GP saddles vs Jumping saddles

[Evol_or_revert]

Iv been having issues with jumping for a while now. I can do it and can get fast clear rounds, but it's not as smooth as it should be.

I'v always had a GP saddle, my lastest one is a wintec. Now today I had a jumping lesson and I was allowed to ride in my instructors jumping saddle :D :D :D.

I couldn't believe the difference all of a sudden jumping was easy!!!! :eek:

Other then nicky being slighty touchy as he had a shoe put back on, he went really well.

My instructor and my friends mum began talking my dad in to a new saddle for me, even he noticed the difference in my jumping

Now..... My non horse parents forked out $1500 two years ago for my current saddle.

They haven't been told that it's around $3000 for the saddle iv been recommend :eek:.

For the next 5 or so months, ill be showjumping, showhuntering and eventing at 90cm - 1.30m. I do some dressage but only at the low level so dont need a dressage saddle.

So what do you all think is a good quailty jumping saddle worth it's weight in gold?

What has your exprience been between the two saddles?

Thanks guys :D

[galadriel]

In my opinion, higher jumping really is much better with a real jumping saddle. It's not a replacement for your GP, though, if you do need to be doing flatwork still. It's near impossible to school on the flat with a jumping saddle. So if you were thinking about selling the GP and using that as part of the funds for the jumping saddle, that's probably not a viable option :(

What kind of jumping saddle were you recommended? Is there a chance you could locate a used one, or get something that's not a $3000 outlay? (Was it your Wintec that cost $1500? Sounds like that's what you're sayinridg...)

[Cochise]

Is it worth it if it is only getting 5 months use on that horse that it has been fitted to?

[WelshJumper]

Jumping saddles are NOT good for every day riding and hacking, if you compete at least once a week or more thay are worth it if not get a good GP saddle.

[jumpinizmything]

any jumpin saddle is worth its weight in gold.....

the knee roles as you know are specially designed for you position.
you dont have to pay that much money for a saddle you can a good one for alot less, check EBAY or your localnewspaper for good second hand ones

[IrisSilverMoon]

Originally posted by WelshJumper
Jumping saddles are NOT good for every day riding and hacking, if you compete at least once a week or more thay are worth it if not get a good GP saddle.

eh? come again?

LOL...I used my jumping saddle for about five years in DRESSAGE of all things...LOL. I have finally upgraded to a dressage saddle, so jumping saddle can now be used strictly for jumping or hunter type fun...:)

I"m not a fan of GP overall simply because its not great for jumping, its not great for dressage, i'd rahter just have one of each for each discipline.

[CityGirl]

Like ISM, I ride in a close contact saddle for everything and I've not had problems.

I don't like GP saddles at all. The bars are too far back for jumping and too foward for dressage. I think it makes a muddle of both positions.

And evol, I can't imagine you can't find a good second-hand saddle for much less than what you were quoted.

[casey]

I too ride in my c.c. jumping saddle everyday. I use it for hacking/schooling and obviously jumping.

[Holly B]

For anyone who can only afford one saddle but can't decide which type to get, you could try the Griffin Selecta (http://www.equitux.com/Thorowgood/Selecta.html) . It can be changed into a dressage, GP or jumping saddle. I've never used one myself, but they look fab!!!

[IrisSilverMoon]

hmmmm...the only problem with that type of saddle is that its not just the knee flaps that make a dressage saddle vs GP vs jumping saddles.

there are different feels to each saddle so its best to get on that feels the best to you for each discipline. I would absolutely not like my jumping saddle as a dressage saddle, the seat is no where near the deepness I look for in a saddle. In turn I would absolutely hate my dressage saddle as a jumping saddle, the seat is waaaaaaay too deep for jumping, it would be way too hard to get into jumping position.

[Bay Mare]

Originally posted by jumpinizmything
the knee roles as you know are specially designed for you position.
you dont have to pay that much money for a saddle you can a good one for alot less, check EBAY or your localnewspaper for good second hand ones

That's ok if you know what you're looking at! They may LOOK good in the photo or even 'in the flesh' but what's going on inside? Is the tree broken? Twisted? Are there any lumps and bumps? Will it REALLY fit your horse properly?

Buying like this unless you're VERY experienced could end up costing you more in vet bills than if you'd gone out and bought a new saddle to start with.

[Sophini]

I will avoid riding in a GP saddle at all if i can help it - they just don't help you obtain and retain a great position at all.

For the jumping elements of eventing the best saddle i have used (and now the only one i use!!) is the Albion cross country saddle. It cost quite a bit but is well worth it and i wouldn't change it for anything!!!

You can sometimes get decent saddles on eBay if you know what you're looking for size-wise

JJ.

