I’d call them and give them your measurements. They can probably arrange something for you. Great folks to deal with 
IME, one’s size doesn’t have much to do with one’s twist preference–however padded you may be, there’s not much padding between the seatbones and the saddle, so it’s your bone structure down there that matters when picking out saddles.
However, I do think some saddles are scaled better than others–that is, most saddles are designed as 17" seats, and not all of them are scaled up as well to 18"+ sizes. Kind of like some very small or very large shoes have the instep in the wrong place because they started with teh midrange size and then forgot to scale things proportionally? So that might affect your comfort.
I have a Wintec that’s okay comfort-wise, and isn’t a bad saddle to jump in (it’s an A/P), but I don’t believe it’d be my first choice for sitting trot.
I know I am a broken record, but Passiers are the best saddles evah. My ancient Passier Baum fits every horse ever, and is so comfy it’s ridiculous. Might be worth a look, especially since there are used ones available for reasonable prices. In fact, if you’re interested, shoot me a PM–I have some, er, extra saddles (no, I do not need an intervention… :winkgrin: ).
Thanks, Criss, that was very informative. One thing I did notice about my Winter 500 (dressage model) after a no-stirrup longe lesson was that it felt a little odd in my seatbones, which felt pinched somehow. And I can’t believe the difference with the sitting trot in the new saddle I tried. I should probably give the Passiers a try (I see there is a new model with the no knee block style that I like).
Maybe I should become a saddle collector, too (not in this economy, though!). I’ll think about it and PM you if I’m interested.
Thanks a bunch!
Vesper, I could feel a big difference between the twist in my Wien and my Thornhill. The twist is wider in the Thornhill, and boy oh boy could I feel that with the first half dozen or so rides. But then there was no problem.
Right now I am having one hell of a time sitting the trot, because with weight loss I have a radical change in my center of balance. Which, of course, will continue to change as well as more comes off. Not that I am complaining, but it certainly does aid in making me look like an idiot, lol. :lol:
Coreene, that makes me feel better. I won’t have to obsess over the twist now.
The balance thing is interesting, isn’t it? I guess we get used to balancing a certain way and when things change, we’re radically off-kilter. I’m sure your balance will soon catch up with your weight loss, which is fabulous, by the way.
I tried the balance games on a friend’s Wii and was horrible at it. I ascribe it to the fact that it seemed to require quick, jerky changes in balance that wouldn’t do at all in riding but might be good for tennis or the like. At least that’s what I’m telling myself and I’m sticking to it.
Cranky–
Have you tried Dublin suede half-chaps? These are the ones I have (mine are size XL)–
http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-35533
I bought mine locally. I have very short, big thighs (about 15 1/2 h and about 16 - 16 1/2 bare-leg girth) and my half chaps fit great, even over fleece winter schooling tights. They even used to go over my Ariat Terrain boots with the padded ankle collars when I still had those. http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-38802
Interesting replies to your question.
Like Coreene, I had a Thornhill and a Kieffer, and definitely felt the wider twist in the Thornhill. But I did get accustomed to it after a few rides. However, after my horse “outgrew” the Thornhill, I started saddle shopping and found that a narrow twist fit my body better – I had to lengthen my stirrups 2 holes – and my legs don’t swing around searching for the right place to “hang.”
I take an 18.5" saddle, but unlike you I carry my weight in the belly.
(You know, the perfect heart attack bodyshape :()
Yep. I have really wide hips and thought a wide twist would be better for me, but going from my Duett (wide) to my Schleese (narrower) was a huge improvement.
For the Womanly Riders in ON, I had a great chat with a lovely person at Richvale Saddlery…they will be at The Royal in November, and will be bringing FullerFillies stock with them! WOO! I think I might melt my Visa card there…
BTW, it has been YEARS (over 15) since I went to the Royal…what can I expect in the way of sellers’ booths, the “must-see” events and so on? I might start up a separate thread for this…
Dee
BAD CHOCO BAD CHOCO, ROUND 2
Darling, we must have a little chat. I do not know whether to hug you again or to stamp my feet in frustration, LOL. But now that you got those jolly Ariat tights from Big Dee’s, and then shared that divine info and link, well, as I said in a few posts previous, I have discovered that Ariat does plush sizes. You know, despite the fact that 99% of the sources for equine togs only carry up to a large.
But ya know, Choco, it couldn’t stop there. Oh no, because then there’s eBay. Vesper Sparrow knows all about this because I emailed her about a source on eBay that carries plush Ariat garb, in the wake of disucssing black vests.
And now I have a black Ariat vest. And, of course, cannot stop looking at the brown Ariat Shelburne jacket. Because, you know, I only have like eight jackets already, but not one in that particular shade of brown.
Oh my! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
So sorry…but this is the Zone of Personal Responsibility. I only enable and nudge…a little :winkgrin:
Do we need to have an intervention dear or shall I simply say STEP AWAY FROM DA E-BAY… :lol: :lol: :lol:
Okay, I have stepped away. But I am sure that, before today is over, my reserve shall crumble… 
There seem to be a lot of us thinking we need wide twist but actually preferring narrow twist, or vice versa. I’m going to get the saddle for a week on trial to see how that goes.
