Close Contact Saddles - Every day use

[Becki1802]

My current GP/Jump saddle isn't fitting my horse... whilst waiting for the saddler my Yard Owner has leant me one of his old close contact Stubben saddles (dual flap). I was amazed to find that not only did it fit my horse better it really helped my position and reduced my awful tendency to lose my lower leg stability over a fence causing it to wildly swing back - something I have been criticised for for years!

For some reason, from a previous saddle fitting, I was under the impression that CC saddles were not suitable / recommended for every day use. I have never had one so I never questioned this and I can't find an answer online as to why. Is this a myth? Have I been misinformed?

Of course I will be having an appropriately qualified saddler out and will be discussing all this with them and trying out various saddles. But just want to be educated!

 

[monkeymad]

I ride out everyday in my close contact jumping saddle. I don' t see how it can be detrimental to the horse unless it doesn't fit. I think maybe because close contact saddles don,t have any padding/massive knee rolls, some people find them uncomfortable to ride out in for longer periods.

 

[tallyho!]

Love anything that gets me closer to the horse. Really don't like anything that lifts me off the back like a chair.

 

[Goldenstar]

My horses hunt and are ridden sometimes for over five hours in their mono flaps .
Usually they have no other saddle some have dressage saddles but they don't use them much in the winter .
Of course as with any saddle they have to be an appropriate shape for the horse must fit well and be in the correct balance .

 

[Tnavas]

Once upon a time ALL saddles were close contact and we rarely had the problems of fitting saddles as we do today.

With the deep seat saddles and their massive gussets which move and compress mean that they go out of alignment and no longer fit, putting pressure where there shouldn't be any
.

 

[tallyho!]

Once upon a time ALL saddles were close contact and we rarely had the problems of fitting saddles as we do today.

With the deep seat saddles and their massive gussets which move and compress mean that they go out of alignment and no longer fit, putting pressure where there shouldn't be any
.

Yes I don't know why saddles got so beefy?

 

[Tnavas]

Yes I don't know why saddles got so beefy?

Because everyone went for the Deep Seat saddle!

I had a beautiful Bates Caprilli for my horse and had nothing but trouble with it - the panels were so deep that they lost their shape every time the packing settled, then the horses spine rubbed in the channel directly under the riders seat. Finally sold it and got a far less beefy saddle.

Fits far better

 

[Becki1802]

Thanks guys. I know that my current saddle needs changing as far "too beefy" for me & the horse!!! As I say I will be having a reputable saddler to help me.

The only thing I found that backed up that you shouldn't use them all the time... Just wondered if you had an thoughts!!

Source: http://www.idealsaddle.com/pages/choosing-your-saddle

"The term ‘Close Contact’ has passed into popular parlance and may require some explanation. Whilst ‘close contact’ between horse and rider is desirable from a rider’s perspective, the ability of the panel to spread the rider’s weight throughout the contact patch is lessened by the amount of absorption material available in ‘close contact’ panels.

In our view, ‘close contact’ panels should be restricted to flat seat competition saddles, where the rider is only using the saddle for a short period of time, unless weight distribution is not an issue, as in the case of show ponies with light weight riders."

 

[tallyho!]

Thanks guys. I know that my current saddle needs changing as far "too beefy" for me & the horse!!! As I say I will be having a reputable saddler to help me.

The only thing I found that backed up that you shouldn't use them all the time... Just wondered if you had an thoughts!!

Source: http://www.idealsaddle.com/pages/choosing-your-saddle

I have lots of thoughts.... most of them are completely useless

First thought.... sales-led. New saddles are these "beefy" things with panels and cantles and pommels that tickle yer nose. No one really wants wafer thin leather stuck together with wool anymore. People want adjustable, cair, flair, nair, air etc etc... with removable block n rolls and nineteen straps just to make it fit.

Second thought.... sales-led. How long do they think people spend in saddles? Of course horses have also changed such a lot since the 1980s....I forgot about that.

Third thought....sales-led. Did I mention that already? Not that I have anything against progress. On the contrary!!

Tee hee.

 

[Fides]

I wouldn't ride in anything else now...

 

[Meandtheboys]

I wouldn't ride in anything else now...

Me too.............I love my CC

 

[PolarSkye]

We've been looking for a new jump saddle for Kal and have concluded that what will suit him (and his jockey) best is a close contact, monoflap . . . get her as close to him as she can get . . . to paraphrase her she wants a racing saddle with knee rolls .

P

 

[Becki1802]

Thank you for the replies. I feel much better about getting a close contact and that I will not be doing something horrendous to my poor horses back! Lets hope we find a reasonably priced one that fits both me and the horse!!

 

[EmmaB]

I just sold my old jump saddle that cost £400 and bought a cheap second hand close contact and it feels SO much better to jump in, the lack of knee rolls has made a massive difference, I have the same problem with lower leg swinging back and although still working on it, its much easier to keep it forward and still in this new saddle!

 

[Copperpot]

I only have a monoflap saddle. Ideal Impala Pro so I have to do everything in it.

