Saddle for a Larger Student

[Escada]

I have a student that is on the larger size and needs a larger saddle. I’ve already had the gentle conversation with her regarding her weight and fitness as it relates to riding and she is working on her weight. She has also agreed to learn to work the horse in-hand for a while so she can lose a little weight.

She’ll never be a small girl so I’m looking for a dressage saddle brand that tends to fit larger riders well. Is the highest seat size an 18" and are there specific brands with a shallower seat that might fit larger riders?

Thanks!

[yaya]

Many saddles will run to 18.5", and some may go to 19". I am a larger rider, and have had good luck with Schleese ( have had both sizes in the past). They have many models to choose from, and many seat types. I do find that the older models seem to have more open seats.

[PDDT]

I am also a larger rider - you can get 19" seats but they may not be a good fit as the seat size has a relationship to the length of your leg as well.

I think your body shape also determines your best seat size - and also the depth of the seat. My shape works best with a flatter, more open seat and that is becoming harder to find. I have had an 18" Barnsby Kanter, a 19" custom saddle what was built on an English tree - it had short flaps, and my current saddle is a 17.5" Schleese JES Elite. It is an older saddle built on a Hennig tree.

If she is a person who will likely be large, she may end up riding more draft type or draft cross horses (I’m not sure how large this person is?). Maybe someone can comment on how those saddles fit. I’m thinking Duetts for example.
I think the only way to really see what fits her is to try a lot of saddles.

[SendenHorse]

western saddle? they support a heavier rider quite well

[Greypolopony]

I’m not heavy, but I’m a very leggy rider who likes a flat, open seat. Looking for a dressage saddle hasn’t really been a cake walk…but it’s theoretically possible. Dressage saddles can go up to 19", but you sort of half to knock off at least 1/2" off most of them because of how deep they are nowadays. I have a stamped 19" Devoucoux Milday out on trial right now but it only measures 18.5" and it’s probably the shallowest one I’ve tested so far! Supposedly the older Stubben Tristans and Passiers are known for being on the more flat, open side. I’ve definitely seen 19" Tristans floating around the internet…I also borrowed an old Courbette for a minute that was super flat, open and 18.5". These saddles exist, they just take some extra effort to find if you don’t want one that rides like a rock.

[plaidbreeches]

I know nothing about your student but she may actually have a genetic predisposition to be larger, and may always be.

More important than the size of the seat is going to be the balance it gives her, which is going to have a lot to do with the rest of her proportions.

That being said, I think people tend to buy saddles that are too small for them when an 18 or 18.5 seat may put them in a better position. I personally have an 18" jump saddle, and an 18" dressage saddle and they weren’t hard to find at all. I found them both on consignment at Middleburg Tack Exchange and there were a lot of options in that seat size. My dressage saddle is an older County Competitor and it was very affordable and has a pretty flat seat.

Someone mentioned a draft or draft cross but presumably she wants to keep the horse she has and in any case, drafts can be a bad choice for larger people if they have longer backs or funky conformation. They were originally meant to pull, not carry a rider. What’s going to be the most important isn’t, in my opinion, losing weight, but making sure she has a good core and the correct balance. (remember, people CAN have muscles hiding under extra weight they may be carrying!) Also remember a woman, especially a shorter woman, who looks heavy is probably the same weight as your average male rider.

[ladymcts]

Wide load writing here … you’re already onto something by recognizing that a shallower seat will be more comfortable. Took me way to long to figure that one out.

Personally, I’ve had the best luck with endurance type saddles. They are generally going to have that shallower seat that I’m looking for.

[GreyDes]

Smith Worthington has several in a 19.5" option. They have a close out Mystic on sale for < $1K - http://www.smithworthington.com/index.php?p=product&id=158

[Bogie]

You can still find dressage saddles with shallower seats, so an 18" might work. Keep in mind that the larger saddles often are too long for the horse’s back. The saddle’s panels shouldn’t extend beyond the last floating rib or it will put pressure on the lumbar region.

https://schleese.com/fitting-tip/saddle-length/

[BigMama1]

I’m a large rider and my saddle is 19 inch seat with a short flap to accommodate my stumpy legs. That’s being said, as a student on school horses Inwas not uncomfortable in school saddles that were 18 inch, just not the ideal fit for my own saddle on my own horse.

in a school situation you want a saddle that’s going to fit a range of riders. 18 or 18.5 inch seat will certainly accomplish that. Stubben models such as the Genesis and Maestoso are a great value used, fit many horses (unless they have really flat backs) and will stand up to a lot of wear and tear. Ditto many of the Passier models but personally I find them hard and uncomfortable.

[csaper58]

Pelham saddlery has a bunch in a good range of prices. You can look at the profiles and get an idea which has a flat seat. Just be sure the saddle is not to long for the horse’s back.

