GP vs Jump saddle- how significant is the difference?

[QueenDee_]

I currently ride in a GP saddle however when checking the fit the other day, my saddler mentioned I may benefit more from a jump saddle as I am currently doing a lot of jumping/XC (Around 90cm) aiming to eventually event.

Being a bit of a dealer-type, albeit lovely, I shrugged this suggestion off at the time thinking he was just after another sale, however I have been wondering whether having a jump saddle rather than a GP would significantly benefit me. Although I'm fairly comfortable jumping him in the GP, any shorter and my knees would be over the blocks. As a 17.1hh TB he is also a big striding horse, so I was wondering whether a jump saddle would give me more stability all round.

What do you think? Obviously the ideal would be for me to try one out and see, but I was wondering whether those of you who have transitioned from GP to jump have found a significant enough benefit to justify the larger price tag?

 

[FfionWinnie]

Love mine. Wouldn't have a GP for all the tea in China!

 

[meesha]

My jump saddle is very comfy and lovely knee rolls and thigh blocks have saved my bacon many times!

 

[TheHairyOne]

Love mine. Wouldn't have a GP for all the tea in China!

This! I will never have a GP again given any choice in it at all. And my jump saddle is no where near as good as my friends crazy expensive one either which is a dream to ride in. Mines just nice.

 

[DirectorFury]

Love mine. Wouldn't have a GP for all the tea in China!

^ Yup. Hate GPs, they're pointless.

 

[muckypony]

GP = Generally Pointless

 

[Goldenstar]

I won't jump in GP saddles .
It's just so different it's hard to describe .

 

[Illusion100]

I'll ride in any saddle and do whatever in it, I just jiggle things around a bit to get as comfy as I can but personally I own dressage or jumping saddles, not a GP.

 

[Cragrat]

I had GP's for years, and scoffed at the idea that a jump saddle would make that much difference. I then got a jump saddle for my sons horse, which I also ride, and was very impressed.
So a few years later, I asked the saddle fitter to bring some jump saddles for my horse. The first one I tried,I was very happy with, so was the horse, and I would happily have bought it. But the fitter made me try a second saddle (same price) and and difference was amazing. It fitted me so much better, whilst still fitting the horse. It has honestly improved our jumping hugely, not least because I feel so secure in it. And it isn't a huge blocked, monoflap, top of the range fancy model. It has traditional flaps, short girth straps- nothing fancy to look at a all. It is simply the right shape and size for us both, with a neat but effective block in exactly the right place. I totally love it!

 

[TBB]

I have used a Gp saddle for about 20 years (a Berney). I have hunted, evented, done dressage, showing, working hunter and show jumped up to 1.40m. love it. I have also ridden in many different jumping saddles and wouldn't swap my Gp for any of them but maybe they made them better back then?

 

[Illusion100]

I have used a Gp saddle for about 20 years (a Berney). I have hunted, evented, done dressage, showing, working hunter and show jumped up to 1.40m. love it. I have also ridden in many different jumping saddles and wouldn't swap my Gp for any of them but maybe they made them better back then?

Yes, they did make GP's better back then imo. My fav is an Ideal GP but is cut much more like a jump saddle. It's easy to do flatwork in as well, just drop the stirrups a bit and sit more in a dressage position, simples!

Not come across a 'modern' GP like it, but my saddle is at least 30 yrs old so might be closer to the stamp of old GP you have....

 

[kassieg]

I would rather dressage in a jump than jump in a gp & did for a season eventing

I now have a dressage as well which has made a huge difference to my dressage & my scores !

If you can afford it i would get a dressage & jump

 

[Red-1]

Hate GPs. Nasty for dressage and nasty to jump in.

When I could only afford one saddle we did our eventing in a XC saddle. That included in top hat and tails at Burgie and Blair. I would rather have one good XC saddle than anything else.

That being said Jay does not fit the nice Xc saddles. He has to have a dressage tree with forward flaps. It is awful! But, do I have a lovely saddle with an unhappy horse or a happy horse and nasty saddle? Well, Jay comes first, of course :-(

 

[Joyous70]

Yes, they did make GP's better back then imo. My fav is an Ideal GP but is cut much more like a jump saddle. It's easy to do flatwork in as well, just drop the stirrups a bit and sit more in a dressage position, simples!

Not come across a 'modern' GP like it, but my saddle is at least 30 yrs old so might be closer to the stamp of old GP you have....

I have just bought an Ideal Grandee for my girl, although its classed as a GP, its forward cut with a flat seat and square cantle, we are only just starting out with our jumping so small fences 2'3" max at the moment, but so far it seems to have made a big difference for us over our practice fences, at first i felt a little unstable as the seat doesn't hold me in, but have found it to be very comfy and have now realised that i can move over fences with her and our canter transitions have improved due to the flatter seat, i am no longer sitting to deep when asking