Fitting The Rider

[Ken Nelson]

Sitting up straight in a western saddle that fits you and has the stirrups adjusted right, look down over your knee and you should be able to see the toe of your boot. Doing some western events will require shorter stirrups. First saddle has the stirrups hung too far back. Properly made, a stirrup and fender will stay turned in the proper position. On the second saddle, the stirrups need to permanently turned. They weren't when it was constructed and it is nearly impossible to get them to stay with out constant blocking and weighting. A ground seat that fits you and a saddle that fits you and is adjusted properly will help you a lot. You should not be setting on the cantle of the saddle when just riding. Just riding across the pasture, you should be able to run you hand between the cantle and your back side without putting pressure on you hand. The cantle on a western saddle is there to catch you, not sit on. HTH Ken

[oltoot]

The stirrup leathers/fenders are not twisted/shaped on either western while they are small and pliable on the poly. Both westerns have wide flat tree bars and cheap/easy ground seats. Your pains will disappear with a saddle made on a tree with bars shaped for a narrow seat and a women's ground seat/seat.