Keep in mind whether your rider needs large seat to accommodate lg butt, or butt plus long thigh bone? Will the rider need a narrow twist or a wider one?

www.pelham-saddlery.com/tack/dressage18.html

I agree an 'all purpose saddle,/endurance may have a flatter seat

www.pelham-saddlery.com/tack/allpurpose18.html

http://www.pelham-saddlery.com/tack/…cesaddles.html The Smith Wothington looks promising.

[AppendixQHLover]

I had a 18.5 albion that fit me perfect when my hiney was larger load. Sadly it got stolen when my truck was stolen a few years ago.

[jaybird660]

There are several companies that offer saddles beyond 18". And, as mentioned above, a more open seat and smaller blocks often offer more available seat space. I’d look for saddles that have more of a seat as some have steeper pommel and cantle rises which shortens the available seat area. Forward flaps and velcro blocks can also be helpful.

Some companies such as Black Country and Baines offer the option of ordering a seat size larger than the panel, for example, a 19" seat with an 18" panel. Some horses can’t support the longer panels so that is a good thing to know. An upswept panel can also offer some relief.

We have ordered several saddles beyond 18" from Black Country and Duett for larger riders or very tall, long legged ones.

[walktrot]

I have always qualified as short and fat, and when I got back to riding (not really a re-rider, I was never very good) I couldn’t ride in anything the BO owned. This was in 2000-2001. She sent me down to Pelham Saddlery, and after a couple of hours of trying everything under the sun, I bought an Albion 18" GP900 which had a large enough and shallow enough seat to be comfortable and it fit the horse I was riding. It transferred nicely to my own 16hh Paint gelding when I bought him. That saddle is now happily in the possession of a barn mate who loves it. I did luck out in Pelham one day when the store manager said they had the perfect saddle for me. Another Albion but an Original Comfort dressage saddle, so it doesn’t have a really deep seat. What it does have is a 19" seat, short flaps and extra-deep gussets. It was a special order that someone had to sell and was virtually new. I still ride in that saddle which was built in 1999. Very lucky.

Look at older saddles because they don’t have the deep seats and huge knee and thigh blocks that you see now. I’ve always been hoping to lose some weight but alas my genes and a couple of weight-increasing medications have worked against me. Pelham is a great place to look. They have a huge inventory. I’d probably give them a call and tell them what you are looking for.

[BigMama1]

@walktrot

I have always qualified as short and fat, and when I got back to riding (not really a re-rider, I was never very good) I couldn’t ride in anything the BO owned. This was in 2000-2001. She sent me down to Pelham Saddlery, and after a couple of hours of trying everything under the sun, I bought an Albion 18" GP900 which had a large enough and shallow enough seat to be comfortable and it fit the horse I was riding. It transferred nicely to my own 16hh Paint gelding when I bought him. That saddle is now happily in the possession of a barn mate who loves it. I did luck out in Pelham one day when the store manager said they had the perfect saddle for me. Another Albion but an Original Comfort dressage saddle, so it doesn’t have a really deep seat. What it does have is a 19" seat, short flaps and extra-deep gussets. It was a special order that someone had to sell and was virtually new. I still ride in that saddle which was built in 1999. Very lucky.

Look at older saddles because they don’t have the deep seats and huge knee and thigh blocks that you see now. I’ve always been hoping to lose some weight but alas my genes and a couple of weight-increasing medications have worked against me. Pelham is a great place to look. They have a huge inventory. I’d probably give them a call and tell them what you are looking for.

Walk Trot I feel like we are twins!

[no.stirrups]

The Frank Baines Capriole and the Black Country GPD (which is nearly the same as the Celeste endurance saddle) have an open seat and come in sizes up to 19". All Harry Dabbs saddles are available in an open seat, though I’m not sure what the maximum size is.

[dia916]

I am short and fat and recently switched from riding hunters to dressage. I got a beautiful Custom Saddlery Icon Star 18.5. It isn’t too deep, so perfect if you like flatter or are switching from jump seat riding. Also soft and comfortable. Good luck!

[rothmpp]

@plaidbreeches

Someone mentioned a draft or draft cross but presumably she wants to keep the horse she has and in any case, drafts can be a bad choice for larger people if they have longer backs or funky conformation. They were originally meant to pull, not carry a rider.

Thank you!!! Why, oh why is that the first thing some people go to with a larger rider? There are precious few of them with short backs, and consequently often have a weaker loin. The last thing they need is a heavier rider. Best thing to do is look for a horse with a shorter back. Think about all those reining horses with the heavy saddle and big ass men on them.

Back to the original question - as many have said, there are many options up to 19" or 19 1/2". The question may have to do more with where this rider carries her weight. Stomach, butt, legs? It makes a difference in the style of saddle. There is a rider at my barn who carries all of her weight in her butt, but is very short. She needs a 19" or bigger saddle but the flaps are way too big. Her heels are barely lower than the saddle. I tend to carry any extra weight in my stomach, so I am in a relatively small saddle for my weight.