Prestige jumping saddle question

S

showjumper06

Active Member
Joined
14 July 2012
Messages
36
Visit site
This may be a silly question but I have a Prestige Golden Star jumping saddle for my showjumper which came with him when I got him. It's a close contact saddle.

Last year it was looking a bit tight to me so I got a well reputed saddler to come out and check the fit - they took it away and adjusted the tree.

When I got it back it still seemed like a very tight fit to me and I wasn't happy so got them back out to look at it but was assured that that was how the close contact saddle was meant to fit.

Has anyone else got experience of close contact saddle fit, particularly Prestige? My horse doesn't seem uncomfortable but when I'm in the saddle it's definitely a tight fit - not pressure in any one particular place but the gullet is a very tight fit. I know this may well simply be because it's a close contact saddle but it's not something I've had in other saddles.

It's now time to get the saddle checked again as my horse has muscled up a lot in the last 12 months so I'm due to get the saddler out in the next few weeks. My question is whether to get them to adjust it again (they can literally change the width of the tree if needed as well as the flocking) or to get another saddle altogether?
 
Thanks badgermyers. Good to know you're happy with it. I guess my gut feeling is that it isn't a perfect fit - the panels sit so snugly against my horse that when my weight is added into the mix I can't see how it can't be restrictive for him. But then again this may be because I'm used to more rigid panels..
 
Thanks measles. When I'm riding it is almost impossible to get my fingers down the front of the saddle as the panels are so close against him. I guess it could just be that the panels are foam and flexible but I still think that if I struggle to fit a finger between the saddle and his back ( behind the shoulder) that must be a fair amount of pressure on him. I will be asking the saddler again but was just wondering if those of you with close contact saddles have noticed a difference in fit to more rigid gps or jumping saddles?
 
I have one (best saddle i have ever bought, i won't part with it even though i am not allowed to ride for the forseeable future!). Mine has been on numerous different horses and always moulded really well. Whenever anyone has rode in it they have commented on what a lovely saddle it is to ride in. When i sold one of mine recently they offered to buy the saddle. I used to have Pessoa's and JW's and this is far superior. I even prefer it to the Amerigo. It is meant to be quite a tight fit but none of mine have ever been uncomfortable in it and they have jumped upto 140cm courses in it!
 
Hello, I have the same saddle and had the same worries! I had the saddler out numerous times and everytime he said it was fine. Once I got used to the fact that it IS a closer fit than other saddles, I realised it is probably more comfortable for my boy to have something nice and close fitting than something bouncing around :) Also the saddles are quite flexible in those front pad bits.

I don't really jump more than 1.10 (because it is taking longer than anticipated to get my confidence back!) but my instructor has jumped 1.40+ with my boy in that saddle no probs.

Also, I figure that if he were uncomfortable with the saddle on, after a while he would have started to get cross when I tried to put it on him??

If my horses is even nearly as comfy wearing the saddle as my bum is sitting on it, he should be a happy chappy!
 
Thanks for all the replies everyone. I guess it must be fine then and I just have to get my head round the different fit :). I'll get the saddler out for a check anyway but will stick with the Prestige because it does feel lovely to jump in!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top