can a showing saddle be used for everyday work?

[PonyWoes]

I do adore the look of the "Ramsay" ideal show saddle, would it be suitable for daily use?

http://www.teamramsay.co.uk/saddle.html

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

If it fits both of you, and is made of english leather then there is no reason why any type of riding saddle can't be used!

 

[PonyWoes]

for £900 plus, i would hope its english leather! and yes it would be professionally fitted.

 

[NW1]

i had this saddle for my horse and i really liked it. it has practically no knee rolls, cantle and the flattest seat. you feel very close to the horse & thyat why judges like the saddle. my saddler said that if you dont mind riding in a dresage saddle with no knee rolls you will not mind the ramsay.

If you are comforable riding in it then there no reason why you cant ride in it every day.

Its just only good for schooling because you have no grip or hold, if the horse is going to ping around (jumping or fast hacking etc), it can be done but there is literally no saddle to hold you in place.

Also a brand spanky new saddle will stand out in the show ring when the judge comes to ride, where a saddle been used every day (even though good care has been taken of it) will still not be as good.

 

[SNORKEY]

Hi, I had my Ramsey show saddle for about 10years and I loved it. I used it for jumping, hacking etc, I only jumped upto about 3ft and it was fine for this.

Unfortunately due to very bad siatica in my back and legs I had to change to a different saddle.

But id say go ahead and buy it, if you dont get on with it your be able to sell it on easy.

 

[humblepie]

Yes you can but until it went in our tack room break in, I used to use a more GP type saddle for hacking out just because it gives you a bit more security. I use the show saddle all the time now.

 

[Abbeygale]

If it fits both of you, and is made of english leather then there is no reason why any type of riding saddle can't be used!

Why does it need to be made of English leather?? My 3 synthetic saddles range between 18 months old to about 6/7 years old. All are in immaculate condition, and are used regularly (although I won't claim to be riding daily at this time of year!).

OP - our pony has a show saddle as her only saddle, and she does everything in it. It wasn't anywhere near the money that your talking about, but still looks in excellent condition. It was the saddle that fitted her - so that was the one we had


Re pinging about - my Arab boy was broken in the same show saddle - it fitted, so therefore it was used... He was chief tigger of all tiggers there are... And I think you do get more accustomed to it. Although the seat is very flat (especially compared to my dr saddles!!) and no knee rolls (compared to my big knee rolls on my dr saddle) I didn't feel insecure or like I was coming out the side door when my boy did his whipping round and bouncing routine

 

[PonyWoes]

I dont show, i just like the saddle.

I school, hack, with some canter and gallop, and jump up to 2ft3, maximum, as i'm a bit of a big girls blouse.

 

[sbloom]

To me that particular model is borderline - any thinner in the panel and it really isn't ideal for everyday use, the panel is too thin to really protect the horse's back from the rider's weight on the tree. I see the effects of these ultra close contact saddles on horses' and ponies' backs all the time. They often fit too low at the back as well.

I only fit saddles that have a slightly deeper panel all the way through but especially a deeper rear gusset. It is much more important to look after your horse's back, and to have a great saddle that allows them to move really well, than to plump for the most minimal saddle possible.

Not all saddles should really be ridden in every day - some makers of very minimal saddles have even been known to advise clients to only use them in the show ring, though they do not seem to be consistent in this advice!

 

[Brambridge04]

I simply like the straightness and style. i will find out more....

 

[sbloom]

I simply like the straightness and style. i will find out more....

There are other showing saddles, especially working hunter saddles, plus minimalist dressage saddles, that may suit and would be much kinder on the horse, though as I say that particular saddle is slightly more "padded" than some. I see horses transformed from the RIGHT showing saddle.

 

[cob&onion]

I have a farrington WH saddle for my cob, lovely saddle and fits us both well. Its very straight cut though so wouldn't like to do jumping/very fast work in it!

 

[AMW]

I use an Ideal suede WH saddle every day. Its quite straight with no knee rolls. Its the comfiest saddle I have had. It is suede but I got it off ebay and didn't pay new price for it so not too 'precious' about it.
My daughter had the suede Marjory and used it every day as it was the only saddle that fitted her horse properly

 

[RedRum13]

I use my show saddle for daily work... its fab! But when they start assing around you have nothing to hold you in... so really improves your balance too haha! As long as you and the horse are comfortable then why the hell not!

 

[katastrophykat]

mine both have them (show saddles) now... i rode in an event saddle for years, and it was a hell of a shock when i got my D his first show saddle!!! i think i rode sat bolt upright and terrified for a week i now have a derby house Samber and it has a bit more in the way of knee rolls, but not much!

the three year old has just been bought his first one, he'll be backed and ridden away in it.

i gallop, jump and hack daily in mine- and go XC and have hunted in it! i dare say when the baby gets his first event saddle ill feel locked in to it, im rather looking forward to that!

 

[Cazza525]

yes! I have 3 fylde saddles and also a native pony company saddle. All are used on a day to day basis as well as in the ring. I just buy ride on saddle covers to protect them and the suede.

 

[Sparkles]

I love show saddles. I use one for everyday use.

I'm crazy enough to even go XC in them.

 

[rolsterlady]

I loved the look of the Farrington WH saddle, had it fitted and found it very comfortable at first.