[Elvengirl]

I purchased my jumping saddle off e-bay and have really loved it. I ride several different horses, so sizing to one particular horse wasn't an option. You can, however, ask the seller for measurements. I got an excellent deal (paid about $600 for a $2500 saddle) with no problems at all, it was new off the shelf! I did do a lot of research into the saddle I was buying and the person selling it! It is not totally unsafe to purchase this way but be careful of anything "slightly" strange about the seller or saddle.
Do you have consignment tack stores around? You can also get really nice saddles for much cheaper even if they are slightly used. (used saddles are can be better anyways because they are broken in).
I have loved jumping in my jumping saddle, it is an absolute dream compared to my old GP (which I sold). I also hack in it and feel comfortable in it, I just lengthen my stirrups. If I ever feel like I need a saddle for a good dressage work-out, I can usually find someone to lend me theirs in exchange for some cookies or beer :D .( the benefits or riding at a busy sport barn)
If you are jumping 1m30, I would definatly purchase a jumping saddle! Just keep in mind that you don't need a $3000 one, there are many options available to you where you can get good quality for much cheaper!

[kilmarnock]

I'm having same dilema at moment, I bought a GP saddle two months ago and it's not helping my position at all, I tried my friends close contact pessoa and i couldn't believe the difference, it was wonderful. However one saddler that i spoke to said they wouldn't sell pessoa because they were too close fitting and most riders end up fitting them with gel pads, another saddler said the standard of leather has dropped and they also now wouldn;t sell them, the third saddler had one in stock and would be more than happy to sell it to me!
I'm now totally confused as to what to do for the best, does anyone have any comments about pessoa or able to reccommend an alternative nice close contact?

[YR_SHOWJUMPER]

i am lucky i have a stubben and a pessoa jumping saddle and a ideal event saddle, and an ideal GP for normal everyday riding- you have to consider this one carefully cause if you intend to do alot of flatwork - keep your gp, or chop it in for a more forweward cut one- they do exist trust me!! !Lol!!!! and then you kinda have the best of both worlds!!!

you have to decide what is best for youa nd your horse most importantly

[CityGirl]

I haven't heard great things about the newer Pessoas. I know a few people who got rid of theirs fairly quickly b/c the leather didn't hold up.

Best bet is to try a bunch of different saddles & see what works best for you.

[cvb]

evol_or_revert

I used to ODE my pony (14:2) in a Cliff Barnsby GP - for all phases :eek: and it was great.

We were jumping up to 3ft 6 - but then he was only 14:2 so its all relative ;)

I think a lot depends on the GP you have.....

[horsemad]

So does that mean I'd have a great jumping position if I had a jumping saddle? ;) Ok, maybe not! I'm not a great fan of jumping at the best of times but I have to say I find it even more scary since getting my Heather Moffatt Easysit saddle. I like the saddle, its very comfortable and it seems to suit my horse. But I just cannot get myself stabalised at all in jumping position - my lower legs come much too far back and I tip forwards. I presume this must be because of the position of the stirrup bars....its either that or my rubbish riding. :o

I have no desire to do 'proper' jumps, but it would be interesting to try jumping position in a proper jumping saddle to see if there was any improvement in my position. Do you think it really makes a big difference?

[CityGirl]

Saddle design really makes an enormous difference in riding. And even within a certain type of saddle (like close contact), each brand can be very different and can affect your position. I know certain saddles at the barn throw my leg completely out of wack. I had the greatest lesson the other day & while I'd like to think my riding has improved that drastically in a week;) , both my trainer & I think it had a lot to do with how I fit in the saddle.

And horsemad, I believe one of the functions of Heather's design is having the stirrup bars set back to encourage the "classical" leg. And that isn't going to help much when you're trying to get over a fence. You need to have an angle in your knee/hip which is probably much more difficult to achieve in that saddle.

[DITZ]

I am contemplating trading my wintec 500 in for a wintec close contact. I hack out and school in my dressage saddle and now only use my GP for jumping so i figure i may as well swap it for something designed for jumping.

Anyone got any views on the close contact wintec?

[cvb]

horsemad - I had(have) an HM easisit and sounds like we have similar experience. When I got a saddle fitter to check it (having used it from new, so wanted to check how it had settled etc), she showed me how it very slightly tipped me forward. This appeared to be about how it sat on a broad QH-type horse. Fit was fine but balance just slightly off. Her comment was that it is not the best "style" of saddle for that type of horse, and she had me siton another saddle, which really showed the difference !

So I'm currently trying to find a new home for my HM saddle.

It was great to introduce Fi to "english" riding but was just making me feel slightly insecure the whole time :(

C'est la vie - horses for courses and all that.

[blondie]

any1 heard of the bates gp saddle, they r great with the air paneling, great for dressage, jumping and hacking, not overly priced either, and look good, most importantly fit the horse well:)