Hi everyone. I just started riding a horse at my lessons that is young, very green, and can only be ridden western so far (we are going to try him in english eventually). I have a big problem though. Although riding western is fun, I get REALLY sore afterword. In the hip area, I feel like I'm straddling the saddle and the swell in the seat really hurts when I'm trying to sit a bouncy trot. How do I work around this? Are there any saddles for those of us that are a bit narrower? Or a seat pad? Or do I just have to live with the discomfort.
ps this happens to me on every western saddle I've ridden in, not just this one.
Update:Well, I don't really want to buy a saddle, especially one I could never show in. Considering I don't have my own horse -yet. Whats weird though, is I rode western as a really young kid (like before i could walk, which is more like sitting, not riding tho), then I rode english for about a year, then western for 7 years, then english for a year, and now I ride both, so I have had almost equal exposure to both.
Update 3:The horse I ride is of fairly average build, a bit chubby though, as he only got ridden once a month, which is about to change now that I'm there! But even riding very narrow horses did this. So I don't think the horse's size matters, I'm really tall and really big boned anyway, so hefty horses never bother me.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I also agree with your other posters that the twist of the saddle is probably too wide. The majority of Western saddles are made for men riders and don't fit alot of women well.
I am a small rider, fine boned and thin, but I don't have too much problems with western. One thing I have noticed though is - a heavy set horse gives me problems even more than the saddle. If I ride a horse that's really round I have a hard time having a good wrap with my legs, this can give me discomfort. Is your lesson horse on the chubby and/or obese side? This might be making your Western saddle fit even worse.
You can buy gel pads to go on Western saddles. Cashel makes several types, some are specifically for Western, others for English, saddle seat or whatever. I use a gel pad every time I ride Western because I tend to get sore pin bones, and the Cashel pads help with this. I'm not sure if they will solve your problem or not. Since they cost about $45 it would be nice if you could try one before spending the money. You can also buy fleece saddle pads for the seat, they too might help with the discomfort but I prefer the gel pads as they don't bunch up so easily.
Lastly, sitting a bouncy trot is nasty no matter what type of saddle you're riding. To sit a jog properly and comfortably requires a horse that moves slowly, this tends to really soften the bounce. I always post when riding a horse that jogs too fast, even if I'm in Western tack. And when I trail ride in Western tack I constantly post. It's better for your horse's back, and it will be better for your knees and butt. The only time you have to sit the jog is when you show.
Good luck with your behind!
The other poster right about it probably having a wide twist. If you don't know what that means, it is the width of the ground seat.
Men's saddle tend to have a wider twist. If you can get you hands on a good barrel racing saddle that fit both you and the horse you will probably be a lot more comfortable.
I ride both western and english and if the saddle fit correctly, do not have the kind of discomfort you are describing. However, when I rode my ex's saddle it would kill me!
Everybody else is probably right about the twist being too wide. If the saddle fits you, it shouldn't hurt at all. Sometimes it's difficult to find a saddle that perfectly fits both you and the horse. If your horse is very wide, sometimes there is little you can do.
An option for those of us that don't have enough money to go out and buy a different saddle is a pad for the seat. I have one for long trail rides (even saddles that do fit get a bit uncomfortable after sitting on them for many hours!) that is made of sheepskin that is very comfortable! I've also seen gel pads, but I haven't ever tried them out. Good luck!
I might be similar to you- I rode English my whole life, and when I switched to western, I really didn't feel comfortable or secure. Have you ever ridden in an Australian saddle? You can get ones with or without a horn, and they have the feel of an English saddle but with a little extra security. I know a lot of people that ride in them and love them! They are not too expensive either... you might want to give one a try!
Sounds to me like the twist is too wide for you. See if you can find a saddle with a narrower twist, it should be more comfortable. But whatever saddle you use, make sure it fits the horse well too!