Jumping in a working hunter saddle?

[Oldenfelle]

Hi all, I'm getting a saddle hopefully this weekend from the Native Pony Saddle Company, have been recommended the traditional working hunter and M&M GP.

I prefer the look of the working hunter, but it's noted to be for hacking, showing and dressage.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I don't know about that saddle in particular but a WH saddle *should* be suitable for jumping - that's what WHs do.

 

[sandi_84]

My sister had a WH saddle and it was very supportive for jumping and it had big knee rolls

 

[Oldenfelle]

I’m just concerned I’ll be going for looks rather than security. They have another working hunter that is noted for general purpose riding, however this was not mentioned as a possible saddle to try on him.

 

[Kikke]

Hi all, I'm getting a saddle hopefully this weekend from the Native Pony Saddle Company, have been recommended the traditional working hunter and M&M GP.

I prefer the look of the working hunter, but it's noted to be for hacking, showing and dressage.

I have the tamar WH from native pony SC, and do everything in it. Very comfy.
No problem jumping in it as WH do jump the saddle works really well. The only small disadvantage is tat it is fair straight cut, to show off te shoulder when doing the WH show part, so my stirrups can't be cross country short. But it has big kneeblocks that you can replace with even bigger ones if wanted to nice and secure!
Who is coming out to fit you?

 

[FfionWinnie]

I have a wh type saddle and I cannot get my stirrups short enough to have a decent jumping position. I really stuffed up choosing the saddle. Its fine other than that! I have long legs tho.

 

[marley and danni]

i have a working hunter saddle and i jumped a course of meter jumps tonight i have brilliant security

it took a few jump sessions to get used to it but i couldnt go back to my GP now xx

 

[MileAMinute]

If you think of working hunter classes, some of those jumps are ruddy high!

However I'm in the process of hopefully buying a Farrington WH for my boy, and it looks very straight cut. Don't think I'll be able to hitch my stirrups up jockey style, but should be ok otherwise.

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

I had a Farrington WH and I jumped okay in it as had others. If you ride jockey length or are a serious jumper then it isn't the saddle for you, but if you are wanting a saddle that will cover you for most eventualities then it will be fine - I would chose a good WH over a GP any day.

 

[Oldenfelle]

Huge thanks for the replies. My main aim is showing with the horse but he seems to enjoy jumping so I do try to force myself to break up his activities
I will have a good ride in both hopefully. Just have to remind myself that anything is going to feel better than his show saddle now, as I can’t stay in it for love nor money if he does any unexpected movements!!! Maybe I need a good suede seat and sticky jodhpurs.

 

[Kikke]

Huge thanks for the replies. My main aim is showing with the horse but he seems to enjoy jumping so I do try to force myself to break up his activities
I will have a good ride in both hopefully. Just have to remind myself that anything is going to feel better than his show saddle now, as I can’t stay in it for love nor money if he does any unexpected movements!!! Maybe I need a good suede seat and sticky jodhpurs.

Well you will be able to get either saddle with a suede seat if you want to and either of them you will be able to try them for a week. So plenty of time to get a good feel for it, I tried 2 diff end ones GP and WH before I decided and they are very helpfull, do you know who will be fitting?

 

[MileAMinute]

I had a Farrington WH and I jumped okay in it as had others. If you ride jockey length or are a serious jumper then it isn't the saddle for you, but if you are wanting a saddle that will cover you for most eventualities then it will be fine - I would chose a good WH over a GP any day.

Ooh thanks for that! (Sorry for slightly hijacking, OP, but very useful to know)

 

[Suzie G]

I had a Farrington WH and I jumped okay in it as had others. If you ride jockey length or are a serious jumper then it isn't the saddle for you, but if you are wanting a saddle that will cover you for most eventualities then it will be fine - I would chose a good WH over a GP any day.

This exactly. Our last saddle was wh and was lovely to do a bit of everything but it was too straight cut to do serious jumping and my daughter struggled to get a correct leg position when jumping.

 

[sbloom]

I have the tamar WH from native pony SC, and do everything in it. Very comfy.
No problem jumping in it as WH do jump the saddle works really well. The only small disadvantage is tat it is fair straight cut, to show off te shoulder when doing the WH show part, so my stirrups can't be cross country short. But it has big kneeblocks that you can replace with even bigger ones if wanted to nice and secure!
Who is coming out to fit you?

Yours is from Saddle Exchange and is a Pony Saddle Company saddle, not a Native Pony, and although they make saddles branded "Native Pony", the OP may be talking about the company I work for who are Native Pony & Cob Saddles. As usual, sorry for the confusion, we are waiting for the courts to try and sort this mess out.

Some customers are perfectly happy and comfortable jumping quite decent heights in WH saddles, and it will depend on the exact cut. Many people do refer to the M&M when selling them as WH saddles so it's all a judgement call .

Some models fit some ponies, others don't, so I expect those that have been mentioned to you have a suitable tree for your shape of horse or pony, or go with what you have said you like in a saddle.

Any bench made saddle maker like us (including companies like Ideal, Black Country, Frank Baines etc) can make a saddle with a suede seat and knee pads . With full seats though some people find the effect rather too much like velcro

 

[redheadkelj]

I evented for 15 years in my working hunter saddle. Best saddle I've ever had!

 

[Kikke]

Yours is from Saddle Exchange and is a Pony Saddle Company saddle, not a Native Pony, and although they make saddles branded "Native Pony", the OP may be talking about the company I work for who are Native Pony & Cob Saddles. As usual, sorry for the confusion, we are waiting for the courts to try and sort this mess out.

I am well aware, thank you.
Main reason I have theirs if because the service was so much better!
First I just wanted a well fitted saddle didn't care to much who fitted it but can't beat ginny and dean, sorry

 

[sbloom]

You're perfectly entitled to your opinion, glad you had a good experience, I just wanted to clear up what you said about it being a Native Pony saddle, it isn't.

 

[NicolaC]

I have a Native Pony saddle fitted by Sbloom and the service I recieved was brilliant. I have The Lux working hunter saddle and I found this to be a little bit more foward cut then the others and very comfy to jump in. I am used to a close contact jumping saddle but wanted an all round saddle for my Show Cob. Sbloom spent ages with me a Dora making sure we had the perfect saddle. Wouldn't go anywhere else. xx

 

[celticdiamond]

I have a bespoke WH saddle with small knee rolls for my connie, been 3ft6 xc in it, done WH up to 1m and jumped 1m20 in it, it definitely gave me good balance! Recently upgraded got a jumping saddle as my legs grew and I needed more stability with shorter stirrups, but use my WH saddle for WH classes and flatwork. Depends on what height jumping you want to do and how long your legs are!