Saddle rec for long femur, lover of set back stirrup bar?

[johnnysauntie]

I’ve come to the conclustion that my much loved Bates Isabell simply will not work for my new guy. I love the position this saddle puts me in - it allows nice shoulder-hip-heel alignment and for me has offered a really comfortable and balanced position.

I do have a long femur and am long all over, (5’11") and also not the most flexible through the hip, so a longer and more forward flap would be ideal.

Looking for some ideas to narrow the saddle search process a bit - anything I should avoid or absolutely try?

Hopefully horse won’t pose too many challenges (she touches wood) - wb with nice wither, average medium width, average length, normal all around, but not comfortable in the Bates gullets, which are more angular.

Will be working with a pro fitter, and the goal of my post here is to identify saddles more likely fo work for me.

Thx!

[MysticOakRanch]

what is your price range? I have a long femur, and ride a short backed horse. I’ve had great luck with some of the Custom saddles - currently riding in a Constanze. I find the more “open” seat (a seat with a flat spot versus the scooped shape) works better for my longer leg - when I look at saddles, that is the first thing I pay attention to. If it is a deep scooped seat, I walk away. If it has a flat area, I will at least sit in it.

[stryder]

You might take a look at this saddle:
http://www.pelham-saddlery.com/saddles/ryder18899used.html

adjustable stirrup bars, a bit more forward flap, designed for a rider with a longer femur, and a horse that’s a little more pear-shaped.

[Pocket_Pony]

I love my Frank Baines Capriole, although my horse seems to have grown out of it. Like MOR, I like a flat seat. I have a longer thigh and I got this saddle with adjustable blocks so I could make it more comfortable for accommodating where my knee goes. You may have to go bigger in the seat to accommodate your thigh length. I’m only 5’5" so don’t have tooooo much trouble with it, but I do definitely notice depending on the saddle I’m in. I like the stirrup bar placement on this saddle.

[Sfbayequine]

The new Stubben Aramis was my solution.

[jaybird660]

Long, fixed exterior blocks can be more limiting for a long femur. The more angled exterior, shorter blocks allow more freedom and many UK saddlers offer a forward flap option as well.

Velcro blocks can also be helpful as they can be adjusted for more comfort or even resized.

[Wicky]

I managed with my Schleese Wave, with a small block that I moved as far up and forward as possible (it velcroed to the saddle). When I got new Obrigado saddles because the new horses are very short backed, I needed a custom small block (because I wanted the mono flap and the blocks cannot be adjusted like the Wave’s is), had the flaps set forward and got the extended bars. Expensive, but worth it.

[big_red_ottb]

A friend of mine with a similar build is riding in a Schleese Link II that she loves.

[Halfling]

I have the same issues although I’m 5’8. I spent years searching for a saddle that my young horse (now 8) went well in. My long femur didn’t fit in most saddles unless I went larger. Then it would put me in a chair seat and the panels were too long for my shorter backed horse. I ended up with a Hermes 17 1/2 W. Off the rack so to speak. It is everything every saddle fitter said was not good. Foam panel, gullet on the narrow side, and it sits over her shoulder blades. Every other saddle that I tried placed behind her scapula sat too far back and ended up over her shoulders anyway. Ebay has Hermes saddles pop up and look to be in decent shape. A call to Hermes can give you the age based on the serial number. Unfortunately, when I was looking there were no 17.5 wides so I ended up with a new one. Ultimate sticker shock and a home equity loan. Are they overpriced I think so, but, that said, Hermes is really “all that”! The tree is such that my long femur nestles in behind the exterior squishy block without restriction. The stirrup bars are unique. There is a little metal piece that flips up and keeps the stirrups set back if you choose. The fitter in my area (SE PA) let me ride in one for quite a while so I wwas sure it was right. My horse and I have made quantum leaps ever since I bought this saddle. Since my horse has such large prominent shoulders, the ideal spot for the saddle is over the edge of the shoulders. I can put my hand under the saddle and feel her shoulders, but there is NO inteference. Not sure what fitting issues your horse has, but this is my story and 2 cents worth. Good luck. Saddle shopping is worse than horse shopping IMHO.

