Jumping saddle for natives?

[i-love-wellies]

Hi All

So I just wanted to see if anyone has experience with jumping saddle fitting. Under advice of the backman I recently changed my gp saddle for my flat witherd short backed connemara. His old saddle was a tiny bit long and very heavy so I wanted something ligher and shorter. The problem is im a 5ft5 adult so for me to have a shorter saddle I need something forward cut as straight cut just doesnt fit me on a pony. I got a forward cut de Guarda close contract jumping saddle but when I brought it home i felt that it was catching his shoulder so i exchanged it for a gp/jump in the same brand which is a bout half an inch less forward cut. The lengh 17 is good on him (I know 17 sounds long but its pretty short) but im still unsure about the forward cut th i think the point oough this may just be as i've never tried to fit a jump before. I think the point of the tree is 3 fingers back from his shoulder blade and he seems fine to ride but im still not totally sure as the flap on the saddle is i think on his shoulder a little but it looks the same when i put it on a 16.2 horse. Im hoping to get a saddler out but can't afford it for a few weeks. So basiacally i just wanted to see if anyone has any experience using jump saddles on natives.... fitting my lag is harder as hes a bit fat at the moment due to being off work so hes basiacally just a sausage he doesnt go in anywhere,also the saddle is brand new so the leather is a little hard.

 

[chestnut cob]

Have you had a saddle fitter out to look at it?

 

[i-love-wellies]

Not yet as I said im hoping to get someone out after payday so in about 10 days,just dont wanna do any damage with this saddle as I traded in his old one so its all I have to ride in.

Chestnut cob this is the same pony with the canter problem, so don't wanna add to the issues with a saddle that blocking his shoulder, he's the same in this saddle as the old one with changing behind coming back to trot. To be honest i dont think the last saddle was causing the problem anyway but it neded to be changed to a ligher one regardless.

 

[sbloom]

The shoulder being blocked is often much more about the tree fit than where the flap is - after all the flap isn't rigid, and unless the shoulder blade is prominent, and with a narrower shape behind it, I don't have a problem putting a jump flap on most natives. The tree has to be very flat, and with short backs the jump saddle can sit further bac. I have just ordered two jump saddles, one for a NF and one for a Connie, and to fit taller riders I have gone for a plain panel, no gusset below the cantle, which makes the foot print much shorter but means a larger seat and, in standard stock saddles, a larger flap as well.

 

[MyDogIsAnIdiot]

I've got a Kent & Masters Monoflap Jump for my XWide flat-backed Sec D and it fits her perfectly. It's built on their cob tree and uses the shorter S-bars. They don't make them anymore and they don't come up for sale second hand often, and when they do you're looking at £600-£700.

It might be worth looking at the Thorowgood T4/T8 Jump (same tree but lighter than the full leather) and the Kent & Masters Jump (but the standard one, not the S Series as that's a different tree).

 

[LCH611]

my daughter has a Hastilow Concept Jumping saddle on her hard-to-fit connie

 

[AAR]

I have an Equipe Pony Jumping saddle for my 15hh Connemara. I am just of 5ft and have huge problems with saddle flaps/knee rolls not in the right position and a children's jumping saddle was the way forward.

Pony is pretty short backed, my saddle is 16.5" and med-wide and seems to fit him fine. (I don't do saddle fitters.)

 

[Foxford]

I have a Jeffries Elite jump saddle on my table-top! The tree suited his barrel shape.

 

[Madali]

I have an Albion K2 or one Welsh D and a Pessoa on the other

 

[foxy1]

I have recently bought one of the new style fairfax jumping saddles and I'm really impressed with it, lovely quality. I read on their website about the testing they have done; their new split panel design frees the shoulder and they were able to show the improved technique over a fence same horse, different saddles. They have a changeable gullet too which is really handy for the ever expanding youngster!

 

[Old Bat]

We have a Fairfax jump on our flat withered wide backed connie cross and it works a treat. Sadly the cheaper Kent and Masters didn't! Adjustable gullet. Amy is now 5'8 and sits nicely on it, its 17"

 

[Jane_Lou]

We had an older Albion Kontrol on our Connie. He was fit and eventing and had a little wither but worked really well for a jockey who was long hip to knee on a pony that could only take a 17" saddle.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Just received this custom made Andrea Hicks saddle yesterday for my Welsh D. Absolutely love it so far.

