I went with a friend that is looking to get a new saddle in a few months and well I really need a new one because mine doesn’t really fit my horse correctly. I sat in all types of saddles, wintec pro jump, bates, mtoulouse, pessoa etc… NONE FIT ME :eek: They said my thigh bone is long so every saddle I sat in my knee was off the roles. I don’t have a clue what to do. Is there anyone that had this problem?? If so what type of saddle fit you. Thanks so much.
Dont worry I have dealt with the same thing, I ended up getting a bates caprilli with a forward flap, and i went up half a seat size (im normally a 17 and i got a 17.5) Its the only saddle ive ever ridden where my knees dont go off the rolls too, I love it, it puts my seat and leg in a very nice position. Hope this helps
I believe I that was the bates I sat in, I’m going to have to ask my friend for sure. If it is my knees were still off the rolls :lol: AGGGGHHHHH
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2750819750103994293OlsXcx
This is the saddle I’m in now and it doesn’t really fit me either. This can give you an idea of how long my leg is.
Thanks Alice though, I’m going to find out if thats the same saddle if not then I will find one to try out.
Trust me, Alice has longer thighs than you. Ill try to find a picture. We’re both incredibly tall and pretty much all of it is leg. I got lucky and got the super long calves(still have long thighs but nothing terrible) but she has the longest thighs. Like probably the legs of a short person’s arm. Its ridiculous.
Best advice, is shop for saddles that are made more for men. The passier precision is very nice, especially if you have a horse with withers.
PErsonally, I’m going semi custom with a CWD. Surpisingly, I didnt get the forward flaps because they screwed up my position and messed up “my line” lol. But I did have to get the second longest flaps they offered. The longest fit the best conventionally but I dont like to ride the flap. As long as the flap isnt pulling my zipper down or getting caught on my half chap and actually pulling the flap up(I’ve fallen off this way haha) then I’m good.
Welcome to the long thigh bone club! I have been looking for days for a saddle to fit me and my horse. My monoflap is not a good fit for him. I rode in a Pessoa and a Toulouse-awful. My knee kept shooting over the flap. I am trying a County on Monday. I know every website there is to know, and I am desperate if the County doesn’t work as I have no saddle to fit the horse either. If anyone has any new sites or suggestions, PLEASE say so. Spending in the high 2s or 3s for a custom is not a great option for me.:no:
You think you have problems!
Try being 6ft 5in and find a dressage saddle to fit. Despite their best efforts neither Dover in Plaistow nor Pelham Saddlery had anything that came close. A web search found that the Duett Saddles distributor was local to me and had 20 inch saddles in stock. I subsequently bought and had fitted to Baby Belgian a Duett Encore 20 inch dressage saddle. Duett also has jumping saddles in large seat sizes.
My jumping saddle is older than most of the posters on this board. It’s a 19.5 inch extra-forward Stuebben Siegfied, bought in the days well before computerised inventory excluded me as a customer for anything horse related.
I definitely have the long thigh bone problem. I have a Bates Momentum that works really well. I didn’t fit as well in the Bates Caprilli forward flap which I also owned for awhile.
I have much the same problem when saddle shopping, long from hip to knee. I had a Courbette vision for a long time… the more forward one. It worked well. Of course I know have a Devoucoux chiberta that I won’t be giving up until it just can’t be ridden in anymore… and then it will retire and remain with me forever lol.
The Courbette Vision comes in a more forward flap option and is quite comfy, IMO. The problems I saw with it is that the tree points are a bit longer than on other saddles (so can potentially bother horse more), and the biggest is that the tree cannot be adjusted at all.
I have a Black Country Quantum, which I ordered to my specifications (color, longer/more forward flap, tree size, etc). I think they run ~$2200. I love this saddle. You could also check around to see if there are used ones or demos that have a longer flap that might work for you if that’s too much.
I tried County and liked them, but would have had to pay so much extra in order to get the options I needed like a longer flap.
Yes, Black Country Quantums work for long thighs. I ordered mine 1" more forward for no extra charge.
I ride in an original Ainsley Chester that I think is an 18.5 or 19. The current models have no resemblance.
Here’s what I’ve figured out about fitting a saddle to my 35+ inch inseam. First, the seat measurement has more to do with the length of your thigh bone than it does the size or width of your butt. Second that bone length needs to be compensated for not just with a more forward flap, but also with a greater distance between the balance point of the seat (usually the deepest spot) and the stirrup bar. In other words the vertical stirrup leather is a fulcrum of sorts and your thigh needs to be balanced both in front of that vertical line as well as behind it. When all you look at is where your knee falls on the flap you are ignoring the other side of the equation.
In the OP picture I would say that the saddle she is in is totally too small, not just short in the flap. Try going up at least and inch in seat size. I would also say that the way the riders leg is slipping back is directly related to the saddle not providing balance behind the stirrup leather. What you are looking for is a saddle that for the average person puts them in a chair seat. I have a short friend who rode in my Ainsley and she could not get out of it enough to post, but for me it’s perfect with the short XC stirrup length.
