Jump vs. GP saddle – is there really that much of a difference?

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Jingleballs

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I have be swithering about getting a jumping saddle for a couple of years now.

My jumping position has never been great – my leg always tended to swing back when I jumped and I struggled to push my bum towards the back of the saddle because of the shape of the seat in my gp and a few people including and instructor had commented that jumping in the gp would always make things more difficult.

I did get the saddler out last year to try some SJ saddles – didn’t like the K&M one because I didn’t feel secure in it and felt like I was about to slide of the side of it. We tried several other jump saddles too but I didn’t really feel they made a difference although most of them weren’t the correct size and it was just really to give me a feel for them. Pony also didn’t respond well to the K&M saddle and seemed to find it a bit uncomfortable although again it wasn’t really fitted correctly to him so hard to tell. In the end, as a compromise, I ended up getting some jump blocks ordered for my GP saddle and that has made a difference and my leg does seem a bit more secure.

I’ve now saved enough money that I could afford to buy myself a jumping saddle – I’m specifically looking at the Thorowgood T8 because all my other saddles are thorowgood and I know they suit my horse and also are fully adjustable as he does change size a lot (I now have a collection of Wide, Medium wide and medium gullets and will probably use them all at some point this year!)

So my question to those of you who have experience in jumping in both is does it really make that much of a difference? We don’t jump big – the heady heights of 80–90 cm’s is about as exciting as it gets for us so perhaps it would be a waste of money at that level?

Or would I still feel a difference and get a benefit even over small fences?
 
I'd say yes. I swapped from a GP to specific jump saddle a couple of years ago and wish I had done it sooner. It definately marked a point where my jumping position improved, as did my confidence at jumping beacuse of this.

I will say though that any saddle, jumping or GP, needs to fit you for you to get the benefit. I had a lovely jump saddle for my mare that she went beautifully in, I couldn't ride in it and it put me in a bad position. When I finally figured out what I wanted from a jump saddle, flattish seat and small blocks, I noticed a big difference. Try a few different ones if you can.
 
Thanks Scarlett! That's useful to know - I've always been reluctant to blame the saddle for my poor position and it's now gotten lots better through practice and using the jumping blocks but going XC at the weekend I did feel a bit insecure at points and at one point my whole right leg was in front of the saddle flap!

Think I might give the saddler a call to discuss some options - as I say, it needs to be adjustable as my boy will change shape so often which does limit my choices significantly!
 
I used a Stubben Siegfried VSS for years - it is a gp saddle with more of a jumping lean to it - forward cut flaps but keeping the deeper seat. I competed at grand prix showjumping level in it and absolutely loved it. Very secure and I was able to shorten my stirrups right up to jump larger jumps. I always felt that gp saddles had the stirrup bars in the wrong place when I rode short in them and felt all over the place.
 
huge difference, Lucinda Green calls them General Purposelessness iirc.
You can do dressage in a jump saddle, no problems really, what you can't do is get a really good jumping position in a GP, esp if you are long in the thigh - if you get your stirrups short enough your knees will come over the front of the knee rolls.
 
kerilli said:
huge difference, Lucinda Green calls them General Purposelessness iirc.
You can do dressage in a jump saddle, no problems really, what you can't do is get a really good jumping position in a GP, esp if you are long in the thigh - if you get your stirrups short enough your knees will come over the front of the knee rolls.
Click to expand...

Thanks Kerilli & Wench.

Really is something to consider then. As I say, my leg position is better than it was but I fell that with the position of the stirrup bars, when I shorten the stirrups there seems to be a lot of swing if that makes sense and I find it hard to get my leg in contact with the horse and keep it steady!

These pic from the weekend perhaps shows how close my knees are to the front of the knee roll (and also demonstrate my awful jumping position!)

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pageId=100&id=161975

http://www.peak-photo.co.uk/index.php?pageId=100&id=161977
 
I hope Im remembering the right little horse here so correct me if I am wrong as I frequently am but doesnt your coblet have quite big shoulders and had issues with his saddle moving due to this?

Reason im pointing it out is that jump saddles are more forwards cut and this could interfere with his shoulder if placed where they should rightly go.

Im riding a big shouldered welsh at the minute and I've noticed that if the saddle isnt well hack from his shoulders (WH saddle) then it impedes his jumping and his general way of going and saddler who fitted this saddle said the above, major thing with cobs, the big shoulders.

Sorry if I have the wrong person and wrong horse :0
 
Asyouwish - it may well be my boy your thinking about. He has rather large shoulders and a pretty large range of shoulder movement and does not like any restriction in that area or his strides will become short and choppy and he's reluctant to pick up his shoulders over a jump.

Last time I tried jump saddles this is how he reacted to the k&m saddle.

