Saddle Fit and the Heavier Rider

All riders and horses will benefit from a correctly fitted saddle. However heavier riders I am referring here to women weighing 180plus pounds and men weighing 250plus pounds often face a different set of challenges in finding a saddle that fits themselves as well as their horses.
Fitting Saddle to Rider
It is important that the saddle fits the rider first. No matter how well the saddle fits the horse if the rider is not comfortable their discomfort will always translate to the horse. This limits both the horse and rider in attaining optimum performance. 

Obviously a balanced rider has a better chance of not impacting the horse negatively. To determine whether youre balanced in your saddle sit in the saddle on a saddle stand with the saddle facing backward. Have a friend take a picture and then ask yourself these four questions
Is there the same amount of saddle flap and seat in front of and behind your leg?
Does the flap length end four to seven inches below your kneecap?
When viewed at a threequarter angle does your leg hang flush with the flap or do your knee and toe turn out to the side?
Are you balanced on your seat bones so that your shoulders hips and heels are naturally aligned without help and do you feel your seat bones without pressure in the crotch?
The riders gender leg length leg position hip articulation hip circumference and weight are all variables that need to be considered when fitting a saddle to the rider. Here is a brief outline of some general ridersaddle fit points to look at
Seat size to accommodate the riders buttocks.
Seat width the width of the saddle beneath the seat bones to accommodate the width of the seat bones.
Seat waist the seaming in the crotch area which generally needs to be wider for women than for men.
Stirrup bar placement which must allow the riders leg to hang down so that the ear shoulder hip and heel are in alignment. Many women typically need extended stirrup bars to accommodate the fact that their upper leg is usually longer than their lower leg.
Twist the area of the saddle between the upper inner thighs which may need to be narrower to accommodate the hip articulation and angle of the hip socket in heavier riders with thicker thighs.
Seat foam which should improve comfort and help support the riders sea
Too Small for the Rider
If a heavier rider