New saddle and a WAHOOSIVE jump!

Trish C

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On Friday we loaded up the ginger knobber and took him down to a saddle-fitter to get him something that isn't a dressage saddle to be used for a bit of j*mping.

So today I had no excuse not to jump and, by my estimation, this jump is at least five feet high. I know it doesn't look it, but he's 24 hands high and I'm 8 foot tall*.

*Ok that's a lie, it's 60cm (and he's 17.somethinghh and I'm nearly 6' ;)). It's still only halfway to what I'd jump as a kid without thinking about it, but it's something at least! :D

Gentle CC if you'd like - but I know I've collapsed my hands, my lower leg goes back and my position is awful, but I was off his back, kept my leg on to the fence, didn't jab him in the mouth, looked up the entire time and remembered to keep riding him after we cleared it! Gradually introducing shorter stirrups - these were one hole from what I usually ride at - could do with going up another one next time I reckon.
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And in his smart new saddle - a second hand Frank Baines. Very comfortable, even if it did feel very weird after my lovely dressage saddle! Excuse the grass belly and mucky horse - this was at 6am this morning and he'd been out all night. He comes in looking like a hippo blimp every morning then goes back out at night looking like a horse again!
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Very healthy blueberries and natural yoghurt with orange juice for breakfast, anyone? :)
 
Well done you! I am a total wimp when it comes to jumping and so want to get back into it. I think your being to hard on yourself over your position.

Beautiful horse btw
 
Trish,
I think that your CC on yourself is right, therefore I shall be coming over with my horsebox to take away your ginger boy and then I have a matching pair of horses:)

Seriously, good for you on doing something you want to do, and it doesn't matter how high the fence, I've seen larger fences in affiliated jumping with riders interferring horrednously, so think yes not perfect, but who is? You are doing OK, horse doesn't look at all stressed.

It's weird sitting back in something more forward cut after being 'dressage' so long, I just can't do it, the nearest I have got is a VSD albion, even that feels so weird to me!

Good for you, enjoy your horse!

Oh, and get someone to lie on the floor to the side of the jump with the camera directly pointing upwards at the jump poles to take the picture, then the ground can't be seen and it's almost impossible to tell how high the jump is.... :)
 
well done :D
jumping can be fun :p
next thing you know, you'll be whacking the fences up higher and higher :eek:
(don't tell anyone but I find my jump saddle comfier than my dressage saddle - shock horror)
 
Thanks all! :)

4faults, I find the thought of it is way worse than the actually 'doing'! :)

It's weird sitting back in something more forward cut after being 'dressage' so long, I just can't do it, the nearest I have got is a VSD albion, even that feels so weird to me!

Good for you, enjoy your horse!

Oh, and get someone to lie on the floor to the side of the jump with the camera directly pointing upwards at the jump poles to take the picture, then the ground can't be seen and it's almost impossible to tell how high the jump is.... :)

Great idea :D

And my stomach muscles hurt after riding in that saddle! Quite funny because my schooling partner (whose backside and horse you can see in last photo) tried my dressage saddle on her mare... she's a showjumper and she said her stomach muscles and thighs were screaming to her after a few mins in the DR saddle!

well done :D
jumping can be fun :p
next thing you know, you'll be whacking the fences up higher and higher :eek:
(don't tell anyone but I find my jump saddle comfier than my dressage saddle - shock horror)

I suppose it is kinda a little bit sort of fun ;)
Who knows, maybe I'll go to 62cm next :D :eek:
But definitely prefer my DR saddle, felt like I was going to go over his head all the time in the jump one!

No CC, I just like ginger horses :)

And also wanted to say your shirt reminds me of a Springbok shirt. :)

It is! I've had it for years and years, it's my favourite shirt, very comforting and warm at 5.30am :)
 
If you think he's got a grass belly and a mucky bum, you should see my boy! :eek:

You look great, considering you're not as confident as you once were.

Thanks, he's very good to mind me but at the same time he makes me ride him. I forgot to keep my leg on the first time I jumped him, so he just ploughed through it. Then last week I forgot about riding him after the jump, so he just pootled away at his own pace. Hence why I was happy today that I remembered to ride him up, over, and after the jump! :D

You should be proud.
It's a start.
Lovely horse and nice saddle

:) :)

The saddle certainly won't be in danger of disintegration from overuse, it'll very much be an 'occasional' saddle for when I put on the brave pants. I love my dr saddle too much ;)
 
Very smart horse and saddle :) Just being nosy - why do you have a pad under the saddle, is he difficult to fit saddles to? I am genuinely interested because lots of people seem to use these pads as a matter of course these days.
 
are you using the pad to balance the saddle as from what i can see if you took the pad away your saddle wouldnt be in balance it would be tipping back, a correctly fitted saddle should in correct balance and should sit evenly across the horses back
 
He's actually fairly easy to fit saddles to. Both of my saddles have been professionally fitted. The jump saddle doesn't tip back without the pad as the pad raises it evenly front and back.

I use this pad (a very light non-rigid foam pad) as he prefers it. Have tried him without anything, with a normal half pad and with this one. He always goes happiest in this. I think it may be because he is very slightly uneven in his back (from when I got him, he's gradually improving) and this evens out the pressure. He's also changing shape and, since I bet he won't develop perfectly evenly on both sides, this again helps to even things out. Plus it is non-slip which I find useful! His back is checked regularly - saddler and back specialist are both happy with saddle fit and the use of the pad. :)
 
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Thanks, that's interesting - someone said something similar to me about using pads on youngsters who are changing shape. He certainly looks like he's having a nice time in the pictures.
 
Pebbles - on the gorgeous Poppy? Pics are a must! Hope all's still going well with her :)

Suziq77 - yeah, he rather enjoys jumping. He always strangely develops more elevation in his paces when jumps go up ;)

He's not a youngster (just gone 10) but he was out of work for a while, and previous to that his 'work' was just wandering around the countryside basically, so he's putting condition/muscle back on, hence the shape changing :)
 
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