Why don't they make saddles for novice wibbly people?

[Tiny rider]

Sorry if this has been posted before.

I'm an older novice rider, and I've learnt on the usual English saddle. I'm also nervous and wibbly and I've always found the average GP saddle feels rather like a quick slippery ejection seat.

I have been reading various blogs on tack and nervous riders, and have seen a few Western instructors recommend nervous riders (who don't want to do more than just hack out etc) use an Australian stock saddle, which has a horn in front, and blocks to wedge your knees behind.

Why don't English saddle manufacturers make a saddle for those of us who just want to feel completely secure on a horse? I know Wintec does a synthetic Aus stock saddle but I haven't heard of anyone using one.

I understand that you can't jump or do many clever English riding things in a saddle with a horn in front, but surely a deep seat with a high cantle/pommel and some lovely knee wedgey things (whatever they are called!) wouldn't go amiss?

I've just bought a Kent & Masters saddle to fit my little cob and my big behind. It is a thing of beauty. And very comfy. But still feels rather...unsupportive..and flat...with nothing in front to quickly grab when I have an "oh shit" moment...

I know more lessons and more experience will make my seat more balanced and secure. But for an older rider, who is a bit stiff and just wants to pootle around - couldn't they come up with something more forgiving?

Perhaps with handles in front?! That would quickly fold down if you got thrown against them? And a sticky coating? And fixed ish stirrups so my legs don't flap around? OK..I'm joking...but you get the picture.

Riding is so dangerous that surely saddle makers could design something a bit safer? What do you think??

 

[newforest]

Well they sort of have.
You can put on a neck strap, use either an old stirrup leather or you can buy them these days that clip on the d rings.
A seat saver may help you feel a bit more secure, or suede jodphurs. I would not advise both together as you will be like bostik glue!

Torsion make a Bora saddle that's designed for disabled riders, not saying you are but the idea is security and support.
A body protector may do that for your back, give you more stability.

I have to say if a saddle doesn't instill confidence and a secure position in the rider, you will be tense and just not enjoy your hobby. I had a saddle that was lovely, suited the horse, not me. Sold it.

 

[Jessey]

I wouldn't reccomend anything with a horn for an unbalanced or potential to become unbalanced rider, having been stuck in the ribs by quite a few. My friend is an expert at removing her shirt and bra on hers not the most glamorous dismount in the middle of a show! Another friend got hung on her belt while dismounting, arms and legs flapping and unable to get off or back on she had to be unceremoniously shoved back on her horse.
I would definitely look at a grippy seat saver or 'sticky bum' jods, they really can help loads. You can get both western and stock saddles without the horn if you wanted to go that route.

 

[carthorse]

You could look at a dressage saddle, they often have deeper seats, bigger blocks & are cut to hold you stiller.

Maybe it's a sad comment on some of the horses I've ridden in the past, but I actually don't like to feel too held in by a saddle. If it all goes really wrong I want to feel I can get off in a hurry, even if the horse is moving at pace, & not worry about getting caught up in my tack.

 

[Jessey]

Just to add, in equivilant time, I came out of my western saddle as many times as my dressage, I've fallen off less bareback!

 

[No_Angel]

I've got some I have Sensations, 2x Westlish Rebels and a Hybrid. We've just bought our current Westlish because of this very reason, we wanted a very secure saddle for my mum on her young horse, it's got tall western pommel and cantle, but no horn, they are so secure and my mum is thrilled with hers.

Here's my saddle, the hybrid with western seat and fenders stolen from mums new westlish

 

[MrC]

Being honest it sounds like you are sitting perched if you feel that Unsecure. Either incorrect seat or shorter than required stirrups can do this or even an ill fitting saddle.

I would say get som lunge lessons with either a dressage saddle or even bareback pad and neck strap to get you sitting deeper and more upright.

Good luck

 

[Trewsers]

I wouldn't like the security of a saddle with a horn like a western one - what about when you make the executive decision to dismount ?! I like being able to get off quickly and daft as it sounds I have a fear that a more secure type saddle would wedge me in good and proper! Sounds silly but I just prefer it. I didn't like OH's dressage saddle as it was like a deep comfy armchair but then I thought it would be difficult to slither out of.......

