Poor fitting saddle - Rider issues!

Saddle fitting is not just about the horse. It is also crucial to have a saddle which is suitable for the rider. A saddle which does not fit the rider will cause you physical problems.

If your main purpose and reason for owning a horse is to ride it, it is paramount that you have a correctly fitting saddle for both you and your horse.
Over a lifetime you will spend thousands of hours in the saddle, and a poor fitting saddle can cause real discomfort to both you and your horse.

We cover some of the signs of a poor fitting saddle in a horse here.

However, in this article we will discuss the poor fitting signs of a saddle in the rider.
As they age, many riders find their have issues with their knees, ankles, back, hands/wrists. Riding horses is very strenuous on the body, particularly if we are not positioned correctly in the saddle.

If after this article you are still unsure about if your saddle is the right fit for you get in touch with our friendly team on 01733 301488 or email info@thesaddlebank.com.

Rider Discomfort

Do you as the rider feel any of the following?

1. Pain in your back, knees, hips
2. Poor position of the rider - either being tilted forwards, or backwards
3. Riding with knee and toes out
4. Swinging legs
5. Riding out of balance
6. Discomfort when in the saddle
7. Lack of security in the saddle

If you feel any of the above you should get your saddle fitter out to assess the fit of your saddle.

Need help with knowing what seat size would be best suited to you as a rider? Click here to read our blog on how to know if your saddle fits you.

Checklist

You can also run through this simple check list to ensure you are comfortable in the seat of the saddle:

• Does you leg hang comfortably and loosely straight down?
• Is the saddle comfortable for you between your thighs or are you feeling soreness in the hips (stretched)?
• Are you able to feel your seat bones?
• Can you perform a pelvic tilt? (Forward and back movement without any pain at crotch area?
• Are the stirrup bars in the correct place to enable you to achieve the shoulder-hip-heel alignment?
• Are your knees on the flap, or are they positioned outward?
• Is the thigh/knee roll impeding movement at your hips, knees, or ankles?
• How do you find the flap length? Is it long enough so that the top of your boot does not catch on it?
• Do you feel balanced in walk?
• Does the saddle provide enough support to enable you to sit properly whilst the horse is moving?
• Is there enough room in front and behind your pelvis to enable you to comfortable do a rising trot?

Your comfort is just as important as your horses.
If neither of you are comfortable you will not be able to perform at your best.

Regular checks of your saddle should be carried out by an experienced, qualified saddle fitter to ensure yours aswell as your horses happiness and well-being.

At The Saddle Bank we have  super helpful course for all horse riders and owners that helps you identify any potential issues with your saddle and help you decide when you need to get your saddle fitter out to check your saddle fit, to access our Recognising Saddle Fit Issues course simply click here!