There is a fitter near me that has a pressure pad to test the pressure points under the saddle so we can keep an eye on this.

She'd also advised that some k&m saddles can be ordered with shorter point which might suit my boy.

It may well be my lad just isn't happy in such a forward cut saddle but think I'll have another bash at trying to find something that works for us.
 
I found it made a big difference and really helped my lower leg stay in a better place moving from GP to jump saddle. Although K&M are pretty much a leather Thorowgood, so not sure how much you would get on with the T8 if you didn't like the K&M? Although may feel different somehow... I do like my K&M, it is very forward cut, has nice wide panels for horse and the adjustability has definitely come in handy!

Good luck finding something that suits him and you. :)
 
I have just bought a jump saddle but had redl trouble getting one which allowed enough movement for my big shouldered ned. I found someone who has made me saddle with jump flaps to fit me but the saddle flaps underneath are made more like a dressage saddle (ie cut back) to allow for his rather exuberant jump/ trot/ canter!
 
I find my gp puts me in a very good position to jump :o. I'm quite short though so that might be why, although willing to be corrected by some one with better knowledge.
 
I have a Stuben CTD GP VSS and find it fits like a glove. I can ride as short as i like on a horse i am confident with....the knee rolls are plenty....and yet i can ride longer on a horse i am less confident with too and still get a deep seat if i want one. I've never had apure jumping saddle....ever....but that's not to say all GP saddles are good for jumping in. OH has a Kieffer GP and i can't jump jack in that as my knees come out the front even when i'm riding long.
 
I found the change from a GP to a jump saddle helped me loads. Big shoulders dont rule out a jump saddle just limit your choice slightly!
My Arab has big shoulders and a very round barrel and he has an old Albion XC saddle. My big lad also has huge shoulders and he has a farrington event saddle. Both are jump cut but without being either hugely blocky or totally flat, a good middle road!
 
I cannot jump in a GP ( hould be NP - no purpose!!) saddle - for my height my hip to knee is quite long so knees hang over GP knee rolls. I used to use an old Albion XC saddle on my retired horse, which was very forward cut with a flat seat and square cantle, and it really worked - felt very secure. At the moment have a newer Albion XC saddle and it fits horse but I'm not as happy with it - not so forward cut and has knee blocks that cannot be adjusted. Would never use a GP saddle except for hacking as they are a bit comfier than jumping saddles!
 
I changed from a GP to a jump as my legs hung over the end in jumping position and my horse hated it

I find even my flatwork has greatly improved in it too
I feel very secure in it and hate riding in anything else!!

My horse has huge shoulders and is very sensitive so got an ideal impala pro monoflap as the blocks are on top leaving his shoulder free to move :D
 
Thanks for all your comments!

FJ – I know you’re a bit fan of the K&M but I just didn’t feel secure in it – that said, I rode in it for all for 5 minutes and it is hard to tell in such a short space of time whether or not the saddle is right for you! I’m hoping that perhaps the T8 isn’t quite as forward cut as the K&M although they probably are pretty similar!

Sugarpuff – it sounds like m2m are the best options for big shouldered/big moving horses – budget won’t stretch that far just yet though so I may just have to keep saving!

Asyouwish – no not offended at all – nice to know my boy has an admirer!! :) I know that Thorowgood do cob versions of their saddle but I don’t think they do a cob jumping saddle – maybe they should start as it sounds like there is a market for it!

Dafthoss – I have quite long legs and I’m not sure if this is part of the problem – when I shorten my stirrups my knees are almost over the front of the saddle!

Rambo – it does really seem to depend on the make and model doesn’t it! Maybe there are other GP saddle out there that it might also be worth me considering!

Ecrozier – thanks for the saddle suggestions – my other limitation is adjustability though – if I got an Albion saddle for example it would probably only fit him for a few months of the year before he changed shape again!

Soupdragon71 – I agree on the NP comment – I initially intended us to be dressage diva’s and found my gp useless for flatwork as I couldn’t get my leg in the right position – now I’m realising that it’s just as useless for jumping!


Kirsty+Java – will have a look at the Impala – it’s over budget and again not adjustable but worth considering!
 
I have a long thigh, and on my young horse my jumping position looks appauling. My leg is pushed back quite a lot, because otherwise my knee overhangs the knee rolls. I tend to ride quite short too, and I dont think this helps particularly. She's got a GP saddle, but I cant afford to change it.
On my other horse I do everything in my jump saddle (Bates), which is fairly forward cut and I don't have the problem at all. I regularly do flatwork in it at home too.
 
Omg massive difference, I was in the same boat till last year when I bought my lovely Albion Kontact Lite and has made a massive difference, keeps my legs in a much better position and feel so much more secure
Totally converted to jump saddles now, and now believe that GP saddles should be NP (no purpose) saddles!!
 
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