Male Vs Female Pelvis

When I made the first Amazone back in 2003 I researched the male and women pelvic systems and how they can be affected when riding. The anatomy of a woman including their lower back, pelvis and thighs are constructed differently to a man. Men and women will tend to have different physical difficulties when learning to ride, and it follows that riding techniques which work for men don't always work for women; sometimes causing discomfort and harming women in certain areas.

The hip sockets, lower back and seat bones of male and females function differently in the saddle. A man's anatomical construction makes sitting trot and sitting canter easier for him than for a female rider. So since the majority of saddles are "male" saddles, it then seems that women are at a disadvantage only due to their own physical attributes and by the features that need to be available that aren't in a stock standard model of a saddle.

Saddles are generally built wider in the crotch area and narrower in the seat, which suit a male pelvis but not a woman's'. A saddle for a woman needs to be narrow in the crotch area and wider in the seat.

One question I get from clients is, 'If all of this is true then why can top female riders have the ability to win GOLD in a saddle built for men?" My answer to this is, riders who are at that top level of competing can compensate these features with their talent.

When it comes to position of the rider, it is easier for a man to rest the inner surface of his thigh flat against the saddle since the hip sockets face more to the front than in women. Women's thighbones tend to slant in from hips to knees. In a saddle built for women the stirrup bars need to be placed differently to a saddle built for a man.

Ten years ago I invented the Amazone. The first female friendly saddle, there are now many saddle models out in the market place, however not only do you need the correct saddle for the rider but you also need a saddle that FITS and can be adjusted with competency, knowledge and experience in saddle fitting and saddle manufacturing.

Riders are becoming more acute when buying a saddle. They understand more about the horse's anatomy, read more articles, see more shocking revelations and want to know more about saddles and saddle fitting. As a saddler and saddle fitter, I am transparent in these truths and ensure that there is truth to my facts as it is important for everyone to be able to rider PAIN FREE.