Jumping in a dressage saddle - would you?

[only_me]

Would you?

I like to finish dressage schooling sessions with a pop over a jump to finish on a happy note (horse hates schooling esp. in arena) and usually do so in the dressage saddle.

People seem to think im odd in doing so, i have jumped a round of jumps and thought nothing of it in a dressage saddle, not really much difference to jumping imo.

Do you, would you and have you jumped in dressage saddle?

 

[TarrSteps]

Depends a great deal on the saddle. I had a super flat, no knee rolls one and while it wasn't great to jump in, it wasn't dangerously awful. But the modern ones with the big "bull fighter" knee rolls would give me more pause - it's impossible to get your leg in a secure jumping position in them and if something did happen I'd be concerned about rider safety and horse comfort. To pop a little jump, it probably doesn't really matter, so long as you feel safe, secure and able to ride the horse properly.

 

[bigboyrocky]

i have popped tiny fences (nothing biger than 3') and wasnt too bad, but it doesnt give you ANY security in your lower leg!

was funnyyy... but i wouldnt want to do it on a regular basis

 

[OldGit]

You guys are all worried about the knee rolls, I'd be worried about the pommel

 

[bigboyrocky]

LOL

 

[H_J]

Yes ive done this quite a bit

My dressage saddle is quite flat i hate those big knee rolls in all the more modern saddles

 

[worMy]

i dont see a problem in it.. but i wouldnt like to do it because i would hate it..
especially as my new albion as fair sized blocks...
i hate hacking in them,,let alone jumping!!!!

 

[BronsonNutter]

A woman off my yard used to event round intros (and I think PN a few times?) in her dressage saddle.
Brave or crazy? I don't know...

 

[diggerbez]

[ QUOTE ]
A woman off my yard used to event round intros (and I think PN a few times?) in her dressage saddle.
Brave or crazy? I don't know...

[/ QUOTE ]

is that even allowed?!!

personally no, but thats because my leg position is crap anyway and i need as much help as i can get

 

[millitiger]

i have jumped in a dressage saddle on a few occasions.

whilst not exactly the most comfortable experience, it wasn't dangerous and i doubt the horse even noticed!

 

[PaddyMonty]

When I jump the OH's dressage horses I have to jump them in dressage saddles, thats all they have. Never really found a problem but only jumping up to 3ft.

 

[AutumnRose]

I've popped the odd fence in my dressage saddle, similar to you in that its often at the end of a schooling session.

I don't really like it though as it feels a bit weird so i wouldn't choose to jump in one in general.

 

[Divasmum]

My daughter does.

 

[becky_morrish]

I'm hopeless in it. My leg flies backwards and i end up in a heap on their necks. If they were to put their heads down i'd be off!

 

[KatB]

Yep have done, thouigh not the greatest experience

Used to jump a cob who only had a dressage saddle, and used to do some really decent grids on him!!

That was a bit scary on occasion, but not the end of the world

My dr saddle now is a close contact one, but does have decent knee rolls on it, and the stirrup bars are set back so it would be difficult, and madam would jump me off I think!

 

[*hic*]

As someone who has never ridden in a "proper jumping saddle" but has happily jumped up to 4'6" in an old fashioned GP saddle I'm fascinated by these answers.

Those who wouldn't dream of jumping in a dressage saddle do you ever jump without stirrups or bareback?

 

[becky_morrish]

yep and don't seem to have an issue (nor do i in a gp saddle). Maybe its coz i'm expecting it to be hard i make it that way?!

 

[vallin]

For a long time I only had a dressage saddle and I would happily show jump and do XC in it. Never had any problems other than getting a few odd looks!

 

[CrazyZebra]

[ QUOTE ]
As someone who has never ridden in a "proper jumping saddle" but has happily jumped up to 4'6" in an old fashioned GP saddle I'm fascinated by these answers.

