seatbone savers

[RachelT]

I am interested in learning more from anyone who's using one of Heather's seatsavers at the moment.

I am forever being told to sit further forward in the saddle, which I find impossible to maintain. I do not have my own horse but have weekly lessons. Does anyone actually take their own seatbone saver to their riding lessons with them (I'm really talking about leisure riders here, rather than those with their own horses - I would think it's easier to use something like this on your own horse/saddle).

Is it really that easy to fit and to take off? I am genuinely interested, as I also need a little more 'stickability' - I am nervous and find myself tipping forward. If I felt as though it was easier to stay put in the saddle when riding without stirrups etc, I would be much improved, I think.

Just wondered whether anyone had any experience of riding at a riding school using one of these wonderful-sounding devices or not!

Rachel

[KathyT]

Yes I have one and I would not be without it!
You don't slide about in the saddle so much, it is more comfortable, it is easy to take on and off, all in all it's the next best thing to having one of Heather's saddles (I have been lucky enough to have a go on one!)
I also ride weekly and have had no trouble or adverse comments at the riding school about, however I did ask if it was ok to use in the first instance out of politness.
It does make you feel more secure and confident about your seat.
All in all 10/10!

[Mike]

Hi Rachel

I used one for several years on riding school horses and still use it if trekking out at different places. It is quick and easy to put on any saddle, the straps just attach underneath the saddle flaps - its a 20 second job to put on. It's easiest to add it once the saddle is on, so no problem if your school horses are tacked up when you arrive.

It does help improve your stickability and comfort in the saddle. It sounds like you are fighting the common saddle problem of stirrup bars being too far forward which forces you into a poor position. The seatbone saver will help you sit further forward in the saddle and so help the alignment of the stirrups.

Anyway, I'll let some others add comments as you may think I'm biased :) .

[Sue Watson]

I also agree that the stirrup bars sound too far forward, but just as important, the lowest point of the seat, ie where your seat will naturally gravitate towards, sounds as if it may be too far back. I think this is a very common design fault in dressage saddles. You will constantly feel as if you are struggling to keep your seat forward and in consequence you upper body will tip forward in an effort to balance yourself over the stirrups. The seatsaver won't help this but it will improve stickability and give a general feeling of security and comfort which in turn will relax you.

[FRED]

I bought a seat saver three months ago,I had an open mind to how it would help me. At present I just hack,{ walk, trot,quick trot and canter,we do some steep hills, climb and decend,and its not always on the best terrain either.

The seat saver is easy to fit.
It definately moves you slightly forward on the saddle.
No more polishing the saddle when we canter.
I have been able to keep my legs still much better at canter.
When things go wrong it doe's give you added seat security,no sliding onto horses neck at unexpected happenings!.
This also helps the horse that you are not sliding about when he has that occasinal trip or slip ,he regains balance so much easier.
All this and comfort too.
After removing the seat saver,it always goes back to its original shape,so not moulding just to one saddle.
No more pain and lots of gain is my verdict,the horse trys his best and so should we.Exellent.
Fred

[Lesha]

Another vote for using the seatbone saver at riding schools! I regularly take it to riding schools for lessons. Also I take it on holiday (it's light and easily packed) as we always try and get a hack in at some stage! As has been said, it's very quick to put on and can be used on any saddle. There are a couple of ways of doing up the straps correctly, but if done incorrectly the straps *might* loosen. The way I (and Sue) do them up is by like a rucksack strap (through, over, and back) which means it can be easily tightened but not loosened unintentionally. But just make sure that when you've done it up, you grab the straps on either side of the plastic buckle and give a sharp tug. If the strap doesn't budge or slide through the buckle at all, you've done it up securely :D Another tip. Once you've the buckles done up right, then never undo them! Just loosen them right off and slide them down off the saddle flap, lifting/folding the saddle flap to get it through as necessary. Even quicker when you're pressed for time at the start of a lesson :D

[RachelT]

It sounds as though this might really help me out then! I've been looking for something that would give me a little more security in the saddle - sticky bum jodhs are supposed to be good too, but they are extremely unflattering (on me, anyway! :p )

Think I might place my order today! What experiences have you had with sizes? I can find myself riding 14.2 ponies through to mountain-size big neds - I noticed that the seatsaver comes in different sizes, so should I just order the horse one? Is the pony size more for littler people or littler horses? :p

Ooh, I feel on the edge of discovering something that might really work - keeping everything crossed that it does! Better practice the straps though - can just see myself sliding off ever so gracefully...!:D

Rachel

[Sue Carnell]

The pony size is for littler saddles. Under 15" I think, so you should be ok with the horse-sized one.

Sue Carnell
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[Dace]

Hi,

I too have one of these (got it as a present to my previous birthday, lucky me :) ). So I'm using the seat saver for almost a year. I ride different horses, all with different saddles. Most times I use the seat saver, and some times I don't.

Well, as far as my experience goes, the seat saver itself hasn't caused any miracles to my riding position, but I guess miracles are not the purpose of a seat saver anyway. ;) I find that different saddles or boots (long or short) affect my position much more.

The good things - I find the seat saver very comfortable to sit on, especially on long rides, as my but is quite skinny that really helps :) The seat saver is very easy to put on every saddle and the straps grant that it will stay in place. Also if you find some saddle too slippery, the seat saver will prevent you from sliding.

Dace

[Heather]

HI Dace,

Well, I don't reckon we have sold many Seatbone Savers to Latvia!!! NIce to know we have members in far flung corners!

I always take my Seatbone Saver with me when training in Portugal - I simply couldn't stand the saddles without it! A lot of people do find that it improves their positions as it allows you to sit centrally without pain- the centrall dip in most saddles is not padded except between the seams, which are too narrow for most pelvises. As the others have said it does stop you slipping and a lot of riders including myself, find that it does give a feeling of continuity when riding on a lot of different saddles.

So hopefully Rachel, you would find it would help. We have sold thousands now in ten years, and have had very few returns.

Heather

[Jo]

As well as all the advantages mentioned in previous replies, I would add 2 things:

1. My seatbone saver has enabled me to ride A LOT - I was getting severe pain on the seat bones to such an extent that I fear I was pinching a nerve - this doesn't happen with the sb saver.

2. I don't like wearing sticky bum jods with the sb saver - the saver is sticky enough! I tried to rise in trot one time and found I was glued! (such is the stickability of the sb saver!)

I now find it essential for stability, comfort, confidence...

[unicorndanca]

I've just used my SBS for the first time and I normally have a problem with bouncing around in transition changing and it was sort of like a miracle because once I'd fitted it I didn't bounce!!!!!

[Tina J]

I wouldn't be without mine. I have also lent it to quite a few people, who have also been much happier riding with it (several of those don't have their own horses and take theirs to riding schools and on holidays) - in fact I am thinking of asking Heather for commission!

[CarolineR]

For year's Karl and I used ours wherever we rode, in lessons, on trekking holidays and also at the Equestian Centre with no problems at all. they are marvellous things and I never ride without mine.

We also invested in our own stirrups and leathers which made us feel more secure and comfortable as these were the correct length and width, but does not overcome the bars being too far forward.