Revelation of difference between horses & saddles make to your riding

[soulfull]

For those of you that are trying to improve any of the following and having difficulty this may really help

Rising too high
keeping balanced
struggling to stay in 2 point seat (ie out of the saddle while jumping)
Staying with horse over jumps and folding
keeping lower leg still
probably more that I will remember later

I used to struggle with all the above and for years (8yrs) I thought it was my bad riding

However I had a horse that wasn't really forward and I had a working hunter saddle

I now have a new horse that is really forward, a jumping saddle and a wintec dr saddle and I cannot tell you how much these have improved my riding over night!!

Due to injury I had a long time out of the saddle. However in a very short space of time all the above and more have improved faster than I could have believed. I can now stay with my new horse over jumps, stay out of the saddle (as long as bad ankle will allow)
I don't leave anywhere near as much daylight between me and saddle in rising trot (in dr saddle) Also I can actually feel the thing instructors used to say about pushing pubic bone forward and up
My legs stay where they should in both saddles

So don't despair chances are its not just you!!

 

[Katie__Connie]

Saddles do make a big difference

 

[viola]

Definitely agree

When your position is really strong and all the good habits there you can just about sit well in most saddles, good and bad. However, when you are working on certain problem(s), saddle that doesn't fit you or the discipline you're trying to do is a nightmare.
I teach 35-40 riders a week and those riding either in their own saddles or saddles that do fit them reasonably well improve much quicker, have more understanding of "feel" and their influence on the horse is 100% better.

Also, same horses in different saddles can feel so different. I always thought it would be great to have an under-saddle that fits the horse and the top-saddle that could be put on top of any under-saddle and that every rider could buy like you buy a body protector or a hat

In this way you could ride lots of different horses, or even learn to ride, without having to sacrifice your comfort for the well-being of the horse.

I do symphatise with some of my beginner riders at times

Not that saddles are of bad condition etc but sometimes they are just plain wrong fit for the rider and I know they will struggle for hours/weeks/months to get the feel or improvement they are after.

 

[Kat]

Yep I ride in a riding school at the moment and it is really noticeable.

Some saddles are AWFUL! really out of alignment and they make it impossible to get a good position. Riding in a nice saddle is bliss - it is one of the things I am looking forward to most about buying my own horse, getting a nice saddle.

I noticed it with my nephew who is just coming off the lead rein, the other week he rode a working livery on the owner's saddle and his position balance and stability were absolutely transformed!

 

[soulfull]

[ QUOTE ]
Yep I ride in a riding school at the moment and it is really noticeable.

Some saddles are AWFUL! really out of alignment and they make it impossible to get a good position. Riding in a nice saddle is bliss - it is one of the things I am looking forward to most about buying my own horse, getting a nice saddle.

I noticed it with my nephew who is just coming off the lead rein, the other week he rode a working livery on the owner's saddle and his position balance and stability were absolutely transformed!

[/ QUOTE ]


Yes but it isn't just about NICE saddles I have ridden in some really comfortable saddles that still haven't given me the edge that the 2 I have now do. Strange and difficult to explain