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Veteran
Posts: 233
 
| So in a different life, I was a reasonably accomplished eventer. I am perfectly happy in my close contact, no knee roll, little better than an exercise saddle, collegiate jumping saddle. I feel secure, and I can correct wrong leads, extend and collect my horse, handle the occasional cross fire, whatever.
But in my barrel saddle, I still feel like I'm in danger of coming off, and I've been riding in it a year. I'm sitting deep on my pockets, with a relaxed leg and a more open hip than I have in my English saddle. And I know the middle of my horse is there, because I've found it before, briefly, when she was having a series of moments and got pretty light in front.
I feel like all I'm doing is practicing badly, and working without stirrups doesn't seem to make any difference. Anybody got advice, commiseration, YouTube videos I can watch? I need help. |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
  
Location: South Georgia | I grew up riding English as well. It may be your saddle. Some are formed to put you in the sweet spot (where you'd ride bareback) naturally, and some sit you behind that spot so you feel a little further back on the horses back, even though it's just slightly. Caldwell talks about this situation in articles on her website, for example. Have you tried other saddles? Also, different saddles position stirrups differently. You may like the more up and down stance of a Crown C or a Marlene Special EFFX. Whereas, the Double J's sit you back a little on your pockets more. I'd suspect a saddle is to blame, not so much your riding at all.
Edited by horsegirl 2018-01-25 9:56 AM
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| What type of saddle are you riding in? I also came from the English world and I like a saddle with a more ground seat for a close contact feel. I also find the balance in a hard seat to be better than a padded seat, personal preference.
And seat size? Some folks like to be really snug in their saddle, I prefer to have 2-3 fingers worth of room between my thigh and the front of the saddle. This little bit of room can help you stay balanced and in the middle of one. Being too tight can cause you to get pitched forward and let your feet get behind you. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| OhMax - 2018-01-25 9:58 AM
What type of saddle are you riding in? I also came from the English world and I like a saddle with a more ground seat for a close contact feel. I also find the balance in a hard seat to be better than a padded seat, personal preference.
And seat size? Some folks like to be really snug in their saddle, I prefer to have 2-3 fingers worth of room between my thigh and the front of the saddle. This little bit of room can help you stay balanced and in the middle of one. Being too tight can cause you to get pitched forward and let your feet get behind you.
It's a billy cook, a 15". I could stand to lose a pound or 30, but I do have a little room between the front of my thigh and the swells. I definitely identify with feeling like my leg is swinging back too far. And then if I try to sink down into my stirrups it all goes to **** in a handbasket. |
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The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | Those Billy Cooks sit you behind the sweet spot. See if you could try a friend's saddle. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | try a roper stirrup and raise up one hole, make sure the fenders are twisted. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| What do you mean "with a relaxed leg"??
I personally ride with a lot of downward pressure in my stirrups, if that makes any sense, heels down and using my calves to move my horse off my legs. Only using my spurs if I get no response. I always get achy knees after riding all day because of it but not many horses have unloaded me and it's such a habit even if I wanted to change im not sure I could... I also don't ride on my pockets. I ride with my hips a little more forward, a straight line from my heel to my hip and in the center of my saddle. It's interesting that you came from an English back ground and find a western saddle more difficult because I worked for Pam Fisher for a while and riding English I think made me really learn about my seat and helped when I was riding my own. Try not thinking of having to adjust your riding style just because your in a "western saddle", try riding in the same position you would in an English saddle.
If you can get your hands on a Deb Sibley to try, it might solve your problem. They sit you down deep and their stirrups are double hung, so you can position them where you like. It took me a little while to get used to it but now when I ride in my other saddles I feel like I'm sitting really high. (hard to explain)
I think you would like forward hung stirrups. If you take your saddle into a saddle shop they might be able to do something for you, or let you try a saddle that has forward hung stirrups. I personally don't like them because I feel like I can't get my ass out of the seat and I'm constantly adjusting my position in the saddle but I have a friend that loves them. |
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The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | True. With my English background, most western riders and especially barrel racers think my stirrups are too high. That's just where I like them. I like a bend in my knee. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | It could definitley be your saddle, or it could be your horse and saddle combo. I have a circle Y the proven and it fits my guys perfectly and sits me right in that sweet spot on their backs. But, ive recently started riding my barn owners mare that shes selling and i use the same saddle. It makes me feel so forward on her, my feet go back and im so out of balance. I rode in the owners double J on her and it felt right where i needed to be. So i would for sure be trying different saddles!! and if that doesnt work, more bareback riding?? thats what i always do lol |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 542
| horsegirl - 2018-01-25 12:26 PM
True. With my English background, most western riders and especially barrel racers think my stirrups are too high. That's just where I like them. I like a bend in my knee.
When they tell you that tell them to put their stirrups up bc if they don't have a bend in their knee then they are too long for sure. Can't stay with one if your ridding on your tippy toes. |
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The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | I know it! Pet peeve of mine. If it looks like you're standing in the saddle, that drives me nuts. Also, I guess because of the English background, if someone puts too much of their foot into the stirrup, that drives me nuts also. |
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Veteran
Posts: 286
| I love riding in the Billy Cook saddles [only] when I am riding/training a colt at which time I want my legs to move freely....forward and back. I cannot make a run in a Billy Cook because I am always too far forward in it and I find it really hard to sit where I want to be especially when going around a barrel. (Not to mention, my feet are going too far back and I definitely don't want that during a run.). Incidentally, I run all of my horses in a Crown C. |
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Veteran
Posts: 233
| Somebody asked about a relaxed leg. . . I'm not shoving my leg down, but I've got my weight in my heels, a bend in my knee, and don't put my leg on unless I'm asking for something.
I do think my stirrups might be too long. I'll see if I came run it up to the saddle shop next week and see if they can adjust it some.
I would ask if anyone in Okmulgee-ish has a crown C I can ride in, since they've been mentioned twice, but at that price point I'd probably fall in love and get an eye roll from hubby and told I can get one when the horse wins one.
Edited by hannahbug 2018-01-25 4:47 PM
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