Somantu, I can’t exactly say I’m not carrying any weight in my belly…
DeeTbd, the thought of the Fuller Fillies’ tweed hacking jacket is almost worth a trip to T.O. for this QC girl even though I don’t have tickets to the Royal.
Coreene, have you gotten that black vest yet?
A bunch of enablers, all of you :lol:
Oh Vesper, that hacking jacket! Can I tell you how much that jacket makes me swoon?!? I am sorely tempted. Over and over and over I am tempted. Over and over and over and over and over … :lol:
The vest arrived, I like it but it is not fitted, it is straight. But it will be fine for cold weather out here, and means that I will chuck the very nice black, navy and red vests from Lane Bryant. Which are perfectly fine, but I like this one better and the LBs are too big. I still like the Mountain Horse one the best.
As for the twists, I am fine with both. I lucked out with both saddles, which I love, but right now the Wien is at home on a giant stuffed horse with two teddies sitting atop. It was Willem’s saddle, so I can never get rid of it. Not that I would, and I am sure I will use it on Ollie again, apres diet.
Coreene dahling, could you please provide a link to the loffly stuff from BigDee’s?
I got some AWESOME vests last year at Cotton Ginny on sale - some are quilted, and two are more of a sheepskin/fleece look - a bit long for riding, but SO nice to wear…
Vesper Sparrow (I do so love that name for a horse)…COME ON! I am going with a few friends, and though I don’t have tickets, I think I could just happily immerse myself in the sales booths. I keep thinking of when Quarterama was in TO, and how much fun that was!
Dee
[QUOTE=Coreene;3544014]
Oh Vesper, that hacking jacket! Can I tell you how much that jacket makes me swoon?!? I am sorely tempted. Over and over and over I am tempted. Over and over and over and over and over … :lol:
The vest arrived, I like it but it is not fitted, it is straight. But it will be fine for cold weather out here, and means that I will chuck the very nice black, navy and red vests from Lane Bryant. Which are perfectly fine, but I like this one better and the LBs are too big. I still like the Mountain Horse one the best.
As for the twists, I am fine with both. I lucked out with both saddles, which I love, but right now the Wien is at home on a giant stuffed horse with two teddies sitting atop. It was Willem’s saddle, so I can never get rid of it. Not that I would, and I am sure I will use it on Ollie again, apres diet.[/QUOTE]
I say go for the jacket! Too bad about the vest, but I think it is hard to find warm and fitted at the same time. As a Canadian, I can say with certainty: better warm and boxy than cold and fitted. A special fashion dispensation goes into effect for cold weather.
I think it’s sweet about Willem’s saddle. Is Ollie on a diet, too?
[QUOTE=DeeThbd;3544044]
Vesper Sparrow (I do so love that name for a horse)…COME ON! I am going with a few friends, and though I don’t have tickets, I think I could just happily immerse myself in the sales booths. I keep thinking of when Quarterama was in TO, and how much fun that was!
Dee[/QUOTE]
Dee, you’re welcome to that name, if you’d like it. It doesn’t actually belong to a horse; instead, I gave my horse a name that is apparently so awful that it is not in ANY of the horse naming books. Big Bird. People either love it (my trainer and friends who are not horse people) or hate it (most horse people). The person who was selling me saddles the other day said diplomatically, " So when are you going to change his name?" :lol::lol::lol:
I think it actually does fit him. But then that’s me.
VS, thanks! I am sure that people must either go “What are vespers?” or think you are talking about the Vespa motorcycle…
One of my horses is missing an eye (lids sewn shut over an empty socket). Previous race trainer called him Blinky (which made me gag)…I gave him a nickname based on the little green character in the movie Monsters Inc.
Dee
http://www.bigdweb.com/ Enjoy enjoy enjoy!
Oliver is not on a diet, I am. And then when I saw the Thornhill Vienna, I thought “Hmmm, big sizes and it will take a long leg.” Which I have: big size, long leg. Loved it so much that I bought the hunter saddle as well, which is the trail saddle. And then, of course, because the hunter saddle is brown, I had to buy a new bridle to match, since all my tack is black. And so on and so on.
Edited to say that the saddle on stuffed horse is not out in the living room or anything. Tucked discreetly into a corner.
As for the vests, in So Cal there is no such thing as cold weather. I mean, we do have four or five nights in the dead of winter when you get to the barn and - thanks to a freak cold snap - it will be 48 degrees at 7 PM. And then I keep thinking “Oh my GAWD this is just Arctic!”
No, really!
OK Coreene, please lease us know who on ebay sells the Ariat stuff in plush sizes!
I have the Ariat vests (yes, that’s plural) and the Mountain Horse (yes, that’s plural too) and I like the Mountain Horse much better. The shape is much nicer on me, and the length is just right. But yes, the Ariats aren’t bad. I wear the Ariat vests with my street clothes, and wear the Mountain Horse when I’m riding.
