Western seat shape

[katarine]

[QUOTE=froglander;7448529]
I got the saddle new and picked out the features I wanted. The tree is a Steele Equi-Fit tree with the SE fit that was chosen with some help of the person I purchased it through after a bunch of pictures of the forms on Cody. I never tried a bare tree on him though. When I first got the saddle it was not comfortable, it was like the seat was too square. They kindly let me send it back and shaped the seat better as well as turning the stirrups for me at no additional charge. On a long ride that involves a lot of walking, it can make my seat bones sore, but for regular riding in the arena or around the barn it’s fine.

It was really hard to find any pictures of me actually /in/ the saddle, I’m usually taking the pictures

This picture is from last May
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K-Bog3rLq7-szploEXU4SzoZlyy8-SeCQvg1ZE3BlJk?feat=directlink

And here is a short clip of me riding in it from a lesson a few weeks ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDpcifqeJH4[/QUOTE]

your stirrups are too short! Let them out an full set, chica. That’s a huge part of your issue.

This is me in the bicycle seated Rocking R …

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3988635082942&l=bdc6fbd0b2

Drop your stirrups a set.

[froglander]

My fluffy backside probably doesn’t help

I don’t feel uncomfortable in my saddle, just feel that if I could scoot me seat a hair more forward I’d be just that little bit more over my feet that would help my balance.

[cowboymom]

[QUOTE=aktill;7449030]
Re the link right above…yikes. A saddle making DVD series I’m referencing to build mine flat out says that about the worst seat you can make is done by making a flat slope from cantle to top of fork.[/QUOTE]

Well, alert the media and the penning saddle makers! :lol: I was just using the imagery to point out what I was thinking, sorry to freak you out.

And actually, care to say what your educational DVD says is so bad about it? I’m not a saddle maker but I know a couple of them and I don’t remember any particular “yikes” from them about it?

Since they aren’t here to ask, I googled. From the following link:

“There are a great range of opinions on the “proper” saddle seat slope; some based on different activities (i.e. cutting, roping) and some on personal preference. We’ll add our opinion to the mix. We believe that most riders will be best served with a relatively flat seat that positions their legs underneath them. This is the most balanced position. Too many saddles have high slopes that tilt a rider back against the cantle and force their legs out in front. This is an out-of-balance position.”

http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/saddle-seat.html

http://www.caryschwarz.com/the-ground-seat/

[Pocket_Pony]

[QUOTE=aktill;7449030]
Re the link right above…yikes. A saddle making DVD series I’m referencing to build mine flat out says that about the worst seat you can make is done by making a flat slope from cantle to top of fork.[/QUOTE]

When you say “flat slope” do you mean that there’s no “twist” (for lack of a better term, I don’t know what you’d call it in a western saddle)?

[aktill]

Not freaking out by any stretch, and honestly I wouldn’t really expect 20 hours of groundseat shaping in a $900 saddle.

The set is this one: http://www.ranch2arena.com/learningdvd.html

…and Mr Watt simply points out that, while very easy to make, that shape isn’t one most folks can ride all day. Penning is an arena sport, and so there isn’t that requirement.

Please note I’m not meaning a seat with a lot of rise, simply one that’s a straight line from low point at cantle to high point at fork with little visible contouring.

Everyone has their preferences, and per:
http://www.westernhorseman.com/index.php/horsemanship/article/560-saddle-fit-roundtable.html
or
http://www.eclectic-horseman.com/content/view/219/33/
…few agree.

[katarine]

[QUOTE=froglander;7449068]
My fluffy backside probably doesn’t help

I don’t feel uncomfortable in my saddle, just feel that if I could scoot me seat a hair more forward I’d be just that little bit more over my feet that would help my balance.[/QUOTE]

Hey, I hear you. I’m a size 14 and I can tell a difference in my balance and seat when I go up or down a number of pounds. I can get too big to feel right in any saddle.

I think if you’ll drop those stirrups you may be ok in that saddle.

[katarine]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;7448481]
Oh geez, your flat seat saddle example would have me limping for days! I like the saddle you own the most, something like that I can ride for days and days. Your other example saddle would be my pick too. I’m very short and through two c-sections learned that I have narrow hips (who knew?) and need a twist in the saddle in order not to have hip displacement. We usually ride very long days 8 hours or more a few days in a row per week, so weekend warrior types.