However, when i started to do faster work, jumping and when my horse got 'silly' i wouldn't feel very secure in it at all and actually lost quite a lot of confidence! Recently changed the saddle to a Farrington GP and i'm enjoying my riding so much more.

Depends on your horse - I wouldnt recommend a show saddle for everyday riding if you have a horse who is known to throw a buck, for example!

I think it is much more important to have a saddle you feel safe in than to have one that looks good.

If you feel comfy in it - go for it! It is a lovely looking saddle

 

[simplyhunting]

Im guilty of backing nearly all of mine in show saddles, the proper old ones with absolutely no knee roll or comfy seats! Purely because I grew up riding in these, and don't like a saddle that 'locks' you in esp on babies as if anything goes wrong i'd rather not get caught up in the saddle. Happily schooled my would-be pointer in one as he didn't like too much round his shoulders, sj/xc you name it, regularly hunted in them too. Never had a problem, think it teaches you to sit better rather then relying a little on the saddle to support you too much.

 

[madgeymoo]

Another vote for ideal saddles they are by far the comfest saddle i have ever rode in i to looked into buying a ramsey (these made by ideal) for the VSD customised and made with lessknee roll and got rid of the thigh roll it still gives you more secruity yet the straightness of a show saddle... http://www.idealsaddle.com/catalogue/saddle/9

i use mine for everything from showing, dressage, everyday use and also jump in it =)

MOST off the "producers saddles" such as flyde and ramsey are made on an ideal tree with the stamp of the producer added

 

[whirlwind]

Haven't read all the replies so may be repeating, but if you like the straight cut styles, have a look at working hunter saddle, or a vsd? Slightly more in the way of knee rolls ect, but still looks neat. I ride my fell in one both for everyday/ hunting/ jumping ect and showing/ working hunter and do fine in it.

 

[dumpling]

Ive used mine got every day stuff. I jumped a course in it and have hacked out. I actually hate riding in a 'normal' saddle now. However I bought a Wintec for hacking as I didn't want to get my showing saddle dirty! Or wear the suede away.

 

[alphanumeric]

My reply may be biased (given that I keep my horse on a showing yard) but we all ride daily in showing saddles - most are Ramsays - and do everything in them, hacking, jumping, hooleying around Windsor Park, hunting, starting baby ponies etc... I must admit, once you are used to them, it feels very odd to ride in anything else. I do have (what I would consider) a very forward cut jumping saddle (another Ideal) but our saddler has reliably informed me that it is merely a GP of some sort - clearly this is what 15 years of riding in show saddles does to you . I do use the jumping saddle for jumping/hunting/XC, although I will happily jump in my show saddle and did for years, now that we are asking bigger questions of the beast I am often grateful of having a little more in the way of "clinging on" capabilities . However I can heartily recommend Ideal Ramsays, they are fabulously comfy and wonderful!

 

[sbloom]

MOST off the "producers saddles" such as flyde and ramsey are made on an ideal tree with the stamp of the producer added

I'm not sure that's true - Ideal make some Fylde models but not most of them, I have no idea which trees the other showing saddle specialists use - Ideal saddles are acutally on Walsall Riding trees which all other makers can buy so of course some may be on them. The Ramsay is a model made by Ideal, not a make. Fylde also do rebadge some Ideal saddles like the Jessica dressage saddle.

To me this is nothing to do with trees (obviously you need to choose the right tree for your horse, and showing trees tend to be fairly flat), nor the rider, who can choose to ride in any saddle they please. It is about the horse's comfort first and foremost. When I fit a saddle I will always make sure that the horse is protected from the rider's weight on the tree, and that is why I fit the models I do, and no others. If you saw the damage done, as I do....

 

[GinaGeo]

I'd be a little concerned, as sbloom says about the lack of panel. I wouldn't want to be in the saddle for long periods of time, such as a long hack for fear of hurting my horses back. Personally, I'd look for a saddle with a bit more about it. Or have another saddle for everyday use, and just use the close contact saddle for light schooling and showing.

 

[Louis]

Actually ideal do make most of the fylde ranges. A well fitting saddle even a close contact is preferable to many saddles and a large number have Ramsays as their only saddle, so i would not be worried about it. Many saddlers will produce a Ramsay look alike with a different panel anyway if needed.

 

[sbloom]

I'd have absolutely no issue with a Ramsay on a deeper panel, but then that's not the Ramsay we're talking about I guess. And I know plenty of producers who do all sorts of things with various saddles, and I'm the one that has to come in when the pony's back is bad. Those dips or flat spots you see where the rear panel sits are damaged muscle from an ill fitting saddle, which includes a lack of support from the panel.

Here is an example, and this was caused by a very thin panel show saddle which was cantle low as well but fitted by a showing saddle expert, and the pony won at the top level, and the saddle fitter kept saying it was fine. It's now moving MUCH better and the physio thoroughly approves of the new saddle, even though the owner initially did think it was "too much saddle" for her tastes:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb29/volatishurakan/Rearpaneldamage.jpg

Sorry for the quality - camera phone in low light. You do see more mild versions of this all the time in the show ring.

And this seems to say that Ideal make only two Fylde models but I'm no expert on the subject:

http://www.idealsaddle.com/catalogue/category/8