 

[welshstar]

I've just got a an ideal jump saddle (can't remember off the top of my head which one it is!) but it is designed for cobbier types. I'm 5ft 6 but very long in the leg and my pony is a short coupled 15hh welsh cob. After years of trying different saddles and having other brands made to measure, this one is by far the best!! It isn't a compromise for me in the knee roll/seat department or my pony in the length. I got it new after my saddlery brought down about 20 saddles and this was the only one that just looked and felt 'right'. Love my saddle and my pony has never jumped better!

 

[JFTDWS]

I had a Jeffries Flyover on my highlands which was super. If anyone sees one advertised in a 17"/Wide with some scratches on the seat, I'd appreciate a tip off :mad3:

 

[Kat]

Our answer to the long legged rider short backed horse conundrum was a treeless solution saddle as they can sit further forward without restricting the shoulder. Horse can only take a 17" saddle and husband is 6ft2 and in serious danger of castrating himself in the treed saddle. Our dressage saddle is the equivalent of an 18" and the jump a 17.5" (as that only has to fit me).

 

[NeverSayNever]

I have a Black Country Grafter WH saddle that was made for me with shorter flaps and bigger blocks, love it and it fits both my highlands.

 

[sbloom]

Just received this custom made Andrea Hicks saddle yesterday for my Welsh D. Absolutely love it so far.

You've made the jump (ha ha!) - it's actually now going to be a standard model, I nearly fitted one to a Welsh D cross on Saturday but we need a 17" so have to wait for the next batch to be made . Glad you love it.

 

[i-love-wellies]

So saddler came out today and my new sadddle is a bit long and a bit narrow so I have a saddle to sell again! Has anyone tried a berney prix saddle? Berneys are a bit closer to my budget new than a goodwins or ideal etc. The Berney Bros prix comes in 16.5 wide which is i think what I need but it looks very flat so I dunno. Im waiting to hear if any other modles come in 16.5 as they done seem to on the website.

http://www.berneybrossaddles.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=54

 

[Jane_Lou]

So saddler came out today and my new sadddle is a bit long and a bit narrow so I have a saddle to sell again! Has anyone tried a berney prix saddle? Berneys are a bit closer to my budget new than a goodwins or ideal etc. The Berney Bros prix comes in 16.5 wide which is i think what I need but it looks very flat so I dunno. Im waiting to hear if any other modles come in 16.5 as they done seem to on the website.

http://www.berneybrossaddles.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=54

I have a Goodwin dressage which I had made to measure for my horse while I was living in Kill, it's the most comfdortable saddle I have ever owned! (that's now 20 years old and still going strong!) I had a GP too but never got on with it - I sold it and got one of the Pessoa copy saddles that Berneys were making at the time which is very similar to the one you have linked. That was very comfy too but not as nice as the eventual Ideal I ended up with for hacking/jumping.

The big advantage with Berneys is that they have developed a tree specifically designed for connemaras which works a treat for them. I had one bought 2nd hand for a connie which was about the only thing that was even remotely forward cut that ever fitted him!

 

[Starbuck]

We got an Idea Impala professional for our Section D cross. Its very comfortable and is an excellent fit.

 

[horseygin]

I have just sent an impala pro back- the panels were uneven acroos the panels and in the length too. Fitted by a local saddle fitter so Im trying to get a refund as the saddlefitter who was going to reflock it said the girthing arrangement didnt suit him either,and we all rode in a farmer giles leg forward position after it settled in the first month.

 

[Blackandorange]

I've just got a an ideal jump saddle (can't remember off the top of my head which one it is!) but it is designed for cobbier types. I'm 5ft 6 but very long in the leg and my pony is a short coupled 15hh welsh cob. After years of trying different saddles and having other brands made to measure, this one is by far the best!! It isn't a compromise for me in the knee roll/seat department or my pony in the length. I got it new after my saddlery brought down about 20 saddles and this was the only one that just looked and felt 'right'. Love my saddle and my pony has never jumped better!

I also have an Ideal saddle - they are fantastic for adjusting the saddle to suit you. Mine is for my 15hh Cob x ID/TB who is very chunky and short backed. I am 5 ft 8 with all my height in my legs. A saddler's nightmare! So we got an Ideal Apollo tree with the Impala flaps made on a 17 inch with shorter panels and a 'shaved down' cantle. It's a fantastic saddle, really does the job and is super comfortable.

 

[mainpower]

My horse is ID/Welsh D, and although he is not as chunky as you'd expect with that breeding, he does have a broad flat back. I've tried so many wide and x wide saddles, but now have him in a GFS pro event. It's close contact with a wide gullet and he goes very nicely in it (he's been very quick to let me know that the other saddles were not to his liking). I don't find it very comfy though, it has a flattish seat and I prefer deep seats.