[EventerOP]

Hi everyone,

I am an event rider and I am just about 5ft. I was wondering what brands of jump saddles do all you riders with short legs use? I am struggling to find a saddle with a short enough flat that I really feel secure in.
I would love to hear what saddles work for you guys!

Thanks!

[Auto Be A Storm]

I am 4'11" and I found a schleese eventer that had a short flap for jumping and I love it. I had a lot of trouble finding it though I had to search for a long time. I also found a schleese JES dressage saddle with a short flap too....I really lucked out on that one!!!

[NRB]

am 5'4 with my height all in my torso. I ride in an Albion Kontact... mono flap. no issues with the flap being too long. the only time i run into trouble is riding in standard dressage saddles where the flap stops at my ankle.... so I have a short flap dressage saddle.

Edited to add that my inseam is 28" and the measurement on my saddle flap is 12.75 inches from top of stirrup bar to the bottom of the flap.

[Big_Grey_hunter]

You might want to try the vega saddle. It's a lovely balanced saddle, but the flaps are really short (too short for my long legs). I have a friend who has really short legs and the saddle works really well for her.

[UKYeventer]

I'm 5'1" with short legs and a very round pony. I absolutely love my Antares Monoflap. I feel very secure in it and can really get my leg on. My jump saddle is a 2AA and my dressage saddle (also Antares Monoflap) 1D. I tried every brand of saddle at Rolex a couple of years ago, after breaking my leg caused me to feel insecure while in my Prestige regular flap saddle. Antares was a perfect fit and they were great to work with!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=1&theater

[CarolinaGirl]

You buy my 0A flap Devoucoux chiberta lol. It's very oddly sized... 18.5 0A. Although that said I'm 5'7" and have had it for awhile, never caused me any problems. It just doesn't fit anything I've been riding... for a long time now.. I keep holding on to it hoping. I really need to let it go and get something else lol.
In said saddle: http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...2124_302_n.jpg

[Twisted River]

My 5'1" self fits the Albion Kontrol Flat quite well. I was unsure about the shallow seat at first but after jumping a few XC jumps I was sold.

As other posters, my real difficulty was with dressage saddles that came down to my ankles. Had to do a full custom dressage saddle with very short flaps .

[Snapdragon]

I'm just 5' with about 29" inseam and have a County Innovation with a short flap (12.5 inches from bottom of bar to end of flap). It's the first saddle I've owned that actually fit me, and I love it. Makes a big difference being able to have your leg actually ON the horse and not the saddle!

I recently looked at the Prestige Eventer at VTO Saddery, for a horse that my County doesn't fit too well, and it has really short flaps--sat in it but didn't ride in it though, so can't offer any advice about it riding-wise.

Every once in awhile, I see a saddle with short flaps on e-bay or the usual saddle-selling sites, so you might want to look there. I always laugh when people who are 3 or 4 inches taller than me think they are short! I'd kill (or at least slightly maim) for those few extra inches!

[ReveilleandRinsie]

I'm 5'0 with a 29 inseam too! I ride Collegiate saddles. The dressage flap is a little too long, but the jump saddle works fine so far. For jumping I have the Collegiate Diploma, and the dressage saddle is the Mentor.

That said, one of these days I would kill for short flap saddles. I need to play the lottery, I guess, because a custom Black Country or County isn't in my budget anytime soon.

And yes, I chuckle at people 5'2 or 5'3 saying they're short! They've got several inches on me, and they can reach those top shelves.

[SnicklefritzG]

I'm 5'4" and I ride in a Black Country Quantum. I love the balance and the location of the flap. It feels super secure.

[Blacktree]

I'm 5'0" and I love my County Stabilizer XTR. I also really like the County Innovation, that's on my wish list.

I have ridden a lot in a friends Prestige jump saddle, too, (not sure what model) and that fits me well.

Next I'm hoping to find a used County Connection dressage with a short flap, I've heard good things about how that fits the vertically challenged, haha. I currently have an older custom Schleese dressage saddle which I like a lot, but our mare isn't happy with it (despite a $650 adjustment/reflocking, ug). All of our horses adore my County jump saddle though, it's fabulous. If I can just find something they like as much in a dressage saddle, I'll be set!

[IrishDeclan]

I would suggest one of the Prestige models, either the Nona Garson or the Eventer. Several of the petite girls at my barn ride in one or the other. Another great thing is that they're fairly easy to come by and you can find them used at reasonable prices.

[StrawberryFields]

try the stubben juventus S model! they are made for smaller adult event riders/children. They have a shorter flat. I'm short too and I feel really secure in this saddle...plus you can prob find them used for a decent price

[StrawberryFields]

ive also ridden in the prestige eventer and liked it a lot as well.

[Meadow36]

I have a County Symmetry that I bought used with short flaps. I am 5'7" but I love a shorter, more forward flap. I absolutely love the thing. Great deals to be had on used saddles, keep your eye on ebay.

[Brigitte]

I was hoping jleegriffith would jump in on this thread. She has an awesome County. I believe it is the Conquest (perhaps with the Stabilizer seat?), but she had it made with high forward flap.

I got to ride in it while trying the Canter cutie I got from her. I'm 5' 1" on a good day and it was a perfect fit! The high forward flap is awesome for the stubby legged rider!

[Corky]

I have short pony-rider legs and my Prestige is a GREAT fit. I'd recommend looking at the Prestige Eventer model. The velcro knee/thigh blocks will help further as you can relocate them to suit your leg. For dressage saddles, I'm not too bad as I ride with a very long stirrup, but I doubt anything stock would fit right if it weren't for those velcro knee blocks. I have an Isabell with a larger-than-stock block that is up high and it fits me perfectly.

[NMK]

I'm 5' and struggled for years until I found a monoflap that fit me perfectly...it's a Chilberta but the point is, if you are short legged the monoflap makes a HUGE difference. My dressage saddle is a Richard Castelow with limited thigh blocking as many brands (including Prestige) just didnt' hit my short leg correctly. I was NOT a believer in the monoflap until I sat in one. What a difference.

Nancy