In accounting the greater than and less than sign in combination (<>) means “not equal to”. We use it in auditing and reconciling to show which trial balances do not equal the statements they are supposed to match up to.
YOUR SADDLE SEAT SIZE IS NOT EQUAL TO YOUR SELF WORTH, WEIGHT, ACCOMPLISHMENTS, ABILITY ETC.
Yes, I am shouting in ALL CAPS! Why? because I am a fired up red head and passionate about helping people! It is a first world epidemic in the barrel racing industry. We are bragging about these small sizes like we won a gold trophy buckle and it has to stop. This isn’t a horse world problem AT ALL, it seems to solely affect barrel racers. Jumpers and Cutters (I used these 2 disciplines as examples as they are disciplines that require as much, if not more security in the saddle) never consider a smaller seat size any kind of asset, accomplishment or something to brag about. These disciplines consistently ride in saddles that are 15.5, 16 and 17″.
This bizarre competition between barrel racers has to stop because a small number on the seat size is not going to help you beat the clock, odds are right now you are in too small of a saddle and it is probably hindering you.
The list of IMPORTANT things that are affected by an incorrect seat size or shape is long,
The number 1 human element to saddle size is based on YOUR ARM!
THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS TO LOOK AT WHEN CONSIDERING IF A SADDLE IS CORRECT:
1. Does the tree have the correct gullet width, angle/rocker of bars and width of channel to correctly fit your horses back and shoulders?
2. Does your Saddle align your Center of Balance with your horses Center of Balance?(This is Lesson 1 & 9 in the Take Time off the Clock Workshop). If it doesn’t, you have a MUCH rougher ride and your horse will be constantly counter balancing you, which affects forward momentum and soundness. It can cause your horse to travel disunited front from behind.
3. Does your saddle allow you to keep your hip, pelvis, pubic bone and tail bone in the proper neutral position, so you can draw from your core strength and keep from squeezing your legs unnecessarily, which puts you off balance?
4. Does your saddle provide enough “Trunk” for your “Junk”. Does the shape of the seat match your “behind” and is there enough of a pocket to hold the flesh & muscle tissue the good lord above has blessed you with?
Just like a number on a bathroom weigh scale or the size of your pants does not determine your strength of character or self worth, the size on your saddle isn’t anything other than a descriptive number. Stop putting any kind of value on that number coming down and start looking at the components that make up the saddle and match that to how your body and your horses body is made up.
If you have an emotional connection tied to any of these numbers, please find someone you can trust, and talk about that connection and work through it. As someone who had personal struggles with anorexia and bulimia, I understand the destructive psychology of the numbers on weight scale, clothes sizes, arm measurements if there is an unhealthy emotional connection to them, and it took a lot of good years from my life. I also understand the freedom of breaking through those destructive patterns and happily ride in a 15 inch saddle, on the hunt for something closer to a 16 to fit my body, my horse Dan’s center of balance, and make sure there is room in the “trunk” for my “junk”.
Sending with Love, Kindness and Knowledge,