 

[No_Angel]

I've not had any trouble dismounting from my saddle, but only when I want to,lol. It's kept me in through numerous 360 spins.

There's a few saddles around that offer more security, they tend to be endurance saddles or western/english hybrids.

 

[Skib]

OH learned Western to start with and I always enjoyed it too. You are correct that when Brits first discovered Western saddles they were deemed safer. But there are some good reasons for not using them too.
The Western saddle weighs a lot and at least one older beginner on this Forum found it too much to lift up and down from the rack.
You need more strength too to throw it over and onto the back of a horse when tacking up because of the way the stirrup leathers are attached and the long supportive bars on the tree.
The horn and cantle shape make it harder to mount and dismount.

Our RI takes a different approach to safety. She told me from the start that she wanted to get my balance in the saddle as good as she could and that included many lunge lessons and some bareback riding. I dont always stay on if a horse spooks but I do grab the grap strap (monkey strap) if there is one or the front of the saddle or the horse's mane.

For an older person whose balance is bad, you may need to be held securely in the saddle, but it gives the horse greater freedom to move in a European saddle and it gives the rider freedom too. That may not be important if your only objective is to remain on top of the horse. And not fall off. But there are many riding skills involved in communicating with the horse and the pressure and relaxation of your legs and seat on the horse can be varied to allow or inhibit the movement of the horse.
Dont get me wrong. I love Western riding and western saddles , but they are designed for a purpose and and the treed saddles we use in the UK generally speaking allow both horse and rider more freedom to move.

 

[sbloom]

English saddles' seats are formed by the tree and the tree must fit the horse. Deep seats on flat backs isn't always possible, however the TG cob, and other similar saddles can indeed sit very perched and feeling insecure. I specialise in fitting cobs and have lots of customers coming to me because of that issue. Grippy leather/suede can help, bigger or differently placed blocks an also help.

 

[MrC]

Ive owned TG cob saddles on flat backed cobs for years and never felt perched as the saddles are fitted to the horse.

So I would refute that statement you have made based on TG cobs saddles fitted to my cobs. No saddle should feel perched if fitted correctly.

 

[newforest]

It comes down to the combination though. I rode in a TG Cob saddle on my friends cob, loved it. Tried on mine and it didn't suit us, I felt totally wrong.

You can still jump in a western saddle, albeit western seat, seen people do it. The horn isn't as big as some people think, with various style types and you can get hornless saddle.
I don't have knee rolls on my saddle, had it made without.

Is your cob over weight? I don't mean to be rude but when mine hits a certain beefy mark, she can feel too wide as I can't get my legs on. Is this happening to you.

 

[Tiny rider]

Thanks guys for all your answers and for fab pic no_angel!! I'm going to get a sticky saddle pad and suede jodhpurs - and I've got one of those grabby rstor handle things...at this rate you'll have to chip me out of my saddle.

I wonder if a saddle manufacturer might come up with new marketing ploy for us nervous novices and make a "secure" saddle with best bits of European, western and stock saddles? So lightweight, on a tree but with bloody big handles or something- and with quick release so we can get out in a hurry?!

 

[Jessey]

You can still jump in a western saddle, albeit western seat, seen people do it. The horn isn't as big as some people think, with various style types and you can get hornless saddle.

I've jumped in western and certainly wouldn't recommend it for a novice and you can't really do anything over about 3' without it getting very risky and even the small pleasure horns you can get hung up on.

 

[sbloom]

Ive owned TG cob saddles on flat backed cobs for years and never felt perched as the saddles are fitted to the horse.

So I would refute that statement you have made based on TG cobs saddles fitted to my cobs. No saddle should feel perched if fitted correctly.

If you read again I said they CAN be perched. I see it a lot, but clearly this is not the case all the time. Many times other saddle fitters have checked them very recently and said these saddles fit but they are unstable and the riders don't get on with them. Once in a more close contact wooden treed saddle they are amazed at how stable they feel and how much more of the horse's movement they can feel.

 

[newforest]

I've jumped in western and certainly wouldn't recommend it for a novice and you can't really do anything over about 3' without it getting very risky and even the small pleasure horns you can get hung up on.

I don't go over 3ft these days.