Seat size vs. weight

[Popylinga]

I have been reading all these posts regarding rider’s weight and the size of the saddles, and got curious about the relation to weight and saddle size.

I have been looking for a used dressage saddle and seen a couple of ads that state that the reason the saddle is for sale is because the rider has gained/lost weight and the saddle no longer fits. I was at first sceptical, but would like to know if there’s some truth to this.

I didn’t realize that saddle size was so affected by the rider’s weight. This is something that I would like to get some input on. Before I invest in an expenseive saddle, I would like to find out if it will fit me later on. I finally quit smoking six months ago (so that I could get fit) and am now left trying to lose the weight I gained. If a person buys a 18" saddle and loses 20lbs, would this affect the fit of the saddle? Does there have to be a massive weight loss or gain for the saddle size to be affected?

Not trying to start a train wreck here, I’m just looking for advice from people who are really knowledgeable about saddle fit. Thanks!

[Cowgirl]

It is more complicated than that. Different saddles fit differently, based on how they are designed. For example, a really deep seated saddle will feel smaller than a shallow seated saddle. And some saddle seat sizes are measured differently by different makers. You really have to try before you buy.

I ride in a Hennig which is a very deep seated saddle and mine is an 18.5. I take a 17 in a Passier or a Prestige; a 17.5 in a County. So go figure.

I gained 15 lbs this year due to menapause and am now in the process of losing it. I did NOT outgrow my saddle with the weight, but then because it was menapause weight I gained it mostly around my midsection, not in my butt. LOL!

[bigbaytb]

take it from one’s whose “grown” through the years

my opinion and what has been reconfirmed with me is that saddle size has nothing to do with weight…it is the leg…really, the femur if you want to be exact.

I’ll use me as a perfect case study:D…started riding 15 years ago and weighed 130 lbs at 5’10 (when all i did was work out 2x day, ride and work a job) wore a size 6 and rode in a 18 inch saddle (dressage and jump saddle)…I now can be a point of debate on being “too fat” at 205 lbs, same height but size 14 (travel in sales, sit in car and eat out alot…ugh)…and saddle size…the same 18…(saddles i have owned thru the years…crosby, corbette, tad coffin, passier, amerigo) i have a really long femur…as noted by every saddle fitter who has seen me.

So, if i’m the case study, then no, it should not change. However…since i like to see both sides of the issue. i would like you to know that I do not ride in deep bucket type saddles, even my dressage saddles have minimum padding and are flatter. i’ve never had a preference for those type of saddles…i wonder if the deeper “bucket” seat saddles may feel different if one’s rump has grown as much as mine has:lol: and has more contact in the back of the saddle? Even though my rear is bigger, i do not have body parts hanging off the back of the saddle, i still have a hand widths of saddle behind me…

and now that i probably have the fat vs skinny people going nuts on my size. I have 2 horses a 17hh tb and a 16hh wb. both handle my size fine, even as expressed by trainers and clinicians. i jump and do dressage…and am trying to pack my lunches now to help loose the rump:)

[Elegante_E]

I think it depends on the saddle and the rider. If the saddle has a deep seat and “just fits” then 10+lbs of gained weight can shove the rider into the pommel. In a more open seat, it may not affect them as much.

On the opposite, if you loose a lot of weight, you might feel loser in the saddle and so not as supported. Of course, if you are a pretty solid rider, then you may not notice the added room as much. For myself, I’d rather ride in an oversized saddle than a snug one. I can find the sweet spot and stay there without the back of the saddle.

You also have to ask yourself if you are buying that large size for your rear end alone. Saddle fit also depends on length of thigh. If you have a long thigh, then losing the weight may not push you towards a smaller saddle as you need the extra flap length. There’s also the saddle twist. Not sure how that would change with weight loss but something to think about.

If you hope to lose weight, buy used. That way you won’t lose as much cash if you need to resell later on. Btw, it also matters where you carry your weight. I know people who are overweight but still have zero hind end.

