Saddle suggestions please........(long)

[aidybex]

Ok - so I decided to go along to a clear round jumping session yesterday - horse warmed up fabulously, very long and loose - she felt amazing. Popped over the practice fence a couple of times - nailed landing and setting off on the correct leg. We then headed off round the course (bear in ming no more than 70cm!!!!) - got to the 2nd fence - cue horse trying to run out - but got left leg and rein on so she couldn't so slammed on anchor and then ran out. I can usually sit it but was too unbalanced and flew off and hit the jump wing - which promptly landed on me - ouch.

So the very nice lady who was there schooling with me told me that my saddle which I love (a Bates Caprilli GP with Cair) has far to high a cantle which is tipping me out the saddle and probably contributed to my fall (although I know pilot error too!!)

I got back on, jumped round the course twice but feeling sore - bruises are amazing and everywhere!!

Can anyone suggest a good all round saddle (will have to be 2nd hand once I've sold my Bates) - I do a fair bit of jumping, but lots of hacking too. Needs to be comfy and a low cantle. A lady who has started hacking my mare out has a saddle which fits and has a low cantle - but I would like to purchase a bit newer saddle and I'm not keen on borrowing. I rode in it today and must admit it felt lovely and (might sound odd) but felt I could feel more of my mares movement.

Cheese, wine and choccies to those who got this far!!!

 

[daydreambeliever]

Only the obvious suggestion of ask around and get a good recommended saddler out, who will bring a selection of saddles that you and your horse can try. Good Luck

 

[MrsMozart]

Ditto DDB. Get a good saddler to come out and bring lots and lots of lovely saddles for you to try

I don't go by a particular saddle - although I've seen some nice ones

. The chances of it fitting my horse, and fitting me...? I just tell my saddler what I want to do and she brings out suitable ones

. Then again, I love my saddler - having tried three or four before I found her (on recommendation), I was so chuffed to meet one who listened, understood, explained, took time with my horses and me (the comment about Dizz having good shoulder movement in the saddle I was trying, as we went shooting out of the school backwards at about one hundred miles an hour still makes me laugh

). I use Bridlepath International. They seem to cover a lot of the country

. And they have second-hand saddles!

 

[cptrayes]

You fell off sideways because of a runout and some busybody is telling you that your cantle was too high? If you love the saddle stick with it and learn how to stop your mare running out with some good lessons instead. MUCH cheaper!