Saddle Suggestions?? HELP!

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Javabb94

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Hi all,

recently bought a new GFS Pro VSD saddle for my new horse, I tried it and really liked it, however I made the mistake of not trying it with my stirrups in jumping length and my knees stick of the end of the knee rolls by about 3 inches!!!!!!

Its annoying as my leg position isnt as good. But I dont understand how every saddle I have ever had my legs have fitted perfectly on but for some reason they stick right off the end of the GFS! Its 18" aswell

Does anyone have any suggestions as to a different saddle more jump/event orientated or a more forward cut gp saddle? I have looked at the GFS Pro Event and like that

I have a budget of around 650
 
I'd give your saddler a call and get him/her to bring some out to try. If you have a long hip to knee measurement then some saddles are more suitable than others. Your GFS being a VSD will be much less forgiving of a short stirrup length as they just aren't designed for jumping in, which is why you run out of knee roll!
 
I agree that the problem is mainly down to the saddle being vsd, I have a wintec vsd which I have only used a handful of times as I am not a fan.
I am also looking for a good jump saddle.

You could try kent & master or fairfax

Then possibly second hand kieffer, ideal ect
 
My horse has no withers so I cant get a jumpin saddle as it will be on his shoulder!

Saddler is bringing a GFS Pro Event that is more forgiving
 
I love my Henri de Rivel Event saddle ive a 33" inside leg so am very leggy and find ive pleanty of leg room in this saddle for jumping and i also find i so comfortbale for everything else i hack out in mine as well as school more for fact am too lazy to keep draging diferent saddles up to the yard now ive found one am comfortable doing everything in!
 
My legs are short so I cannot recommend a particular one, but it sounds like a good idea to get the saddler out to recommend something. If you are able to visit a large equestrian store where you could try sitting in many saddles just to give and idea which makes may suit you, that may be helpful too, and you could then get hold of a saddler who deals in those particular makes.
 
forgot to add - if you have any mates of a similar height and build may be worth checking what makes they use, and perhaps you can even try sitting in their saddle.
 
I had only just bought the pro vsd last month so my saddler is taking it back and getting me a new one, hence why i have to get the pro event or something of a similar price to the pro vsd, i have weekly lessons aswell and the horses there all have jeffries and every saddle i fit in lol, but can't afford a jeffries!
 
Saddler has come out and left me with an Albion k2 jump saddle and a pessoa legacy xp3 they are both lovely I will try them and see which one I like best
 
I have a 36" leg and the older style GFS VSD & Jumping saddles are fine in 17.5" (not tried the new one) . Is it worth seeing if you could get a really good condition older one? I picked mine up for next to nothing and it fits a very chunky cob with no real wither absolutely fine when alot of other makes were no good with his lack of wither.
 
Kirsty+Java said:
Hi all,

recently bought a new GFS Pro VSD saddle for my new horse, I tried it and really liked it, however I made the mistake of not trying it with my stirrups in jumping length and my knees stick of the end of the knee rolls by about 3 inches!!!!!!

Its annoying as my leg position isnt as good. But I dont understand how every saddle I have ever had my legs have fitted perfectly on but for some reason they stick right off the end of the GFS! Its 18" aswell

Does anyone have any suggestions as to a different saddle more jump/event orientated or a more forward cut gp saddle? I have looked at the GFS Pro Event and like that

I have a budget of around 650
Click to expand...

That's 'cause its a VSD (Very Slightly Dressage) so is cut straighter... you need a GP which is more forward cut.

Or, get a jumping saddle.
 
tallyhohoho said:
That's 'cause its a VSD (Very Slightly Dressage) so is cut straighter... you need a GP which is more forward cut.

Or, get a jumping saddle.
Click to expand...

I have been left a Pessoa Legacy XP3 and an Albion K2 Jump both forward cut jump saddles, so should be fine.

The advantages of the Pessoa are -

its very lighweight with carbon fibre tree
Moveable knee blocks and has two on each side so for flatwork can take on off Its got a nice seat also

The advantages of the albion are it has slightly larger knee rolls for my legs!
It is second hand tho and the pessoa is new, the blocks arent moveable and its quite heavy so i will see which one im going to do half my lesson on one and the other half on the other
 
I see, well, that may be your answer. Very often the VSD are unsuitable for either jumping AND dressage as it's too much of an 'inbetweener'.

You can go with a jumping saddle with modern longer flaps which helps with flatwork. You can do flatwork in a jumping saddle but it's hard to do proper dressage in a jumping saddle as the stirrup position is so unhelpful.

Whatever you decide just make sure it's a good fit on the horse! Probably no need to even mention that but, thought I should :D:D:D
 
gone for the pessoa legacy xp3 also has adjustable gullet and is fully calfskin,

its sooo soft and the comfiest saddle i have ever sat on...

compared to the Albion K2 Jump, its lovely when i sat on the albion it felt so hard and uncomfortable
 
have you tried style saddles? I love them! fit all my range of horses and i fit in it at 5ft4 but so does my sister with her extremely longs legs (she has a 36in inside leg and stands at 5"11!) I may be able to get you a second hand one in good condition for your budget.
PM me if interested.
 
Ambs said:
have you tried style saddles? I love them! fit all my range of horses and i fit in it at 5ft4 but so does my sister with her extremely longs legs (she has a 36in inside leg and stands at 5"11!) I may be able to get you a second hand one in good condition for your budget.
PM me if interested.
Click to expand...

Bought a Pessoa Legacy XP3 now sorry !!

Saddler said it was an excellent fit to my horse and my instructor looked at it and said the same and most of all my knees fit!
 
Kirsty+Java said:
My horse has no withers so I cant get a jumpin saddle as it will be on his shoulder!

Saddler is bringing a GFS Pro Event that is more forgiving
Click to expand...

haven't read the whole thread so don't know if anyone's commented on this but my boy has big shoulders so we got a VSD but ended up needing a jump saddle for the same reason a you

turned out the jump saddle (Albion K2 jump I ended up with) flexes so that it doesn't interfere with the shoulder movement

deffo get a saddler out, one that stocks lots of makes of saddle. even if the one they fit is too expensive for your budget, you can look on ebay once you know which is right
 
She brought an albion k2 jump but I didn't like it the seat was too deep and felt quite uncomfortable

I have a Pessoa legacy xp3 jump saddle now that has a nice shallow seat and a forward cut knee roll with removable blocks (two on the front) and one thigh block at the back it is a beautiful fit on java also
 
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