Anyone else struggle riding/jumping in a jump saddle?!

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Horses24-7

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for the past few years ive mainly focused on dressage so rode in a Fairfax gareth for a couple of years. Recently I've bought a new horse to get back into eventing and gain confidence again jumping. Horse has done bs for 3 years so came with a jump saddle - thought nothing of it and found I dont feel as secure jumping as I used to and assumed due to rider fitness due to injury break. But... saddle fitter been today and I've tried a couple of event saddle - older falcon and ideal and oh my lord I feel sooo much more secure and able to ride!

What do people find are the advantages of a true jump saddle? Do you get used to it and then it aids you're riding/jumping? I tried 4 different jumps today and all made me feel like I was perched on a bit of cardboard with no knee support?
 
Surely it just has to be the "right" jump saddle. I can't stand calf blocks, and I like a certain feel of seat and knee block. Some saddles are torture, mine are lovely (for me, anyway!).
 
I def prefer my dressage saddle and I am more secure in it. My jump saddle isn’t uncomfortable though, it just doesn’t hold my legs as well, but the one I have does feel more secure though. I tried a fairfax the other day and I really felt very perched and insecure. Shame as I like the straighter panels.
 
Depends entirely on the saddle and what you are used to. I have a new horse (4 months) and he is now in an older Albion GP, it is very comfy at the moment as we're not jumping yet and is the first time I have ridden in a GP for a very long time (almost 20yrs?). My now retired horse had the same jump saddle for 13yrs, also v comfy but not in the same way as the GP as it has a flatter seat, I do feel slightly more secure in the GP. I expect I will need to adjust to riding in a jump saddle again once I get one for the new boy. You can get jump saddles with a deeper seat and bigger blocks if you find the close contact too hard/flat and insecure.
 
Jump saddles can put people in very strange positions, you really have to find one that suits you.

Do you really need a jump saddle? If you are happy and secure in an event saddle then that is what I would be using unless you can get to try a few different brands. Some of the more traditionally made jumping saddles have a very different feel to the continental type close contact saddles.

Since you liked your fairfax dressage saddle, have you tried a fairfax jump?
 
Yes i struggle too, i have a comfy gp i can jump in now but previously always jumped in my dressage saddle just put the stirrups up a bit (even went BE in a dressage saddle a few years ago!) But a proper jumping saddle i just cant get on with.
 
Everyone's different, I would warn against deep seated GPs for jumping though, as you jump bigger tracks it will get in the way, it's the reason jump saddles have, on average, flatter seats. I'm glad I have GPs in the same fit, as riders with shorter legs, or needing less support, jump better in them than in the jump saddles, often as not. Never feel you "should" have a certain style of saddle (I have a blog post planned at some point on this).
 
Thank you for all you're thoughts- what sort of height do people tend to sj up to before needing a true jump saddle? The one I'm riding in at the moment is an ideal event saddle - I dont jump any bigger than 1m ?
 
sbloom said:
Everyone's different, I would warn against deep seated GPs for jumping though, as you jump bigger tracks it will get in the way, it's the reason jump saddles have, on average, flatter seats. I'm glad I have GPs in the same fit, as riders with shorter legs, or needing less support, jump better in them than in the jump saddles, often as not. Never feel you "should" have a certain style of saddle (I have a blog post planned at some point on this).
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Thank you- I'm 5.3 so think I just feel lost in the jumps saddles I've tried. Might get saving now and then once I have enough funds for something new try lots of different types- what would you class as a big track?
 
I would put you in a 16.5, so few companies carry them but it's the size I fit most of. Bigger tracks is all relative, everyone is different I'm afraid. I have some customers jump open workers courses (3'6") in very straight cut showing saddles...rather them than me! I would say a neat flat seated GP would be better for that for most people, though many plaited classes would now feature mostly jump saddles to be fair.
 
I love my jump saddle, it's an older style K&M and it's not the prettiest thing in the world but it keeps me very secure. I think as others above have said, you've just not found the right saddle for you yet.

Annoyingly, my jump saddle isn't actually as good a fit to my mare as I would like, she generally goes better in Albions so I will at some point be changing my jump saddle. As far as jump height goes, I really don't jump big at all, but as my mare has quite a big movement over the fence, I feel the jump saddle is still required
 
What size were the jump saddles you rode in? I'm 5ft, and ride in a 16 inch saddle...

When I try hubbys 17.5, I feel like I can't ride at all..

Fiona
 
I am 5'7 too, and a 17.5 fits fine.

I actually feel a lot safer in a close contact jump saddle as opposed to a gp for jumping. I am closer to the horse and the padding is above my thigh, so if I grip on I don't rotate over the knee.

I feel safer in my dressage saddle than a gp too. It is a Equipe Emporio and again it has more padding high up so I don't rotate over the knee.

My last jump saddle was an Equipe but strangely I didn't feel safe in that one at all - even though the horse loved it. Trainer also liked it and person who has been jumping for me liked it well enough too, but somehow it did not fit me.

I think sometimes you have to just try a selection. I got some through Sheepham Saddles, so I had them for the best part of a week to trial and make sure me and her were both happy.
 
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