[JB]

bigbay, I hope you don’t see this as picking on you, because it’s really not, though I understand how it could be.

I’m 5’5", 120-125lb, and fit comfortably in a 17" CC saddle. I CAN ride in a 16.5, but it’s a bit small, with a squished hand in front and behind me.

If I were to gain 60lb, I cannot imagine not being squeezed into that 17" saddle.

I guess my point is that while yes, length of femur does play a large role (but only when flap forwardness doesn’t take care of it) in seat size, the fact is, how big your hiney is can’t NOT play a role. It depends where your weight has been added. For people who are apple-shaped, less is in the hiney than people who are pear-shaped, and that matters.

I’m the same 32" inseam I was in high school, when 16.5 was comfortably roomy for me. But back then I was 100-110lb at the same height, 5’5", I just had so little body fat. If I were to be in the shape of an extreme athlete, taking away that extra body fat, I have no doubt a 16.5 would again be quite comfy.

[pintopiaffe]

It’s soooo variable.

I weigh 70lbs less now than when I was riding in 17.5" saddles that fit and felt fine. Very comfortable in them. The saddle my horse is happiest in right now is an 18.5". At first I felt like I was SWIMMING in it–it’s a big 18.5" too. It took a TON more core strength to stay centered in it (it’s a shallow, Ancient Passier) and my horse is very short coupled, so it seemed counter intuitive… BUT, because it is bigger, it disperses weight more, the shape of the panel curves up off his loins (vs. deeper seated or gussets) and he just is very, very happy in it.

Since that discovery, even though I plan to finish loosing all the weight–which means 30 more–I will probably not shop for anything smaller than an 18 ever again.

No matter the saddle size, I find a VSD flap works better for my conformation.

I did have him get back sore 70lbs ago when I was squeezing into a VERY deep 17" King saddle. It felt fine to me–a titch tight when I first mounted, but by the time we were trotting, I felt fine–but he ended up being back sore. I am sure that the weight was simply concentrated too much–the saddle really fit him nicely in all respects.

So… long way around to say it’s just going to really vary… you have to try it. And sometimes it works for 5 or 6 or 8 months and then it’s an issue…

[JB]

PP, you may find that as you lose the rest of that weight, a 17.5 with w-i-d-e panels will work just as well. 70lb isn’t insignificant if you are squeezing into a saddle.

I think there is such a thing as too big for the rider, and that can translate into issues for the horse as well, such as too much movement, or too much tension on the rider’s part to stay put such that you can’t communicate with the horse.

[Popylinga]

Thanks for the help. It seems that the deeper the seat the more weight might affect fit. Is that right? It would seem more likely since I have been looking for a deep seat, and searching for a deep seat saddle is where I have seen a couple of ads where people said they have outgrown their saddle. I can also see how weight distribution would contribute to any changes in saddle fit. If the weight gain is primarily in your thighs and butt, then seat size would have to be considered.

[JB]

The deeper the seat, the more you are sitting in a “trough” with less wiggle room on either end. That’s why you generally need a larger size in a deeper seat than in a flatter one. At least with the deeper seat, where it becomes more and more difficult to sit on the cantle or pommel, you don’t end up (unless really tooooo small) literally sitting on the back of the saddle, as I’ve seen some riders do in a CC saddle. THAT is what ends up causing the horse pain, no matter how well-fitting the saddle is for the horse.

[pintopiaffe]

I think there is such a thing as too big for the rider, and that can translate into issues for the horse as well, such as too much movement, or too much tension on the rider’s part to stay put such that you can’t communicate with the horse.

maybe… BUT… I have firmly engraved in my mind a photo of Marzog, with his rider… Anna… Jensen? At any rate, a little thing, in a great big, shallow saddle, sitting perfectly centered and just stunning.

