Everyday riding in a jumping saddle?

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MeganMarie

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Hi,
So as title says really can you do like flatwork/hacking/everyday riding in a jumping saddle?
we recently had the saddle fitter out and the saddle we were given with our horse wasn't the best fit for him, as it rocked on his back, and the saddle fitter said it wouldn't do him much harm in the short term but in the long term it wouldn't do him any good. It was a gp saddle (don't know what brand or anything).
My discipline is showjumping, up to a decent height and our saddle fitter said you'd be better off with a jumping saddle (I want one anyway, haha) so he's ordering one for us. But anyway I've read that some people say you can't do flatwork or hacking in a jumping saddle but some say you can? So what's your opinion? Because I don't really want to use the gp for when I school and the jumping for just jumping, as the gp is ill-fitting on him! But we cannot afford to buy this jumping saddle and another for everyday/schooling. So will it be alright to use the jumping for everything? I am just showjumping, but I don't exactly jump every single day, so I need to school aswell.
 
I ride all mine in jumping saddles. Your fine to do everything in them but they do sit you in a shorter more collected sort of seat ( as they are meant too) but isn't ideal if you want to do 'proper' dressage because it is hard to get a good deep seat in them like for dressage. So if you don't intend on doing loads of dressage they are fine to exercise in x
 
I use to ride in one all the time for about 2.5 years. It wasn't until I rode something else and in a different saddle did I realise how uncomfortable I found it, even though horse was happy! I guess as long as you and horse are both comfortable, and your aim is showjumping long term it won't do any harm
 
I think it will probably depend on the type of jumping saddle. I believe that the close contact ones are probably not the best to ride in every day for hacking. Have you asked the saddle fitter you are buying from?
 
I've schooled and hacked in my jumping saddle. It's less comfortable than my dressage saddle (cheaper synthetic one!), but it's definitely do-able :)
 
Better to afford one really good, well fitting saddle that is comfortable for both you and the horse than 2 less well fitting ones. And it's better to school and hack in a jumping saddle than to try to jump in one that's too straight cut. I'm sure you'll be fine with just a jumping saddle!
 
I've competed up to unaff elementary dressage with my Jefferies Falcon event saddle! Now I have a Wintec as I managed to trade in my horrible prize saddle that I won and got the new Isabell as a straight swap! Now I am waiting till my horse is back to normal following injury before I can get the saddle fitter out to readjust it after its 'settling down' period.

I hack in my Jefferiies it, jump in it, school in it, fun ride in it, XC in it, le trec in it. In fact I do everything in it!
 
Years ago I had a really expensive jumping saddle for my mare, and didn't have a GP or dressage saddle that fit. I'd spent all my pennies on the jumping saddle because show jumping was my thing then. I used to hack in it too, and when I started to become interested in dressage, I took her up to elementary level in my jumping saddle! A bit embarrassing, I guess, but we were never penalised and often placed. Then I invested in a nice dressage saddle and sadly my mare did a tendon and we never got to compete in it. :(
 
I do everything in my jumping saddle but I bought a synthetic dressage saddle for flatwork as I really needed to feel secure riding longer (I only have very short legs).
 
I ride in a Bates close contact jump saddle for everything, My mum rides in a GP (she doesn't jump) She borrowed my saddle the other day and absolutely loved it! She now wants one herself to just hack and school in!
 
Mainly rider preference, but also if it's a close contact foam panelled saddle you will want to use at least a sheepskin or similar under it for longer rides, they're not designed for sitting fully in for long periods of time. And if so make sure it is fitted to accommodate such a pad :). Flat seated GP saddles can often be a better compromise but if you really like the forward flaps and the bars aren't too far forwards for you to be able to school, then go for it. I often have beginner eventers to fit for and advise starting out with a jump saddle, if they get up the grades then they buy a dressage saddle and are fully kitted out instead of having to trade a GP in.
 
sbloom said:
Mainly rider preference, but also if it's a close contact foam panelled saddle you will want to use at least a sheepskin or similar under it for longer rides, they're not designed for sitting fully in for long periods of time.
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Had never thought about this!!! I only have a jumping saddle (didn't see the point in having 2 saddles for a showjumper!). My poor horse!
 
I use a jumping saddle for everything, but recently I keep using my other horse's GP for flatwork on my ISH. I just feel so much better in a secure, deep seat for flatwork, nicest thing I've jumped in but just not "comfy" enough to sit up and school easily. I need a nice comfy dressage saddle for flat! but then I'd feel like I had to do more dressage and that's a scary thought :D
 
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