Ok, you guys with normal leg lengths, and a dressage saddle...I need your observations please. Can you give me an idea where your saddle flaps end, in relation to your legs, please?? i.e, 2" below your knee, 3"?? More??
Sometimes when you have a disability you're hyper sensitive about things you do/wear/have etc...etc.... Other times it takes a long time for the penny to drop, for you to realise that you are actually doing things differently, and that isn't helped (in the nicest possible way) by people who are afraid of upsetting you, and won't tell you.
The other day I was in the company of a young lass who is a master saddler. I went to school with her. She watched me ride, and wondered why the Saddle Co hadn't made my saddle flaps any shorter. I protested, "but they did". She said....' maybe an oinch or so shorter, why didn't they make them about 2-3" shorter...your legs could take it. In fact it'd look better on you.' I said that the fitter had explained that the saddle would look ridiculous on Rubi if they made the flaps any shorter. Her observation was that a) you wouldn't be able to tell with me on board, b) People aren't surprised by what they see in terms of tack nowadays, when it comes to disabled riders....they know we're allowed modifications....but more significantly c) that I'd look no more ridiculous than I look now, with the flaps so long, and she was sure I would have better function with the saddle flaps a good bit shorter.
This isn't a thread about the Saddle Co, it's merely about the length of my saddle flaps. My flaps come down to my ankles, and even everso slightly below the top of the stirrup 'iron', on my short side.
I started looking at pictures of other riders. And the saddle flaps, on dressage saddles all seem to finish about 2-3" below the knee. I tried to imagine the feeling. It suddenly made me wonder whether that might be a reason why Rubi can't feel what I'm doing with my legs....or at least part of the reason anyway??? I know I ride short, but there's nothing much I can do about that I'm afraid.
Next time you ride, could you take a minute to estimate roughly where your saddle flaps finish, in relation to your knee for example. Thank you.
Here's a pic. Sorry it's a bit diddy, but this is my shorter leg of the two, in relation to the flap. I know it doesn't help that I'm wearing black jods, and that I have black boots and a black caged endurance stirrup, but you can just about make it out if you look carefully. Thanks for looking....or trying to, rather!!
Sometimes when you have a disability you're hyper sensitive about things you do/wear/have etc...etc.... Other times it takes a long time for the penny to drop, for you to realise that you are actually doing things differently, and that isn't helped (in the nicest possible way) by people who are afraid of upsetting you, and won't tell you.
The other day I was in the company of a young lass who is a master saddler. I went to school with her. She watched me ride, and wondered why the Saddle Co hadn't made my saddle flaps any shorter. I protested, "but they did". She said....' maybe an oinch or so shorter, why didn't they make them about 2-3" shorter...your legs could take it. In fact it'd look better on you.' I said that the fitter had explained that the saddle would look ridiculous on Rubi if they made the flaps any shorter. Her observation was that a) you wouldn't be able to tell with me on board, b) People aren't surprised by what they see in terms of tack nowadays, when it comes to disabled riders....they know we're allowed modifications....but more significantly c) that I'd look no more ridiculous than I look now, with the flaps so long, and she was sure I would have better function with the saddle flaps a good bit shorter.
This isn't a thread about the Saddle Co, it's merely about the length of my saddle flaps. My flaps come down to my ankles, and even everso slightly below the top of the stirrup 'iron', on my short side.
I started looking at pictures of other riders. And the saddle flaps, on dressage saddles all seem to finish about 2-3" below the knee. I tried to imagine the feeling. It suddenly made me wonder whether that might be a reason why Rubi can't feel what I'm doing with my legs....or at least part of the reason anyway??? I know I ride short, but there's nothing much I can do about that I'm afraid.
Next time you ride, could you take a minute to estimate roughly where your saddle flaps finish, in relation to your knee for example. Thank you.
Here's a pic. Sorry it's a bit diddy, but this is my shorter leg of the two, in relation to the flap. I know it doesn't help that I'm wearing black jods, and that I have black boots and a black caged endurance stirrup, but you can just about make it out if you look carefully. Thanks for looking....or trying to, rather!!
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