Tryin to find a saddle to suit us both!(longish sorry!)

[Sandi_Mac]

I am tryin to find a saddle to suit both me an my horse! I have damaged 6 vertebraes in my back 2 years ago, after quite a few years of abuse my doc tells me! Had one operation to try an help which was a epidural an then injections into the damaged area to try an help it helped for a while but am now on pain management with drugs.
Have still continued to ride although did have a 6 month break, when was at my worst i.e walkin with crutches an a few other things which I won't bore you all with!
I am very positive an won't let my back problem hinder my life anymore than need be an am totally aware of I must take things easy now. I drive my family insane with worry, but I can't let it beat me!

I was chattin with a friend who suggested tryin a dressage saddle does anyone on here have a back problem an tried a dressage saddle? I have problems with my leg position I have no feelin in my left leg from behind the knee to bottom of my heel, have been workin very hard to try an not let this hinder me either but I do tend to end riding a bit crooked as my right side is the stronger side, I watch myself constantly an as soon as I see my hips wandering do try an straighten up, as don't want my poor horsey crooked too! With a dressage saddle the stirrup bars are set futher back which enables your leg to be in better position, an more in the shoulder, hip heel line, and hopefully you can apply the aids better.
I am present a happy hacker, but do a bit of everything jump, a lot of flat work over poles etc an a little dressage my horse came to me with very little training.

Just wondering if a dressage saddle would help us? Does anyone ride in one just for general everyday riding?

[andreaB]

after getting my first dressage saddle i don't ride in anything else , i have a bit of an ongoing injury at the moment but not to your extent , but do feel that my saddle is a help as it helps me maintain good position

i am now dressage orientated but am happy to do most things in my dressage saddle , from dressage to a beach gallop

i feel that a good dressage saddle helps your position & stability & also can help you absorb the horses movement , they also give the horse more freedom of the shoulder

i wouldn't go back:)

[No_Angel]

I would personally recommend a fhoenix saddle to you.
They have set back stirrup bars, the gp is more vsd, and the seat is so soft that it would absorb concussion.
Being basically treeless it is likely to fit your horse aswell:)

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

I am tryin to find a saddle to suit both me an my horse! I have damaged 6 vertebraes in my back 2 years ago, after quite a few years of abuse my doc tells me! Had one operation to try an help which was a epidural an then injections into the damaged area to try an help it helped for a while but am now on pain management with drugs.
Have still continued to ride although did have a 6 month break, when was at my worst i.e walkin with crutches an a few other things which I won't bore you all with!
I am very positive an won't let my back problem hinder my life anymore than need be an am totally aware of I must take things easy now. I drive my family insane with worry, but I can't let it beat me!

I was chattin with a friend who suggested tryin a dressage saddle does anyone on here have a back problem an tried a dressage saddle? I have problems with my leg position I have no feelin in my left leg from behind the knee to bottom of my heel, have been workin very hard to try an not let this hinder me either but I do tend to end riding a bit crooked as my right side is the stronger side, I watch myself constantly an as soon as I see my hips wandering do try an straighten up, as don't want my poor horsey crooked too! With a dressage saddle the stirrup bars are set futher back which enables your leg to be in better position, an more in the shoulder, hip heel line, and hopefully you can apply the aids better.
I am present a happy hacker, but do a bit of everything jump, a lot of flat work over poles etc an a little dressage my horse came to me with very little training.

Just wondering if a dressage saddle would help us? Does anyone ride in one just for general everyday riding?

I have to say, i also have no feeling in my leftie but its from just above the ankle down. I rode in a dressage saddle once, and it was a lot more comfier in my opinion. I also get backache from some GP saddles but i had none with the dressage one. They also make your legs feel more secure, if you get one with really big and supportive knee-rolls.

[Lgd]

I'm afraid the treeless is probably not a good option with your issues. Not my personal experience but my trainer's OH has severe back problems (pretty much same league as you) and he has struggled to ride in his Fhoenix when his back is really bad. The wide twist causes a lot of the issues for him, and it sounds as though it would present similar problems for you.