Those who wouldn't dream of jumping in a dressage saddle do you ever jump without stirrups or bareback?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would prefer to jump without stirrups or bareback than in the dressage saddle my horse had, as the saddle would be very restrictive when jumping. The old flat saddles/no saddle might be less secure but at least they don't prevent you from taking up some sort of jumping position (not that my jumping position is much good

)

 

[Halfstep]

I jump in my dressage saddle but not anything very big. But I'll pop a few poles at the end of a session if they are up in the school. Nothing over 1m though, my saddle is too deep seated and has big blocks.

 

[jules89]

ditto Halfstep

 

[Lolo]

When A tried Ellie out she rode her in the dressage saddle, jumped her and was totally underwhelemed by E's jump and really did expect Ellie to only be a gapstop whilst finding a 'proper' pony. Jumped her again in her GP (also never owned anything other than a GP or dressage, and that wasn't ours!) and Ellie was way more scopey and A fell entirely in love. Think she found her dressage saddle restricted the way she rode into fences...

 

[_jetset_]

I also jump in my dressage saddles, but like others have said not huge

I took one horse around Somerford Park in her dressage saddle and you should have seen the bruises on my knees from the knee blocks

 

[scrumpygus]

I only use my dressage saddle at home for everything and even when xc schooling - i hate my riding position in my gp saddle and it annoys me riding in it at shows and events. If i could ride in my dressage saddle all the time for everything i would.

 

[ecrozier]

For the first year I had J I had the showing saddle he came with and jumped in that, I then went to a VSD (he's awkward to fit GP/jump saddles to as is very round with big shoulders) and only changed that when Richard Waygood told me at a XC clinic that I needed to really for jumping off drops etc as there was no support for my knee. So yes I would jump in a dressage saddle, but I di now prefer my Albion XC saddle! I also jumped a friend's mare in her totally flat dressage saddle the other day. First jump was a little hair raising as I'm not technically supposed to be jumping at all and said mare is rather keen on taking a flyer, but second and third were ok!

 

[Mickyjoe]

Agree a huge amount depends on the saddle.

I have an old fashioned Berney dressage saddle that is quite flat and I have popped the odd jump in it, however I also have Freidi Roosli and Ainsley dressage saddles and wouldn't dream of jumping in them as the knee blocks would be too restrictive and would make the whole thing too uncomfortable.
Also there is always the danger that they might decide it's very exciting and take a huge jump followed by a buck even over a little crosspole!!!

 

[Sol]

Done up to about 3'3 in a dressage saddle... never really argued as it wasn't my horse! Didn't have a problem, though it was a flatter saddle so no huge knee rolls to contend with.
I don't have a problem with popping over sort of 2'6, 2'9 in my dressage saddle, find it almost helps to keep my stirrups fairly long & reminds me to keep my heels down!

Not sure if I'd choose to go XC in it, but would if I had to.

 

[clairencappelli]

I have jumped a 5 bar gate in my dressgae saddle and reguarly jumped upto 3ft in it but it was a flat wintec so wasnt restrcitve.

I now have an ideal suzannah and i used to jump my old horse upto 2ft6 in it if i wanted to pop few fences but wouldnt want to jump bigge rin it becuase it has a deep seat and huge knee blocks.

I wouldnt even try in my new horse becuase she has LOADS of jump and although the saddle fits its not the best fit and i wouldnt trust it to stay put even if she didnt go for a big jump at times.

 

[Dark_Knight]

Helped out with a charity calander shoot a few years ago, was asked to take dressage saddle to the shoot, they wanted "topless" dressage, in a top hat, but when I got there it had been changed to topless jumping so ended up jumping 3'6 in dressage saddle, boots, breeches, hat and stock, I was the lucky one alot of the blokes eneded up wearing much less..........

 

[Mickyjoe]

[ QUOTE ]
Helped out with a charity calander shoot a few years ago, was asked to take dressage saddle to the shoot, they wanted "topless" dressage, in a top hat, but when I got there it had been changed to topless jumping so ended up jumping 3'6 in dressage saddle, boots, breeches, hat and stock, I was the lucky one alot of the blokes eneded up wearing much less..........

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm so glad you said bloke!!!

I was thinking you would be very much missing the old sports bra otherwise!!!