Tall Riders: what are your saddle measurements?

[Mia_Sorella]

My sister is in the process of purchasing her first horse and we’re very shortly going to be on the hunt for a saddle for her. She’s 5’11", about a size 2, and carries most of her height in her legs.

Budget is going to limit her to a good quality used saddle and obviously the saddle has to fit the horse, but I’m hoping we can limit the search by immediately ruling out saddles that are unlikely to fit her. I’m all of 5’2" and can’t even begin to visualize what kind of measurements we should be looking for.

So, to all the tall riders out there: what brand/model do you ride in, what is your seat size and what is your flap style (and if you don’t mind sharing, how tall/what build are you)?

Any suggestions for off-the-rack saddles that fit a taller rider would be appreciated too.

Thank you!

[BostonHJ]

I’m about 5’10, size 4-6 depending on the day and have a super long hip to calf, but a pretty normal calf. Right now I ride in a 17" County Innovation with a long and forward flap. Prior to that, I had a 17.5 Pessoa A/O from wayyyy back in the day. The forwardness of the flap will likely affect how well it fits her more than anything - nothing worse than putting up your stirrups a hole having your knee poke over the flap.

Hunt around at consignment stores if you have any local to you. I found my County totally unused (sitting in the eventing section for some reason) and paid half of what it would cost new.

[misssarahannie]

5’11, size 2-4, custom David Stackhouse, forward flap, flap seat, 18".

[hype]

Your daughter sounds like my daughter (and you sound like me:)

My daughter ended up with a 17" 5AB (then after she filled out a bit) a 17.5 Antares 5AB flap. The 4AB flap made in the past few years is like the 5AB flap was when we bought our saddle.

It is not a common flap but I was able to find it used twice (once in a 17" seat and once in a 17.5" seat). One of her saddles was a C seat (deep) and one was a SC (half deep) seat. That’s a matter of personal preference.

We had many saddlers out to fit her and did try a lot of different brands but for her and how she was built, the Antares AB flaps were the best. A means it is a forward flap and the B part of it means that it has some extra room on the bottom part of the flap (where her knees would hang off on other saddles). So many saddle fitters kept wanting to put her in AA or AAA (more forward or extra forward) flaps and it put her in a chair seat. I found that she was long hip to knee (not foot to knee) and that’s why the AB fit her better.

Good luck! Once you find what fits her just be diligent about searching the internet and also letting used saddle sellers know what you are looking for. I got lucky twice and also sold those saddles fairly easy as well when we were done with them.

[Blondie22]

I’m 5’10 and slim. My saddle is a CWD 18" 3C flap. I could also ride in a 17.5"/18" Delgrange with a 5A flap.

I tried an Antares with 3B flap and it was NOWHERE long/forward enough.

[Mistysmom]

My daughter is also quite tall (almost 5’10) with very long, slim legs. She has the CWD SE03 in a 17.5" and a 3L flap and loves it. The forward flap did not work for her because of her long, thin thigh… there was way too much leather above her thigh. She loves the saddle.

[izzy98]

I’m 5’11 and ride in a 17.5" CWD with a 3C PL (plus length) flap.

I bought mine used, and while I was shopping I found that flap designations could be wildly inconsistent in their actual measurements, even across the same brands and seat sizes. Mine is 15" across and 14.5" long, although longer length would have worked too, I suspect.

[Personal_Champ]

I am 5’9" and leggy, and ride in a 16.5. I have a Pessoa T/T - it has the flap more forward in the bottom third rather than halfway, since I don’t ride with super short stirrups.

http://www.pessoausa.com/pessoaandreg-tt-saddle-469692

The AB flap mentioned above was also recommended to me but I didn’t have that budget and didn’t luck out with finding one used.

In regular forward flaps my knee was below the pocket and/or it put me in a chair seat like hype mentioned.

[lmlacross]

Keep in mind that angle of forwardness (low forward/forward-and-down vs. high forward) will impact how she feels in the tack, too. As a taller person with a long hip-to-knee measurement, I have found that the high forward flaps many riders favor put me in a chair seat no matter what my stirrup length; it’s impossible for me to get my leg properly under me. If the flap is low forward and long, I’m right where I need to be.

I think these days everyone thinks they need a forward flap, but not all forward flaps will suit. Choose carefully!

[Pancakes]

I’m only 5’7" but I have a super long hip-to-knee and I ride in a 17.5" CWD Se02 with a 3C flap. I had a PJ (one of the older ones) that was 4L flap and it put my leg in all the wrong places; too far forward in front of me, actually.

[Lord_Helpus]

Before deciding on a saddle with a forward flap, she should ride in it and trot/canter around, in a half seat. As a saddle fitter said when I questioned his choice of a saddle size for me, “How much time in the show ring do you spend sitting in your saddle?”

Personally, even though I am only 5’10", I prefer a 18.5 with a regular flap, since my knee stays in the flap “cup” when I am jumping. The forward flap saddle I used to have (with a 17.5" seat) had a lot of flap showing in front of my knee when I jumped.

I agree with the poster who said to not only look how forward the flap is, but where it is placed. Lower is better for someone who jumps, even if the saddle looks like it does not fit when you are sitting in it.

[SolarFlare]

I’m 5’9" and athletic/slim (size 6-8 in Canadian sizing). I have an Amerigo DJ 17.5" seat, long and forward flap. I possibly could fit into the 17" seat with the same flap, but I got this one used and on first try it sat me right in the sweet spot. It felt like I had broken it in myself. I’m not sure if the 17" would change where the saddle put me as I haven’t tried one. I did sit in the exact same saddle with just the long flap (not forward) and my knee was right at the edge in flat-length stirrups.

The saddle belonged previously to a man who was taller than me. I am proportionally long (long legs, long waist, long arms).

[billiebob]

I’m 6’, size 14-ish, and I ride in a Stubben Siegfried CS Extra(18" extra forward flap). I originally wanted a Stubben Roxanne but couldn’t find the right one in my sub-$1000 budget. I’m also one of those people who gasp likes some Wintec models–specifically an older Pro Jump and an even older Matt Ryan. I don’t like the balance on the newer ones as well. Ainsley is another inexpensive brand that has good options for tall riders.

I completely agree on flap positioning. Not all forward flaps are the same. Also something with a flatter seat and a smaller knee roll will have more wiggle room if the fit isn’t quite perfect.

[pacific_jumper]

5’8/9 and 140lbs but femur length comparble to someone much taller. I ride in a 18" 3AA Voltaire.

[Mia_Sorella]

Thank you all very, very much! Lots to thinks about that I hadn’t even considered…