Re: Stirrups too far forward on many English saddles

[CSimmons99@aol.com]

FYI:  There are adjustable stirrup bars and changeable girthing arrangements
out there.  You are correct it makes posting much harder if stirrup bars are
hung to far forward for your length of thigh or discipline of riding.  The
Paragon & Marathon saddles came out years ago with a nice wide panel for the
horse and a lightly padded seat for the rider but the stirrup bar was to far
forward for the shorter thighed rider to have their leg under them.

A friend has an Andy Foster custom "English trail/dressage" saddle.  She is 5'
with very short thigh.  She has ridden for 25 years with her legs to far
forward and was amazed at how much less work posting was when your leg isn't
so far forward.

Andy added small thigh blocks as her horse has suspension dressage people work
for and he has been known on frequent occasions to duck/spin/buck in one move
(usually on her up post..!).  The girth system is easily angled also.  CS