Saddles for those WITHOUT long femurs?

[soloudinhere]

After the eternal saddle battle continues ever onwards, I am trying to figure out what to do.

It’s come to my attention that I am incredibly SHORT of femur. I am leggy for my height (which is still short) but all of it is below the knee. It is basically impossible for me to sit over my knee in any sort of way because if I did, my heel would be about 6" behind my hip. Basically, my thigh ends about 5" below where the skirt of the saddle ends, and the rest of it is calf. If they made 13" flap dressage saddles with blocks that go up to the seat, that would be about right.

I can’t even figure out what I would ask a custom company to make if I were to order one. I guess a saddle with no blocks and a very short flap would work, but that doesn’t sound all that great to ride my brand-new big moving 4 year old in.

I have an Aviar Rook at the moment, and I love the seat shape. Love it. But I have the same problem I have had in a lot of saddles - I can’t get my leg down around the horse and I can’t position my leg in different places from the knee down. I thought I just sucked but it’s finally occurred to me that maybe it’s a limitation of my conformation I should try to do something about.

I’m open to any genius suggestions someone might have for this apparently rare problem.

[sheltona01]

You probably need a high forward flap. Some place for your thigh to go to balance out your lower leg. You need a company that is will to move the flap and block placement around for you.

[soloudinhere]

Any that come to mind or an example of a saddle made this way? I’m not adverse to ordering custom but since whatever arrives I will definitely be stuck with, want to make sure I’ve explored everything before committing.

[sheltona01]

I am actually ordering one for a client that way with Ryder. I can send you a picture when it arrives in 8 to 12 weeks. Otherwise I am trying to think of other saddles I have ordered like it.

[soloudinhere]

I’ll send you a PM with some photos that maybe you can help me decipher.

[joiedevie99]

Saddle fit is so hard. Jump saddles have an advantage over dressage saddles in terms of how easy it is to customize the flap. On some custom jump saddles, it’s possible to order not just short/medium/long flap, and straight/forward/extra forward flap, but also an option for where the most forward part of the flap is. You could move yours higher without over-shortening the flap.

In a dressage saddle, you kind of have to hunt for that. A short flap saddle with a short block angled forward might do the trick - or it might not - depending on whether the block is placed high enough.

You occasionally see Custom Saddlery saddles floating around used with that combination - especially Wolfgang Solos. If you’re comfortable with a long blocker, you see Trilogy Debbie McDonald’s floating around with short flaps pretty often too.

[outerbanks77]

You could get this made without the endurance saddle features, and they should do whatever flap length you would like: https://landrsaddles.com/rubicon-mono-flap-endurance-saddle/

Black Country does a similar endurance saddle as well.

I just bought a used Patrick Leggero and the block starts up pretty high, and is a little angled forward. It sounds like that is what you would want on the top, but with a shorter flap/block overall.

[blue_heron]

Just wanted to say your saddle is gorgeous!! (though I would personally pass on the blue piping if I was custom making one for myself, but you said you got it used). Is it as comfy as it looks?

[outerbanks77]

Thanks! Even though I love blue, this probably wouldn’t have been my choice, but it was half of new price.

The saddle is comfortable, but a wider twist than the Black Country Vinici I’ve been riding in for several years, and the higher block has also taken some getting used to. It is working well though, as my mare is getting closer to second level so I’m not posting as much, which is where the high block can be slightly annoying.

[Arlomine]

I have a short flap custom saddlery, love it. I also have a short femur, long tibia. Short, high block works for me. And of course a short flap.

[soloudinhere]

Which model? I have had a few, but continue to have issues with the blocks. I was considering ordering another one but want to make sure I get it exactly right.

[sheltona01]

They have decided to no longer make the block that would have worked best for you.

[soloudinhere]

well, that would definitely explain why my old Advantage was good but none of the more recent ones have been perfect…

[netg]

So I don’t have the long lower leg, but have the short upper leg issue. I have a Custom Gemini with the R1 (I think) short, angled, block, and short flap, on the way. While I liked the idea of Aviars, I couldn’t have my legs properly on and move with my horse in them. I adore my Advantage R I got for my older mare, but the tree is the wrong shape for my youngster. It’s her big movement which makes it so noticeable what a problem many blocks are. The Gemini let me have enough room to move with her, with the blocks clearly more forward than the other saddles I tried.

[sheltona01]

Yup, the r1 is the block I would select if given the choice. Also they redesign the saddles to keep them fresh on a fairly regular bases. So a flight 5 years ago would feel different than the current model. Always striving for improving the designs.