horseback riding and hip pain

by edie devens
(shaftsbury, vt)

Hi-
I am a saddle fitter, and I am very interested in learning more about human hip and pelvis anatomy with regards to finding saddles that are correct and comfortable for the rider. I have a belief that the current trend for dressage riders to straddle a very wide bodied horse, while trying to drop their leg straight down puts a lot of torque on the hip joint. Do you think that the length of the femoral neck is the significant factor in helping a rider find the correct seat and leg position, or are there other anatomical considerations?
Thank you very much

Edie Devens
Trumbull Mountain Tack Shop