And photos of the SRS and others in some of Podjadsky’s books… big, shallow, flat saddles…

I also recall an old PH article about saddle fit and petite riders on giant horses and how fitting just the rider wasn’t it, how a 16.5" saddle could be an issue on a 17.2h horse, even if the rider was a flyweight…

SO while I do agree that you mustn’t be overly tense, nor sloshing around… I DO think there’s something to be said for learning how to ride with your core…

DON’T GET ME WRONG–I’m all for deep seats and thigh blocks for greenbeans who leap about… and for the weekend rider, we need all the help we can get.

[Trakehner]

Depends on the saddle…

“Bucket” saddles are narrow in their correct fit…if you aren’t the right size, you grind off your crotch and get “monkey butt”. Hint: if your bucket is only comfy going uphill, it’s too small.

Flatter saddles (older Passiers) are more forgiving of the rider needing to change their seat angle and location.

Get thee to a tack store and sit in some saddles, it’s the only way to fit yourself well.

[CatOnLap]

mostly, seat size is determined by thigh length. But significant amount of weight gain or loss might affect the fit- depends, as others have said, how snug or deep the seat is, where the thigh and knee rolls are positioned, etc.

You really can only tell by riding in a bunch.

I am still riding comfortabley in a 35 year old, 17.5 inch seat eventing saddle I bought when I was a skinny youngster. As a well muscled and comfortably padded matron, the fit hasn’t changed much. And thats about a 40 lb difference. Same with the 20 year old Passier Dressage, also a 17.5, and that’s now 30 lbs difference. However, my 18 inch semi custom Schleese, which was too big to begin with, was positively unrideabley huge for me when I lost 15 lbs.

[Luna]

I have a quick question,

I was once told that you determine your proper saddle seat size by mesuring the length from your knee to the joint of your leg into your hip when seated. Can anyone confirm that? My giant legs are 21 inches from knee to hip (not including the bum!). I ride in an 18" now, though my legs extend past my horse’s belly.

[Ambrey]

if your legs are exceptionally long, you’re going to need a bigger saddle. If you’re riding in a larger saddle anyway because of your leg length, an extra 20 lbs is unlikely to kill you.

If your legs are not long, and your “skinny” saddle would be small, I think it’s tougher.

We had thread on saddles for people with long femurs several months ago- a lot just depends on the brand and the shape.

[bigbaytb]

the best suggestions are to try alot of different saddles if you can. maybe some friends can take their saddles over to help you see what fits your horse the best first, then what fits you too.

I have been riding in a tad coffin dressage saddle that he semi customed for me about eight years ago. (yeh, those saddles have really gotten expensive since then too). I love the saddle becuase it doesn’t have alot of padding (same seat/tree as his jumping saddle). I’m not crazy about his half pads and use different ones for my high whithered tb (my wb doesn’t need a pad, the saddle is an xwide tree).

TC made the flap just slightly forward than most dressage saddles so i can adjust my stirrup leathers shorter if i’m riding a smaller barrelled horse (thus my calves will contact the correct spot) and it not push me further back in the saddle. but my legs are long enough (from calf to knee and knee to ankle) that most horses, my feet to pass the girth alittle.

My personal preference reflects my suggestion to you not to have the over padded knee rolls so you can give yourself some room if you need to shorten a hole or 2 for a smaller horse…

[sitthetrot]

[QUOTE=Ambrey;3787270]
if your legs are exceptionally long, you’re going to need a bigger saddle. If you’re riding in a larger saddle anyway because of your leg length, an extra 20 lbs is unlikely to kill you.

/QUOTE]

And make sure you look into a saddle that has long flaps with thigh blocks that can be modified for you so that you don’t end up in a giant seat just to accommodate your long legs

[Equus_girl]

Ambrey,
You got me confused, what does size of the saddle has to do with long legs?

[Ambrey]

[QUOTE=Equus_girl;3799079]
Ambrey,
You got me confused, what does size of the saddle has to do with long legs?[/QUOTE]

The length of your thigh from your hip to your knee has to be a fit from the deepest part of the seat to the thigh roll.