You will need to try several styles to find what suits you best. Given the stability issues you may be better off with a deep seated saddle to give you more security. You generally find you need to go up a seat size from non-deep seated to deep-seated styles. My back is not the best but I did cope fine with the Barnsby Raven which has quite a deep seat and the Barnsby Luxus. My horse had other ideas (she 'grew' out of the saddles) and now has a WOW which comes in numerous seat/panel combinations. It is an air-flocked saddle which is completely adjustable. Lee Pearson (current Para world champion) recommends that disabled riders should have their saddles flaired or look at the WOWs - he uses a Flaired Barnsby that has been adapted to his needs. A friend of mine has a WOW that has been adapted for her. The WOWs are not cheap (£1.5K) but you can trial them before you buy and they are infinitely adjustable. The older version was quite heavy compared to a light GP saddle but the newer version is much lighter.

My back is not the best in the world and saddles that crippled me were an Albion style and a Wintec Isabel.

[No_Angel]

I suppose its down to personal preference then, as my mother has a broken bone in her back and has nerve damage, and I also have nerve damage down my left side and we both ride happily in treeless saddles. The stirrup position and the hardness of the treed saddles make riding difficult for me.

[Pink's lady]

I would agree with lgd. A treeless is not good to you if you sit crooked - it can't protect the horses from you sitting squint.

A normal tree'd saddel will twist over time if you sit squint and the flocking is hard to adjust to compensate.

A Flaired saddle would be worth considering. The four bags can be adjusted to make the saddle and pressure distribution even for the horses, regardless of how squint you sit. The flair can be put into just about any saddle, so once you find a saddle you like you could have it changed to Flair.

The WOW saddle is a very different saddle to ride in and feel totally different from an treed saddle. You might find it very comfortable to ride in. It also has the option of set back stirrups (has a double stirrup bar) so the stirrup position can be adjusted to suit you. Have a look here (http://www.wowsaddles.com/wow/wow%20concept.htm)

Like lgd said however they are very expensive. BUT they last a life time and can be adjusted to fit any hrses so your next horse can use it too. It also can be adjusted to fit any borrowed horses (you'll need a bit of training though) and once you know the correct settings for that horse you can adjust it in a couple of mins. Means if you ride at a riding school you don't need to use a school saddle.

[Sandi_Mac]

Thank you so much everyone for you input, made me feel a whole lot better an more positive that I can continue to ride, had a naggin doubt that maybe I shouldn't be an through my own stubborness (sp!?) was maybe not doin myself or my horse any favours, I will look into all the options you suggested thank you again :)

[ShariN]

I understand what you are going through. If I want to continue riding I have to go back to a treed saddle too.

I would try or Demo as many Dressage saddles as you can. Each are made different..where one would feel good...another could make you feel worse
It will take time to find a nice one that will work for both you and your horse.

Am glad you have written because I need to hear about others with issues, that still want to ride!! Gives me motavation and hope!!:D

[JustJas]

I have a saddle with a dressage tree but the saddle is cut VSD- my arab needed either a treeless or a bespoke. No saddle off the peg fitted her. The latter was bought. I have a weak spine that niggles and a left knee with no carteledge but since we got it I have not suffered back ache or knee ache (with my cheap bendy stirrups). Jazzmyn loves it!

[Santi]

My saddle fitter visited yesterday and was saying that Cair (air pocket system) saddles can be useful for disabled/crooked riders as you can add a little more air one side. Flocking up one side would put pressure on the horse which wouldn't be good. Cair fit their systems to several makes of saddle.
I would say the Phoenix is way too squidgy too offer you enough support, i sold mine as it was giving me back ache!

I agree that a dressage saddle can be very comfortable to sit in - i use mine to hack out and did a 12 mile ride on it with no aches at all.
:)