Saddle fit for rider--how to find "perfect" balance

[Natalie]

Hi all! I’m currently in saddle shopping land which is…stressful. I’ve ridden in a (original) Beval Stanford from circa 2001 since it was bought for me new then (I was a teen), with a 9-year break in between. Now as an adult re-rider with a horse, I realized it doesn’t fit me perfectly, nor my horse. The Beval medium tree is a touch narrow for him, a not particularly heavily built QH-type with a normal wither and moderately curved back and decent shoulders. I picked up a cheap (beat up) Crosby Centennial to have as an extra “beater” saddle as I’ve ridden in one in the past in hopes it would be a better fit for us both in the interim. It fits him pretty nicely–if the Beval was about 80%, the Crosby is a 95% fit. I also like it–it is instantly more comfortable then the Beval ever was, and I like the minimalism and softness of it.

However, I’m not positive it’s balanced “just so” for me. I generally forgot the saddle just riding normally, but I’m finding myself falling back a bit in two-point. The Stanford really tosses me into the backseat, and I’m getting a similar feeling here, though it’s much less pronounced. I’m reasonably strong a balanced, so it’s not a fitness issue per se–I’m not “struggling” in the saddle but two-point isn’t quite effortless.

So now I’m trying to figure out “why” this is to help narrow down the saddle search. Is the seat short? It seems to fit (4 fingers behind, I settle down into the center easily, though I did “feel” the pommel a bit riding without stirrups). Stirrup bar placement just off? I found a much newer Centennial half a seat size up and wonder if the extra half inch would make a difference…

Also looking for saddle reccs that ride the way this saddle (Butet-like but likely not a Butet due to the normal tree width likely not fitting my horse) rides, if anyone has suggestions. I’m shopping used as my budget is under 2K–the quality of the Crosby is about my “bottom” standard, and I’ve primarily been looking at slightly older high-end used options. TIA!!

[pattnic]

If you’re riding a QH in an older Beval and/or Crosby and feeling pitched towards the back of the saddle, my first thought would be that the saddle is still not quite wide enough for the horse (even if he’s not a big QH, he might still be wider than you would guess, and those saddle likely run a bit narrow).

Regarding going up in seat size, you could try it, but I doubt it will help. A bigger seat size is most likely going to put the stirrup bar further ahead, which is also going to cause you to fall back.

If I were you, I would try a County Stabilizer. They can often be found affordably, they’re pretty minimal, and have a more generous fit than a Crosby or Beval. I’ve also read/heard quite a few people who have liked Butets also like Stabilizers (but this does seem to be a bit polarizing, as other who like Butets hate Stabilizers).

[Bogie]

There are two things that will cause that. 1) the saddle is too narrow so it’s tipping you back very slightly or 2) the stirrup bars are too far forward for your leg and putting you behind the motion. If it’s the latter, you can try putting some rubber tubing on the bar and then sliding your leather on. Sometimes that will help. If it’s the former, you just need a wider saddle. If it’s wool flocked, it’s possible that the panels can be adjusted enough to level it out.

[Joyrider]

Effortless two-point, half seat, light seat, jumping position - whatever you want to call it and all their variations is a life long struggle for so many riders - myself included.

I consider myself completely average - average height, average thigh length, average calf length and I find so, so many saddles put my leg a tidge too forward with my butt wanting to go too far back which makes my shoulders then need to compensate and be too forward. Even when the balance is “close” but not perfect I find I will get fatigued/out of breath so much quicker than my long legged friend who can just hover in a light seat all day long with nary a deep breath.

Two saddles in my lifetime made “huntering around in between fences” effortless - an old, old, OLD English made saddle of my mentor’s - don’t even remember the brand name and an Equipe that was about two seat sizes too small for me - I had hopped on my student’s (tiny woman!) horse to give him a spin and I was in heaven with that saddle and where it put me. Aside from those two, I “deal with it” and…it sucks - lol!

[Scribbler]

@Joyrider

Effortless two-point, half seat, light seat, jumping position - whatever you want to call it and all their variations is a life long struggle for so many riders - myself included.

I consider myself completely average - average height, average thigh length, average calf length and I find so, so many saddles put my leg a tidge too forward with my butt wanting to go too far back which makes my shoulders then need to compensate and be too forward. Even when the balance is “close” but not perfect I find I will get fatigued/out of breath so much quicker than my long legged friend who can just hover in a light seat all day long with nary a deep breath.

Two saddles in my lifetime made “huntering around in between fences” effortless - an old, old, OLD English made saddle of my mentor’s - don’t even remember the brand name and an Equipe that was about two seat sizes too small for me - I had hopped on my student’s (tiny woman!) horse to give him a spin and I was in heaven with that saddle and where it put me. Aside from those two, I “deal with it” and…it sucks - lol!

This is really interesting! What is making your leg go forward? Do you mean a chair seat? What would fix this, do you want the stirrup bars farther back?

[Joyrider]

Had this conversation with some top saddle people and my most satisfying answer I guess was that I needed a different balance point in the seat of the saddle vs. the placement of the stirrup bars. I’m a pro rider - Bernie Traurig would say that I am naturally in the “ready” position like pros should be which is a tiny, tiny bit leg forward. The term “chair” seat being much too extreme. The “ready” position is of course great on a green or rank horse but for absolute balance with minimal fatigue (on a nicely broke horse!) , I’ve only felt that perfection with the examples I stated in my other post.

[Scribbler]

@Joyrider

Had this conversation with some top saddle people and my most satisfying answer I guess was that I needed a different balance point in the seat of the saddle vs. the placement of the stirrup bars. I’m a pro rider - Bernie Traurig would say that I am naturally in the “ready” position like pros should be which is a tiny, tiny bit leg forward. The term “chair” seat being much too extreme. The “ready” position is of course great on a green or rank horse but for absolute balance with minimal fatigue (on a nicely broke horse!) , I’ve only felt that perfection with the examples I stated in my other post.

Ok that makes sense. You would want the stirrup bars a bit more under your thigh and then ride leg forward slightly?

I have had the Horror of Chairseat drilled into me in dressage lessons but I know what you mean by the leg forward thing from watching pro jumpers.

It is different from my chair seat, which indeed I finally realized was also a “ready for trouble” position I had learned in Western saddle as a kid.