this with more stability work/standing up at the walk. But it’s so hard for me to do the “hunter princess.”

I was also thinking along the lines of “lack of blocks will force me to no longer compensate.” I guess in some cases, though, they help move the saddle to the rider’s leg. I’m thinking that’s what I might need in this case.

[dmveventer]

@spurofthemoment

When I was riding with the big block, I could feel the front block making contact with my upper thigh. I didn’t like that at all.

To me this just means the saddle didn’t fit you. You shouldn’t notice the blocks constantly, they should just be there when you need the extra support. I had similar experiences in saddles that didn’t fit me - the blocks were just constantly in the wrong place. The saddle you ordered is different enough from the demo that everything moved around, and you can’t really compare block size when the blocks wind up in different places. It changes the whole feel of the saddle.

Dressage saddles are a little different, since some riders do prefer blocks that “hold” them in place a bit more to help maintain the position they need. Not all of them do though, and the riding styles are also totally different so not really a fair comparison to jump saddles. You’d be surprised by how unobtrusive some of those giant blocks can feel. I’ve ridden in saddles with huge blocks and only noticed they were there when my leg moved out of position. That’s where I want both of my saddles - providing guardrails when needed but otherwise staying out of my way.

@spurofthemoment

I guess in some cases, though, they help move the saddle to the rider’s leg.

This is EXACTLY how I feel having blocks vs no blocks. It just puts the flap out where my leg wants it so I’m not floating or trying to twist myself into an unnatural position.

[IdahoRider]

My sad tale begins with the purchase of a Custom Icon Flight in 2018. I bought the saddle in California while I was there taking care of my Uncle. Horse was in Idaho. I had had a Custom rep come out and I tried a lot of saddles and the Icon was the best fit. I could not find what I wanted here in Idaho, so I spent a lot of time driving throughout Southern California looking at new and used saddles, based on the guidelines of the Custom rep in Idaho.

I went to a tack store in Calabasas where they had a used Wolfgang available. It was very, very used. As I was putting that saddle back, I noticed the tag of the saddle right above it. Yep! Icon Flight, in the size I needed. It ticked all the boxes and was in wonderful shape. My Uncle even paid for it as a way to say thank you for spending my entire summer taking care of him.

Saddle fit mare, with reflocking. It was wonderful. After two years there was an unfortunate set of circumstances that over the space of three months had me so burned out on horse people (I am a boarder) that when I got an astronomical offer on the mare, I took it.

Fast forward a couple of years and I fell into ownership again when a retired track pony horse was listed on the OTTB Facebook page. Added bonus, he was five miles down the road. I bought him and he has been fantastic. My Icon Flight became an issue. I suddenly began to fidget and feel too locked in. I was right up against the front blocks. It was uncomfortable. The Custom rep was gone. I ended up buying a new Custom Woldgang Solo II. The price was way below market value, the seller just wanted to get back a little of what she paid without the hassle of sending it back or going to consignment out of state.It still had the tags on. I knew it was too narrow for my guy, but the Custom rep from out of state was coming, I figured I could have her widen it.

She gets to Idaho, I proudly put the Wolfgang on my gelding and she says that the tree just does not fit the shape of my gelding’s back. She said she could reflock until the cows came home, but it won’t change the fundamental shape of the tree. I can’t remember if she said he was curvy and the saddle tree was straight or if it was the other way around.

I mentioned that I loved how the Wolfgang felt to me when I was in it. And that I wished my Icon had the same kind of feeling. She asked what was I feeling in the Wolfgang that I liked so much. I told her that I didn’t feel so trapped. She had me put the Icon on him and said the Icon’s tree was a great fit for his back. And that she thought she could give me the same feeling in the Icon by reflocking. She ended up building up the pommel area, which changed the balance point for me. I had been sliding forward ever so slightly, and feeling jammed up. Horse was feeling awesome in it. I was feeling centered and balanced. Did I have a full fist between my bum and the cantle? No. But the balance was so good that I wasn’t sliding back, so that wasn’t an issue.

I will probably sell the Wolfgang. The moral of the story is that reflocking by a good fitter can make all the difference. My Icon Flight has large, shorter knee rolls. I would have sworn that was the problem. But it wasn’t. The balance was off in that saddle, on my new horse. Fix the balance and the knee rolls shouldn’t make a difference.
Sheilah