I have jumped and galloped in CookieP’s Black Country and love it. It is definitely the first place I would/will look when I start saddle shopping. The Ainsley is about 30+ years old and once I get a new horse I’ll be in the market to replace it.
Jeffries Flyovers work for me.
Barnsby Diablo fit quite well for me and I’m super tall, mostly in my thighs.
[QUOTE=subk;3515323]
Here’s what I’ve figured out about fitting a saddle to my 35+ inch inseam. First, the seat measurement has more to do with the length of your thigh bone than it does the size or width of your butt. Second that bone length needs to be compensated for not just with a more forward flap, but also with a greater distance between the balance point of the seat (usually the deepest spot) and the stirrup bar. In other words the vertical stirrup leather is a fulcrum of sorts and your thigh needs to be balanced both in front of that vertical line as well as behind it. When all you look at is where your knee falls on the flap you are ignoring the other side of the equation.
In the OP picture I would say that the saddle she is in is totally too small, not just short in the flap. Try going up at least and inch in seat size. I would also say that the way the riders leg is slipping back is directly related to the saddle not providing balance behind the stirrup leather. What you are looking for is a saddle that for the average person puts them in a chair seat.[/QUOTE]
Good point. I’m only 5’ 4" but have long thighs and I have always bought saddles at least a half size larger than most people my height buy. The Flyovers I have are 18" which is a full size up from what you’d expect someone my size would need.
I too have a long thigh and Black Country and Barnsby both make good saddles. My County dressage saddle can’t quite accommodate my thigh, even with the correct seat size–the knee block keeps me from closing my leg correctly. Eventually I will get around to selling it and getting a different saddle!
My current jumping saddle is from “mattymarlow” who sells on Ebay–it’s custom and was half the price of most nice saddles, and fits me and both horses beautifully. I can hike my stirrups up without putting my knee over the front, but I can also drop my stirrups and do flatwork without the rear calf block (more of a thigh block–I had him position it a little higher than normal) getting in the way.
I don’t want to sound like a salesperson for him, but I have not found anything else of such quality for such an affordable price. The only catch is that would be harder to resell than a “name brand”–but you’ll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands, so not a problem for me! 
note. thigh bone = femur.
lol.
sorry. you guys are cracking me up.
purplnurpl stats:
6 footer
46 cm when sitting from greater troc to patella
plan on spending some money and having a saddle made.
I have the Prestige Eventers made for me. I love them.
The one I have now is a tad small and I"m in the market for a new one.
It’s a 17" seat with a L flap.
I’m having an 18" seat with an XL flap made as soon as I sell mine.
The smaller saddle is PERFECT for me when jumping 3’6’’ and under. It’s never been quite big enough for drops but the cantel is flat and I can just slid off the back a little.
here is the fit:
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p189/xckaboom/sale1.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p189/xckaboom/andy1.jpg
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p189/xckaboom/horse-logo1.jpg
Ah, forgot about Prestige! Yes, for a while I was riding someone’s horse in her Prestige dressage saddle (forget the model) and adored it–great balance, room for thigh/knee, everything. Unfortunately, tree doesn’t fit my horses…
I have the same problem as you with both dressage saddles and jump saddles. For dressage saddles, I ended up with a Hastilow, which I adore, its the first saddle that fit me. I ended up with a custom County which combined the seat of the Symmetry and the forward flap of the Extreme (their old cross country saddle) and I love it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit my new horse as well as I would like, and may have to get a new saddle. I would go back to the woman who sold me my Hastilow and look at her jump saddles. She works for a company that sells Hastilow and Black Country.
The biggest problem I had is that I could get a way in a dressage saddle that was an 18 (I’m a 17.5) but the saddle was too big for my horses back. So if you are considering increasing seat size, just make sure the saddle is not past the ribs on your horse.
GOOD LUCK!
Yes I too suffer from the freakishly long femur. To further complicate matters my horse has a freakishly bulky shoulder. I ended up getting a Stubben um…Admiralis??? I forget what it is called and I don’t know if they make them anymore but it is black and brown buffalo hide and I think they are only custom made?? Anyways it somehow has a forward enough flap for me while causing the least amount of interferance with the tanks shoulders. I love it. I sat in about 200 saddles before I found this one. It is designed for a man as I also struggle with finding a twist that suits my nether regions and it is a 17 1/2.
My next saddle will be a Black Country or a County…both nice.
Good luck!
Lots of great suggestions I wouldn’t even have know about :lol: Thanks guys so much, I am going to find all of these and see which one will work the best. Thanks for the help, hopefully we can find one soon.
Oh btw my saddle doesn’t fit me anymore, its a 16" but I believe I now need a 17 so this is another reason I need a new one. For myself and my horse. Thanks so much again.