[johnnysauntie]

Thanks for the thoughtful replies, all. Blocks are a real concern, I’ve never sat in a saddle with thigh blocks that fit me. In the worst case, they hit me mid-thigh and create a pivot point, which is the very opposite of secure. I took them off my Isabell entirely and prefer a flat saddle.

The process starts today. Saddle shopping is worse than waiting for Christmas morning. I already have my shiny new toy, but I can’t really play with it!

[Rusty15]

As someone of the same height that also has long everything I’ve only had a couple saddles that I could stand. My favorite saddle is my Rembrandt that was customized for another tall rider and just happened to fit me perfectly! One thing in common with all the dressage saddles I’ve liked is having little to no thigh blocks. Also getting a big seat. My butt can fit in a 17.5" but for my whole body to be balanced, an 18-18.5" is the most comfortable. Stubben Tristan, the aforementioned Rembrandt, some no-name saddle, Thorowgood all had very little in the block area and don’t have those gawd awful super deep seats…the only exception was the Anky Euro that had big blocks but they were very short and at the perfect angle for my legs.

[suzyq]

I have a long femur and like the Albion slk!

[Sfbayequine]

I was the same way. I had my Aramis made with Velcro blocks and for the first few months I rode with no blocks. There is a pencil roll, so there was a tiny bit of something. Then, I added the medium block when I was comfortable where I wanted it. Stubben gives three size blocks when you order Velcro blocks, my assumption is others do as well. Regardless of manufacturer, look at the Velcro blocks because you never have to be locked in to one situation & as you get comfy or your leg drops, you may decide you like something larger. I like choices!

[Crash_Helmet]

I’m not particularly tall but I do have a long femur and prefer a deep set stirrup bar. The Albion SLK is a model you should definitely try. Like Jay said, long femurs like short blocks (and short femurs like long blocks). Good luck. Saddle shopping can be a real slog.

[Pony_Fixer]

I’m not tall, but have long femur syndrome. I ride in a L’Apogee saddle and I can say in all honesty it is the first saddle I could actually understand what “sitting the trot” is all about.

[atlatl]

I too have a long femur and have found that the saddle size is very important to accommodate
it. I ride in an 18 inch seat Trilogy Verago.

Oops! make that a 19 inch seat.

[Equibrit]

http://www.laserequestrian.com/

[Hampton_Bay]

You sound to be built similarly to me, with similar preferences. I really like my Lauriche and JP Giacomini saddles. I fit best into 1/2" to 1" smaller than other brands because of the seat design. I have found that they tend to work very well on my round horses (Arab and Lusitano cross). If you can find one with Flair panels like mine, the fit is super forgiving.

[johnnysauntie]

So the process has started, and I was able to sit in an Albion SLK as recommended by a couple on this tread. I liked it but the one I had it wasn’t a fit for the horse so I didn’t get to give it a real try.

What I did learn is that that (duh) the shape of the horse makes a big difference. My new guy, Fred, is a draft X and compared to his TB predecessors, is much rounder. One of the saddles I tried this weekend (older model Sankey Barracuda) has significant thigh blocks, and I quite liked it.

The search is far from over, I am not sold on the Sankey at all, as it wasn’t in great shape and I didn’t get to have a “real” ride in it. But it at least did awaken me to the fact that I may need to let some of my preconceptions go, because Fred is a new variable in the equation.

Continued thanks for the input, it is being duly noted and recorded!

[MorganMadonna]

I’m 6’ and I was really nervous about buying a saddle with thigh blocks because I never had one fit right. I grew up with ultra-close contact flat saddles for equtation and jumping. I now own a Schleese with thigh blocks and love it. I’m new to dressage (<1year) and was having a hard time justifying a saddle purchase. However, there were a lot of things that I was physically having trouble doing because I couldn’t find a saddle that fit my femur. I lucked into the Schleese, it’s custom for someone else, and it fits my leg well even without a forward flap. They offer forward flaps and extended stirrup bars specifically to accommodate a longer femur.