Albion saddle, long legs and jumping position....

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redmerl

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I have wanted an Albion jump saddle for ages and have finally tried one, and there just doesn't seam to be anywhere for my legs to go. Has anyone else found this?
My friend says it is due to my rubbish jumping position and that I should be sticking my toes out and pushing my knees up into the thigh blocks? Then the saddle should feel better.
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Not sure what to do now, do I buy a saddle that doesn't feel secure and try to ride in a position that feels alien to me now, or get something I feel comfy in? (Also in SY)
 
I have an albion, and although I don't suffer with long legs I find it pretty comfy. I have to jack my stirrups up about 4 holes from my hacking length in order to get my knees up enough - which feels pretty weird to start with - but I think its just because I'm not used to the short stirrups!!

I know from looking at pics that putting them up this much makes my jumping position look a bit better and I don't have such long dangly legs in the photos now, even though I'd always thought they were short enough before
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It is secure though, those blocks really do keep you in the saddle if you have a stop.
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I had an Albion Kontrol - worse thing for my horse and my riding EVER. Its taken a long time to restablish my position, it gave me showjumper lower legs (ones that swing right back) tipping me forward on landing - awful.
DONT DO IT

That said there are alot of people out there who love them..
 
The saddle I had is a very secure Stubben and Im happy to jump anything in that, but it doesn't fit horsey. So I'm jumping ATM in a wintec GP (how crazy am I?
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My Tb can be a total nutter and feeling secure is very important to me. I always thought when you sit in the right saddle you just know its for you, but since I have been told my position is the problem and not saddle I am all confused (and doubting my self).

T_R-this is a kontrol too.
 
Albion make very good saddles, but that doesn't mean an Albion will fit you. I have an Albion GP, it is an 18 inch saddle, but I am very tall and have long legs. If I jacked the stirrups up for jumping, my knees would disappear over the knee roll because it just doesn't fit me well enough. It is fine for normal hacking length and I don't like to ride short.

You need to try a different saddle, there are loads of manufacturers out there, Albion is not the only one worth having.
 
Ditto what Train_Robber says!.I had the same issue. We all spend vast amounts of time and money getting saddles to fit the horse and not enough checking that the saddle shape/brand/style is right for the riders conformation. If you are not happy with it, get the saddler who sold it to you to exchange it for something else.
 
Standard albion SJ saddles just don't have enough knee roll for me due to my long legs. I have a selecta but have to use the XC pads in order to have my stirrups short enough without losing them over the knee rolls. GPs are a nightmare as if I put my stirrups at proper jumping length I am always over the knee roll. I actually failed an exam partially because my stirrups were too long for the jumping. I made the argument that any shorter and my legs would be over the saddle pushing my heels in and toes out making my position worse but apparently that wasn't a viable excuse!!

Anyway back to OP by the sounds the jump saddle you have tried will simply not take your length of leg, you need to be looking at even more forward cut saddles whether that me an XC Albion or otherwise will depend on you and your horse. I would try out a selection and see what fits you and horse best (can you take horse to saddler?).
 
I think I am going to have to try lots and pick the best one, had my heart set on the Albion.

A friend saw a Fusion saddle at Your horse live and said they were really nice, as good as the better known makes. I wanted 2nd hand as I'm watching the pennies and wanted to buy a DR saddle after Xmas.

I really hate being tall and having stupidly long legs, they are really not made for riding
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I have fairly long legs and like to ride fairly short for XC.

My Albion Legend (predecessor of the Kontact) is great - loads of room for my knees so I never go off the front.

Not comfortable for riding with longer stirrups though - they have to be jumping length.
 
I didnt get on with my albion at all. I had the K2 jump. It was far to bulky and I only felt comfortable when my stirrups were super short. However I brought it anyway because like you I had my heart set on one.
It ended up giving my horse a really bad back and it drove me crazy because I couldnt ride in it unless my knees were up round my ear holes, even hacking length my legs were sticking forwards like I was sitting in an arm chair.
Ive just brought a black country jump saddle now and thats much better, fits my horse like a glove and it doesnt have the blocks like the k2 had so i can move round a lot more. I can have my stirrups really short or a little longer for hacking/flatwork and its much more comfey.
Dont make the same mistake as me and buy something thats not suitable just because its what you 'think' you want! Try lots of different types of jump saddles (the ideal impala is nice) and you'll find one thats best for you
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I have an Albion Kontrol Flat and i love it !! I got the forward cut flap b/c i have long legs, i'm 5'10'' my position got better b/c i got a better trianer and my aids seem better and my horse is 10 times happier!! i would post a photo but i don't have a photo at this time to show you!! If you feel like you're fighting the saddle i don't know where you're located in the uk or what but riding styles in europe and UK are very different to USA. USA is very light on the horses back and in europe and UK are typically on the horses back all the time except for over fences. Stirupp length matters too and how much you're off the horses' back. USA flat stirupp length is 2 longer than the jumping stirupp length, as you move up then u might shorten 1 or 2 more but, again it's all up to you. I recommend Albion, others that i like are Pariani(never have ridden in but like they're opitions and variety), Black Country and 1 or 2 other brands.
everyone has their own opinion and experinces!!!
 
Firewell said:
I didnt get on with my albion at all. I had the K2 jump. It was far to bulky and I only felt comfortable when my stirrups were super short. However I brought it anyway because like you I had my heart set on one.
It ended up giving my horse a really bad back and it drove me crazy because I couldnt ride in it unless my knees were up round my ear holes, even hacking length my legs were sticking forwards like I was sitting in an arm chair.
Dont make the same mistake as me and buy something thats not suitable just because its what you 'think' you want! Try lots of different types of jump saddles
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This exactly. I wanted one because I thought it was nice but I found it very uncomfortable after a while and it gave my horse a bad back (even though it was fitted by a master saddler and looked at by another fitter). Sold it on after about 3 weeks and got a Farrington.
 
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