jumping in western sadle

[popsicle]

i have been told that it is ok to jump in an western sadle with a horn on but i was wondering weather it is safe because i have never riden in a western sadle before.

[galadriel]

The structure of a Western saddle is really very different from the sructure of an English saddle. It doesn't leave as much freedom to move for the horse's back; the process of going over a jump would probably not be all that fun for the horse involved.

Considering that the Western saddle has the horn as well, and really isn't designed for the rider to be moving to take jumps, it's best just to avoid jumping in a Western saddle unless you have no other choice.

[Harry Hobbes]

Cowboys jump obstacles in western saddles often. (Open country has lots of arroyos, creek beds, and such that are jumped, because there's no easy way around them.)

The western saddle is "safer" than an English saddle because it's generally easier to stay in a western saddle.

Best regards,
Harry

[horsecrazychick]

I'd say that it's safe enough to jump low obstacles in a western saddle. However, if you actually want to train your horse to jump courses, or do any big jumps, you'd definitely want an english saddle.

[Miriam]

Originally posted by Harry Hobbes
Cowboys jump obstacles in western saddles often. (Open country has lots of arroyos, creek beds, and such that are jumped, because there's no easy way around them.)

The western saddle is "safer" than an English saddle because it's generally easier to stay in a western saddle.

Best regards,
Harry


Harry is that with the horn or not on those saddles. It was me who told Jen to ask as I was under the impression that if the saddle had a horn you did not jump just could not remember why had a feeling it had something to do with the horn being a danger.


The reason we ask is because yesterday over our yard someone tacked a horse up in western saddle with the horn on and told the kids to jump the horse. If I know the girls they wont have jumped anything high unless they jumped the filler :eek:

[shoniedaspony]

i have met a mad irish guy that rides western, who will jump anything in his western saddle, even does competitions. I think his saddle has a horn but not completely certain.

Although you do get more support for the rider in a western saddle, i get the feeling that there is less scope to reach a jumping position, and that it could also be more dangerous if something goes wrong as there are more things to keep you on when it could be safer to fall off.

[Harry Hobbes]

Harry is that with the horn or not on those saddles. With a saddle horn.

As shoniedaspony related above, there is "less scope" to the rider's jumping position as the rider is relatively upright vis-a-vis English saddle jumping (because the legs of the rider are straighter due to the longer stirrup leathers).

But the western saddle is just as "jumpable" as the English counterpart, with the caveate that the western weighs more than the English. The horn doesn't get in the way unless the rider loses position; and in that case, the horn is great incentive to teach the human to stay in position. :p

You can see a great western saddle jumping demonstration by Pat Parelli on his original Level One (Partnership) video at 2 minutes and one second into the tape. He's riding a bay horse in full western saddle and regalia (including lariat) and they take a jump over a line of 30 gallon trash cans (which are about three feet in height, two feet plus in depth). In fact, Parelli seems to like to train his horses to take all kinds of obstacles as a confidence builder. You can see this in his earlier (1990s) videos. Three foot jumps while initially training horses are about standard for him.
...and that it could also be more dangerous if something goes wrong as there are more things to keep you on when it could be safer to fall off.This is why we like "slick fork" saddles, as there's no swell to hold the rider in place. There's a type of western known as the "bear trap" which has huge undercut swells; it is designed to help keep the rider in the saddle. But it is also known as the "leg breaker" for obvious reasons.

The western saddle tends to provide more stability because of the rider's straighter leg, but otherwise it's just as easy to come out of (presuming a slick fork).

Best regards,
Harry

[cvb]

One of the English kings died cos he was somewhat large in the tummy and impaled himself on the built-up front of his saddle :eek:

(Mediaeval saddles looked a bit like portugese saddles....its all that lance fighting they used to do).

[Casey76]

When I was in Montana last year (I'm currently organising to back this year :D) I had to jump a creekthen canter up a rather steep slope, and I, getting in a total panic about the whole cantering thing forgot there was a horn on the front of the saddle and nearly did myself an injury:eek: :o

In the end I ended up with a large bruise right on the end of my sternum (also, in the mean time completely displacing my underwired bra:o :o :o )

Next time I'll know not to lean so far forward:rolleyes:

[Miriam]

Thanks Harry


Casy I know what you mean about those horns. I managed to catch myself on it when I visited Katie. Made the mistake of buying one myself for Rhi and have caught myself on that one too not once but twice. First time was not so bad only females on the yard. Second time one of the dads was on the yard :o

[Izod1360]

all western saddles have horns. and when you canter for western you arent supposed to move with it, you are supposed to sit back and deep in the saddle. I THINK i might be wrong. and it really isnt that good to jump with this saddle.

