Saddle Question

[Lucie]

I posted a thread on the 'Tack and Saddlery' board yesterday. I asked if it was possible to shift the stirrup bar further back (as in have it moved further towards the cantle).

The responses both said it wasn't :(. So I'm hoping someone here could advise.........

a) an alternative (a stirrup bar 'extender' or something :o).

b) a made-to-measure saddle company who'd make me a saddle with the bar set further back.
(have already contacted wow, the saddle company, equinefit and afew others and am awaiting a response).

c) a saddle make or model which already has their stirrup bars fixed further back than the norm.

It must either be a jumping saddle or a forward cut gp saddle (no dressage saddles or those cut with more dressagey riding in mind).

I know it's not likely anyone will know of anything, but any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks for reading :).

[Anro]

why do you want it further back?

[Lucie]

why do you want it further back?

Because I find saddles with a further set back stirrup bar more comfortable.

Before anyone says it ;). . .
I've played with stirrup length for years and my decision to seek out such a saddle comes with my instructors seal of approval. Physio (who is a rider in her spare time) also believes it will help.

Unfortunately these saddles are few and far between and the best I've found is sliding the leathers as far back as I can safely get away with, then securing them via various experimental means :p.

[No_Angel]

Do you need the saddle to jump in? (forward cut flaps and all)

I know the fhoenix has set back stirrup bars, but its more VSD shaped (the gp one). the freeform might suit, or an ansur saddle.

A company like free n easy may be able to move the stirrups firther back.

[bitsnpieces]

Me thinks you have 2 options:

If you go to a master saddler he should be able to make one for you, I have a dressage leg position so on a bog standard GP saddle my legs are coming off the back of the flaps so my saddler made me a straight cut GP saddle, kinda looks like a small dressage saddle but not if you know what I mean, if they are making it then they can alter the tree before the flocking is added.

There are certain treeless saddles (mainly the original ones) that have the stirrup bars further back as standard, very comfy if you like that kinda thang! Have a look on the various websites, you should be able to get a decent second hand one for not too much

hope this helps!

[Wally]

Some of my saddles have the Wellep system where you can alter the bar back and forth.

An extender woult put far too much train on the tree and bar and wouldn't be safe.

The whole saddle will have to be made around a tree with a bar that is set farther back. Which generally will mean a bespoke saddle. Barry Swaine makes them to order, as will just about any saddle shop, if you are willing to bang your head against the brick wall that is the saddle maker! ;)

Saddlers cannot alter trees, they need to be done by the maunfacturer to have any kind of BS guarantee.

[Rea]

It's an expensive option but WOW saddles have two stirrup bars on them, one in the 'normal' position and one set further back.

I used to ride in a torsion treeless saddle which had the stirrup bar set 2" back from where it would normally be so I was always used to riding in that position so I struggled to adapt back to a english style saddle. But I love my wow saddle. Most my friends who have a wow ride with the stirrup on the front bar so I think that’s the same as the normal position, but I've always ridden with my stirrups on the back bar.

[Yann]

I'm sure the Saddle Co will put the stirrup bar further back on a new saddle if you want them to, it was certainly possible if a bit of a job to move it back on an existing one when I asked about the possibility :)

[Lucie]

Thanks everyone :)! Will investigate further then ;).