Close contact saddle - difficult to ride in at first?

[RoughcutDiamond]

Might sound like an odd question!

Considering saddle update for the boy - mentioned to Master Saddler in the autumn when he checked existing saddle and he recommended a close contact as probably the best option for the boy, me and what we want to do.

He said they are fabulous for feeling what's going on but warned I'd have to be prepared to learn to ride again in it! It was a pie-in-the-sky idea at the time so I didn't follow up but now may be in a position to do something about it and I'm wondering about people's experiences when moving from a GP toa close contact.....

Cheers

 

[sidesaddlegirl]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE close contact saddles! Apart from my side saddles, close contact saddles are all I ever had for my mare and for my loan horse that I had before.

I don't know about "learning to ride again", lol, I think if you have to do that, maybe your position wasn't so secure to begin with! I learned to ride in Canada and over in North America, you most often learn "hunt seat equitation" so you end up riding in one from the beginning.

The flat seats are great as you can feel your seat bones and I find, use your seat more effectively. I hate the feeling of being locked into place by deep seated saddles and I've done everything in mine (hacking, jumping, dressage).