If you've ever finished the long trail ride feeling like you've been sitting upon a brick for 3 hours, you possibly need to look into getting an english saddle seat saver. Let's be true for a second—no matter how very much we love our own horses or exactly how expensive our add is, some saddles just aren't built for all-day convenience. Whether you're breaking in the stiff brand-new leather seat or even looking to get a few more years from an older, thinning hair one, a seat saver can very literally save your backside.
It's one of all those small investments that makes a huge difference in your feelings the particular next morning. The majority of us spend so much time worrying regarding the horse's comfort—adjusting the flocking, checking out the tree size, and buying the fanciest pads—that all of us totally forget about our own. When you're stiff or even in pain, a person aren't riding your best anyway.
The Different Varieties You'll Run Straight into
When you begin purchasing for an english saddle seat saver, you're going in order to notice there are a few different "schools of thought" regarding materials. It's not simply about what feels soft in order to the touch; it's about how exactly that materials handles weight, chaffing, and heat.
Sheepskin: The Vintage Choice
There's grounds you see so many eventers and trail bikers using real sheepskin. It's incredibly breathable. People often believe sheepskin is just for winter, yet it actually assists regulate temperature within the summer as well. It wicks wetness away, which prevents that nasty "swampy" feeling after the hard schooling program. Plus, it simply looks traditional. If you get a high-quality medical-grade sheepskin saver, it provides a thick, plush buffer that doesn't flatten your following you lay on this.
Gel: Regarding High Impact
If you do a lot associated with sitting trot or you're jumping and need bit of extra shock absorption, solution is the way to go. Gel seat savers are usually much thinner than sheepskin, so that they don't change your "feel" associated with the horse just as much. They're great if you want to stay close to the saddle but need to get the advantage off the impact. Some brands make "orthopedic" variations specifically designed to help riders with lower back pain or coccyx issues.
Memory Polyurethane foam: Maximum Squish
Memory foam is the ultimate for immediate comfort and ease. When you first sit down, it feels incredible. However, a phrase of caution: foam tends to shrink over time. If you're going for memory polyurethane foam, make sure it's a high-density version. Otherwise, you'll discover that twenty minutes into the ride, the polyurethane foam has flattened to be able to nothing, and you're back to sitting down for the hard natural leather.
Why Your Saddle (and Your own Body) Will Say thanks to You
Besides the obvious "my bottom doesn't hurt" advantage, an english saddle seat saver in fact serves a double purpose. It safeguards your equipment.
Think regarding it—every time a person ride, the chaffing of your breeches, the salt from your sweat, as well as the grit from the industry are wearing throughout the seat of your saddle. Replacing the seat on a high-end English saddle is incredibly costly. It often involves a full strip-down with a master saddler. Putting a $60 to $100 saver on the top acts because a sacrificial layer. It takes the particular abuse so your expensive French or Italian leather doesn't have to.
Also, if you're riding in a saddle that's the bit too huge for you, the thicker sheepskin or foam saver can actually help "snug up" the match. It fills in that extra half-inch of space, assisting you stay more protected inside your position rather than sliding about in the seat.
Getting the particular Fit Right
The last thing you want is a seat saver that slides around while you're trying to post. Most english saddle seat savers connect with a combination associated with elastic straps and "pockets" that slide over the cantle and the pommel.
Before you buy, check the shape of your saddle. A deep-seat dressage saddle will be going to need another saver compared to a flat-seated close-contact jumping saddle. When the saver is actually small, it'll pull tight across the seat, creating the "trampoline" effect that will actually makes the saddle feel tougher. If it's as well big, it'll bunch up below your crotch, which is—to put it mildly—extremely unpleasant.
Most producers offer sizes like "Medium" (for 16. 5" to 17" saddles) and "Large" (for 17. 5" and up). When in doubt, go a little bigger. A person want the material to contour in to the deepest area of the seat rather than stretching across the particular top like a drum skin.
Upkeep and Longevity
If you move the sheepskin route, don't just toss it in the washer with your regular detergent. Genuine sheepskin has natural oils (lanolin) that keep the fibers soft. Harsh liquids will strip individuals oils, leaving the skin side frail and vulnerable to breaking. Use a particular sheepskin wash and let it air dry away from direct heat.
Gel savers are usually much lower servicing. Usually, you may just wipe all of them down with the damp cloth. Several have a nylon uppers cover that a person can toss within the wash, while some are "naked" gel that will sticks straight to the particular leather. If a person have a "naked" gel one, keep an eye on it in warm weather. You don't want the gel to get therefore warm that this leaves a residue on your saddle seat, though most contemporary versions are developed to avoid this particular.
Seeking All of them in the Show Ring?
It is a common question. In most cases, in the hunter/jumper world, seat savers really are a big no-no for that show ring. They're considered "unconventional tack. " Judges need the clean lines of the particular saddle.
In dressage, the particular rules are a little more specific, but usually, they aren't allowed in sanctioned competitions unless you have got a medical dispensation. However, for schooling shows or low-level events, nobody is usually going to care. And for trail riding, endurance, or simply hacking around the farm? Use whatever makes you comfortable. There's no prize to be the most unpleasant person in the particular arena.
Choosing What's Effectively for you
At the end of the time, picking an english saddle seat saver depends upon your particular needs. If you're a trail driver who spends four hours at the same time in the woods, opt for the thickest, fluffiest sheepskin you may find. The body can thank you around mile ten.
If you're the serious amateur athlete working on your sitting trot, a discreet gel saver might be much better. It'll give a person that bit of "stick" and shock absorption with out looking like you've strapped a cushion to your equine.
It's amusing the way you often watch comfort as a luxury in the equine world. We're taught to be tough, to "ride via it, " and to ignore minor aches. But honestly? Operating is supposed in order to be fun. When you're distracted by the fact that your saddle feels like a self applied device, you aren't focusing on your own horse's ears, your hand position, or your own leg aids.
Investing within an english saddle seat saver isn't "cheating" or becoming soft. It's just smart riding. Once you find one that fits your saddle and your using style, you'll possibly wonder why you spent so many years suffering alone. Give it a shot—your tailbone will certainly prefer the upgrade.