Stirrups Hang Too Far Back

[mjs]

I just finished a saddle and I feel the stirrups hang a little too far back for my taste. Is there anything that can be done to fix this and how can I avoid this in the future? Thanks, Mike

[kseidel]

We need a little more information in order to answer this question. What is the style of saddle? Seat length and shape? Stirrup fender shape and style of leathers? A picture or two would also be helpful. Keith

[Skidder]

There are a number of things that can cause this. The obvious is the wrong tree. If you have sat in other saddles built on the same tree and length seat that feel more comfortable, you can possibly eliminate that. One area to evaluate is the seat itself. If you put in a ground leather seat and built it up too much in the back, then it can "push" you forward in the seat and over the stirrups too much. Pay close attention to how you shape your seat and test it out as you go along. Consider making a spare set of stirrup leathers you can set in place while building it and test the fit, then adjust the seat so it's comfortable. You shouldn't feel like you're sliding forward when you sit in it. At the same time, you don't want to create too much rise too far back because it restricts your movement too much and will be uncomfortable if you ride a long time. Much of this is determined by the shape of the rider as to what is comfortable, but the goal is to put the rider in the proper position, yet allowing them freedom of movement and comfort. If have a stand that keeps the saddle in the same relative position it will be on the horse, even better. Depending on how the drawdown stand is built, the front of the tree might sit lower than it would on a horse and throw you off when you sit in it to test how it feels. It's important to remember trees are not all equal with how the stirrup leather slots/channels are cut. Some are intentially designed to keep the stirrups under the rider more while others have a more forward position depending on intended use. If the stirrup leathers are properly positioned, there's probably not a lot you can do to alter the location of the stirrups significantly.