I’m not a huge fan of a padded seat but it’s not a deal breaker. I tend to like a slick hard seat but with a SHAPE to it. On a long ride it’s nice to be able to make microadjustments and move around a bit. Until your horse does something unexpected and then a roughout Beartrap is nice! :lol:

I think I’ve ridden that Rocking R saddle and it was very comfortable to me. Even just looking at it I can see the twist would be a help to me. I rode a BMSS (treeless) for a long time on a wide horse and the lack of any support started to really bother my hips. It was like sitting on the proverbial barrel.

Some people say a wade will throw you forward but I didn’t experience that; mine was very comfortable to me and had it fit my horse I would still have it. I think if you don’t have any seat support it will tend to throw you into a bit of a chair seat on a long day.[/QUOTE]

You haven’t ridden either of those two Rocking Rs, you rode Maggie’s that I sold a while back. this one

[froglander]

[QUOTE=katarine;7449198]
Hey, I hear you. I’m a size 14 and I can tell a difference in my balance and seat when I go up or down a number of pounds. I can get too big to feel right in any saddle.

I think if you’ll drop those stirrups you may be ok in that saddle.[/QUOTE]

I will try dropping them a hole when I go to ride tonight. They are actually down a hole from where they used to be…

[katarine]

[QUOTE=froglander;7449232]
I will try dropping them a hole when I go to ride tonight. They are actually down a hole from where they used to be…[/QUOTE]

You should feel better. right now you don’t have enough drop in your leg to let you get over it.

[cowboymom]

aktill, when you address my comment with “yikes” it sets the discussion off on the wrong foot.

froglander, I can attest that dropping your stirrups will help. :yes:

[froglander]

I am very curious to try dropping my stirrups now!

Darn work day needs to be over so I can go ride…

[aktill]

[QUOTE=Pocket Pony;7449139]
When you say “flat slope” do you mean that there’s no “twist” (for lack of a better term, I don’t know what you’d call it in a western saddle)?[/QUOTE]

Sort of, yes, I think we’re saying the same thing. The best visual I can create is to think of the saddle pictured having a seat shaped like a section of a cone, rather than blending a series of contours. There’s a very good video here that might help show the difference:
http://www.freckerssaddlery.com/saddle_questions.php

[aktill]

@cowboymom;7449273

aktill, when you address my comment with “yikes” it sets the discussion off on the wrong foot.

Fair enough. It is still a very poorly shaped seat, from the perspective of “likely to fit a statistically large group of people”. Good riders can correct for these sorts of seats, and preference is often a function of what you get used to riding, but it’s not doing anyone any favors biomechanically.

[froglander]

Interesting images there as well aktill with the skeleton on the seat

http://www.freckerssaddlery.com/saddle_questions.php#ground

[cowboymom]

honestly.

[froglander]

Not wanting to ruffle any feathers, but wouldn’t a seat that slopes up from the cantle tend to put the rider further back as the low point is at the back by the cantle? Or have I misunderstood?

[aktill]

[QUOTE=froglander;7449353]
Not wanting to ruffle any feathers, but wouldn’t a seat that slopes up from the cantle tend to put the rider further back as the low point is at the back by the cantle? Or have I misunderstood?[/QUOTE]

Yes.

[aktill]

[QUOTE=froglander;7449327]
Interesting images there as well aktill with the skeleton on the seat

http://www.freckerssaddlery.com/saddle_questions.php#ground[/QUOTE]

Very useful. Most of you folks will have to make these adjustments for gender in your minds-eye:http://www.equinestudies.org/whos_built_best_2008/whos_built_best_2008_pdf1.pdf
…but still very useful.

[aktill]

[QUOTE=cowboymom;7449340]
I did say I didn’t recommend that saddle and it wasn’t perfect. [/QUOTE]

Sorry, should have acknowledged that you hadn’t done so! Not trying to pick.

[froglander]

[QUOTE=aktill;7449376]
Very useful. Most of you folks will have to make these adjustments for gender in your minds-eye:http://www.equinestudies.org/whos_built_best_2008/whos_built_best_2008_pdf1.pdf
…but still very useful.[/QUOTE]

Hadn’t come across that article before, thanks!