 

[Fides]

I would love an ideal patriot but don't have £1500 so am making do with a shires Olympus puissance - it's super comfy and I do really like it but it doesn't have the exposed knee blocks of
The patriot.,.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would love an ideal patriot but don't have £1500 so am making do with a shires Olympus puissance - it's super comfy and I do really like it but it doesn't have the exposed knee blocks of
The patriot.,.

The patriots are great and cheap when viewed against others .
Just got another on Wednesday that makes six.
Fatty now has two a lean mean hunting machine saddle and a summer saddle .

 

[soloequestrian]

Have a look at the Balance International page - they have some very interesting thoughts on saddle design.

 

[EventingMum]

I agree the Patriots are great, you get the best of both worlds with them - a close contact saddle with flocking which gives a degree of adjustment in their fit. Many close contact saddles have foam/latex panels which some people think are unforgiving for the horses back. As there is no adjustment many people use half pads under them which then slightly defeats the point of them being close contact.

Fides, you probably already know that the Ideal Impala is Ideal's take on the Patriot so if you are looking for second hand they might be worth looking at as second hand Patriots are like hen's teeth.

 

[Becki1802]

I agree the Patriots are great, you get the best of both worlds with them - a close contact saddle with flocking which gives a degree of adjustment in their fit. Many close contact saddles have foam/latex panels which some people think are unforgiving for the horses back. As there is no adjustment many people use half pads under them which then slightly defeats the point of them being close contact.

I've seen a few that CC that state they are wool flocked rather than foam. Is this the (or at least part of) difference as to whether you can use it as an everyday saddle?
My girlie is sore from her old saddle and the last thing I want to do is make it worse.

Gutting thing is current saddle was brand new 12 months ago!! Little did I know that big comfy knee rolls would become my enemy!!

 

[*sprinkles*]

I nearly always ride both my horses in a close contact saddle. I broke my youngster in one with a monoflap as I didn't want to be mucking about with adjusting the girth under a flap with a nervous baby and I like the closeness and feel like it gives me a much more secure position to sit on a jumpy youngster. My big horse gets ridden in his dressage saddle for lessons/more serious work etc but if I'm just hacking out or tootling round I prefer the close contact. I never heard about not being able to use it regularly? I can't really think why?

 

[Auslander]

We've been looking for a new jump saddle for Kal and have concluded that what will suit him (and his jockey) best is a close contact, monoflap . . . get her as close to him as she can get . . . to paraphrase her she wants a racing saddle with knee rolls .

P

I know I made suggestions on Facebook - but that comment about racing saddles made me think! Have you looked at lightweight cross-country saddles? That's what WFPs horses wore cross-country when I worked for him, and they were pretty much racing saddles with knee rolls!

 

[EventingMum]

That's the argument I've heard and I like have the option of adjusting them slightly. Ours actually have Flair (which can't be fitted to non flocked saddles) but that opens up yet another argument! It's like everything else you'll get some people saying their horse has never have a problem and others who say it will cause harm. If your horse is likely to change shape I would definitely go for a flocked saddle over a latex/ foam panel cc saddle.

 

[Tnavas]

Thanks guys. I know that my current saddle needs changing as far "too beefy" for me & the horse!!! As I say I will be having a reputable saddler to help me.

The only thing I found that backed up that you shouldn't use them all the time... Just wondered if you had an thoughts!!

Source: http://www.idealsaddle.com/pages/choosing-your-saddle

"The term ‘Close Contact’ has passed into popular parlance and may require some explanation. Whilst ‘close contact’ between horse and rider is desirable from a rider’s perspective, the ability of the panel to spread the rider’s weight throughout the contact patch is lessened by the amount of absorption material available in ‘close contact’ panels.

In our view, ‘close contact’ panels should be restricted to flat seat competition saddles, where the rider is only using the saddle for a short period of time, unless weight distribution is not an issue, as in the case of show ponies with light weight riders."


This statement is so stupid and one of the reason behind why we have so many horses with uncomfortable fitting saddles.

Deep beefy panels cause so many problems as they compress to such a degree that they don't remain on either side of the horses spine.

A question - that I hope you will all go and do next time you ride

How many of you take off all numnahs, half pads, risers etc and see how your saddle is fitting. If not visibly down on your horses wither go and ride for 15 mins as it is in walk, trot and canter, then take it off and look on the underside at the grease patches that have been left.

While you're riding see if you notice any difference in your horses movement.

Recently I was watching my young horse work with her new owner, and was so disappointed to see that she was not moving forward well and was tight through her back. I tried to get the new owner to try her without all the packing she had under the saddle but she wouldn't. Then I asked if she had a dressage saddle - she did and we went and changed it and I also had her ride without numnahs etc. She was surprised to find that the horse was moving better.

We then went back and tried the other saddle again with no numnahs. She rode for only a few minutes as she realised the the saddle was infact hard down on the horses wither.

Numnahs may lift a saddle but the rigidity of the tree is still in effect just reduced.

When weather and grazing conditions adversely affect the condition of the horse it is important to check the fit of a saddle on a regular basis - eg weekly, minus all the extras that you've put under the saddle.


Contrary to the initial statement, close contact saddles are far easier and more comfortable for the horse.