Female vs. Male Saddles - Schleese Saddlery Service

Telltale Signs if you’re a Woman Riding in a Male Saddle

By Jochen Schleese CMS CSE

A few years ago a female colleague told me when she had completed a series of introductory dressage lessons, she felt she was just not meant for riding. She said it was just too difficult (and painful!). She couldn’t do what the instructor was asking, and had to concentrate so hard just to hold it all together – knees in, toes forward, shoulder hips heels in alignment, soft hands. It hurt. And it was impossible to stay in proper position.

I knew without even seeing her ride, that she was riding in a male saddle. How many women share this frustration especially if a male coach suggests they are being lazy, not strong enough or not working hard enough? That they need to do some fitness exercise to be able to ride properly?

Watch for the telltale signs you’re riding in a saddle made for a man, in this ‘2 Minute How To’ video featured in 2010 on Bay Area Equestrian Network. The video clearly shows the challenges and subsequent improvements riding in a gender correct saddle.

Leaning back in the saddle, collapsing at the hip into a chair seat

Your leg hangs over the flap

Shoulders-hips-heels are out of alignment

Using a big thigh roll to push your knee back and keep your leg in position

Extreme hollow back and leaning forward

Legs shooting out in front; difficulty keeping your leg from swinging in the stirrup

Lower back pain, pressure and discomfort in the pelvic area and soft tissue

Feeling ‘pulled apart’ at the hips

Feeling your seat bones are hanging over the side of the seat

Feeling behind or in front of the motion

Difficulty giving aids to the horse, discomfort tilting back and forth

Why continue to struggle with poor position and pain which can lead to long term back and hip issues, when a solution is readily available? All of these issues can be easily solved riding in a saddle made for a woman.

Still not convinced? If you struggle with even a few of these issues, guaranteed your progress in your lessons will be slow, not to mention your horse will also experience discomfort, pressure points and confusion. Your horse may require additional therapeutic treatments. We all want the best for our horses. Don’t you owe it to yourself and your horse to ride in a saddle that accommodates your conformation??

Book a personal 80 point saddle fit evaluation. Ask Questions. Be amazed at the freedom, riding in a gender appropriate saddle!

Saddlefit 4 Life® Find solutions for saddle fit issues http://www.Saddlefit4life.com http://www.SaddlesforWomen.com 800-225-2242

Jochen Schleese, German Certified Master Saddler, is author of “Suffering in Silence - The Saddle Fit Link to Physical and Psychological Trauma in Horses” (Trafalgar Books 2013, 2015, 2017) © Saddlefit4Life® 2018. All Rights Reserved.

© Saddlefit4Life® 2019