[galadriel]

The English saddle tree is small and light. It's designed to flex very slightly as the horse moves. The underside tends to be shorter than the seat size.

The Western saddle tree is large, heavy and inflexible. The underside of the Western saddle is typically at least 5" longer than the seat size.

To achieve a nice bascule (horse going properly over the jump in the way most healthy for him) and particularly so that the horse can *invert* his back as he takes off and lands, it is best to use a saddle which provides the most freedom of movement. The Western saddle is *not* ideal for jumping. It's better not to jump in a Western saddle unless you have to.

[Jessey]

I have had several bruises and nearly broken ribs jumping in western saddles but have finally found the technique, hold the horn with your free hand, when you know where it is you don't hit it. I still wouldn't jump anything big or at all if possible.
I thought the horses could get pretty well rounded in a western saddle, look a some horses when the stop, they round pretty well then.

[galadriel]

There's a difference between the amount of rounding required for flatwork, and the bascule of a jump.

And the horse also must invert his back in two places while jumping. The smaller, shorter English saddle allows much more freedom to round excessively or invert while taking off or landing.

[Sox Rox]

Well i wouldnt compete over high fences, but if your thinking about a small/low verticle or crossrail,thats ok. its when your talking about higher jumps where its better to jump english:D

_SOX ROX_

[Ehley]

hey there yes u can jump in a western saddle...but there is a special technigues,,,i dunno how all u guys got bruses and with galloping in a wester saddle u dont go into a 3 point u stay in the saddle

[Katie_85]

Please refrain from using text speak. MODERATOR Katie_85

[Miriam]

Originally posted by Katie_85
Please refrain from using text speak. MODERATOR Katie_85

hehe Katie I wondered what you were on about at first :eek:

[Cowgirl12]

Izod, im sorrybut i totally disagree. some western saddles do not have a horn and yes you do move with the horse, but you also sit deeply and you swing your hips and shoulders with the motion of the horse.

Ehley, i totally agree. you sit straight and slightly back or just slightly forward when galloping in a western saddle you ABSOLUTLEY dont go 3 point.

[PridesAngel03]

If you know HOW to ride properly and jump properly then YES you can jump in a western saddle. I used to jump in a western saddle years ago. Also taught my students to jump in the western saddle simply because you never know what you may encounter when riding on a trail. Most likely you'll be in a western saddle when trail riding (that is if you want to carry stuff on the trail such as water bottles, camera, snacks and such as I did). So knowing HOW to jump in a western saddle is a good lesson to learn to avoid unnecessary injury by doing it wrong. Start of small, then build, until you get the feel for it, then you'll be a jumping fool out on trails without a care in the world about what type of saddle your riding in. :)

Good Luck to you. And remember, SAFETY FIRST!

:)

[marjiva]

I just stumbled on this post and was wondering how this would work with say a bob marshall treeless endurance saddle. No tree, no horn, horse has plenty of movement. They are much like a western saddle without all of the weight. I have one and it weighs about 10lbs, probably less than some english saddles. They are very comfortable although I have never jumped in mine. Now I have something new to try. I dont think I would try big huge jumps but short practice jumps might be ok.

[shoniedaspony]

my friend has a treeless western saddle which she calls her "jumping saddle" (as opposed to her treed western show saddle), and she will pop over a small x pole or log in the woods. She is only jumping small and not expecting her horse to bascule so i dont see anything wrong with it.
happy jumping ;)

[K&K]

Western saddles aren't designed for jumping, but I believe you can jump in them if you have to; for example, on a trailride to clear a small obstacle, or to pop over a small x-rail for fun. I wouldn't jump on a regular basis in a western saddle though, and not over anything too large. The common western saddle just isn't designed for it. :)

[Miriam]

Thanks K&k will let popsicle know