The right size of a saddle is an essential aspect in your comfort while riding and horse’s overall health. A saddle is composed of two parts which are: the seat and the inlet.
You should sit on your feet, and move your legs to 90 degrees. Use a tape measure along your thigh from your back knee to your buttocks.
The hip-to-knee length
The size of the seat on a saddle should be around 3-4 fingers or a size that is comparable to the width of being a palm that is between the cantle and thigh. It’s also advisable to err on the side that the saddle is too wide instead of too tiny as a saddle that isn’t big enough can result in irritation between the riders’ legs.
The thigh roll and knee pad on the saddle could be a great help in relieving this condition in providing a solid support to the lower leg as it is pushed against the horse. Flap length is less important because it is dependent on whether your flap’s angle matches the angle of your leg (i.e. smaller flaps are not a good fit for a tall rider).
The final step is to make sure that the clearance of the pommel to be measured by using a ruler, or even a the level, is sufficient. If a saddle has a elevated pommel may hinder the riders posture and create excessive pressure on elbows.
Sit Length of Bone
Sit bone thickness (or external ischial tuberrosity) is an important factor that should be taken into account when selecting the size of a saddle. If a saddle is too small could cause discomfort for the rider because of the strain it places on various pelvis parts. A saddle too wide could cause discomfort as a result due to the chafing caused within the thighs.
It is possible to use straightforward methods at home take measurements of a rider’s sit bone and figure out the proper saddle size. Also, any Specialized retailer can determine the rider’s width in-store using a Retul Digital Sit Bone device.
Ideally, a saddle should be at least as broad as the bones of your sit, to prevent painful contact. The width of the saddle could also be affected by the riding position and seat angle. Therefore, a rider should try out several saddle sizes before settling on the ideal one.
Cantle Height
The elevation of a saddle’s cantle determines its dimension and comfort. The cantle’s heights vary from extremely low to high. A high cantle will make a saddle seat size feel smaller, and oppositely. The riders who favor an cantle that has a higher or less slope, prefer to have a design which doesn’t feel as tight around their thighs. It provides the best back support. Certain barrel racers as well as ranch cowboys could prefer to have a cantle which is shorter in its height, to create a more secluded feel.
The traditional saddle seat measurements are from the bottom of the swell across up to the top of the cantle. But, there are many factors to consider when choosing the right saddle. Look at the height of the cantle and slope if a saddle marked 16″ seems smaller than it should. This could be the difference between a saddle that fits well or not. It can help you avoid wasting money on an item that is big and not suited to your particular sport.
Swell Size
A saddle that is swollen to a height that is too low puts pressure on the horse’s back. Conversely, one having a swell level too high could cause the saddle to sit wrongly. The swell height also influences the size of the gullet that is vital because a gullet that is too narrow can cause chafing. As a general rule, there should at least be the width of your palm between the upper part of your thigh on your saddle and its swell.
There are various methods to measure the size of your seat however the most precise option is to take a measurement tape from the knee across your buttocks. The measurement of this kind is often referred to the Holmes Method and takes your inseam into consideration, something that both methods do however not.
