poll

[Sox Rox]

ok i know this has been asked TONS of times but anyways

how many people think its ok to jump, for fun in a western saddle

im not saying any giant jumps, but just like tiny cross rails

[Jessey]

If I've got a horse who will just plop over the jump (a fallen tree or a jump under 2') I'm ok with it, but I always hold the horn with my spare hand because I have nearly had broken ribs from a horn while jumping - this was only over 18" but this particular horse, did a little excited buck just before the jump (tiping me forwards) then over jumped really badly, hense horn stuck into ribs.
So I think it depends on your horse and the object to be jumped.

J

[Bacharel]

I do it all the time, I cant resist jumping a fallen down tree. I dont think its that big of a deal.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

for tiny jumps its ok. as long as you arn't jumping every day and the jumps dont get to high. the western saddle will really restrict the horses movement over fences. but with little cross rails it shouldn't matter to much.

[Zip_n_Prin]

As long as they arent HUGE, its not that bad. A lot of people I know ride western, and when theyre out on a trail, their horses will jump huge logs no problem. But as for ring jumping, I wouldnt do too much. The occasional log or brush on the trail wont hurt them (unless they land wrong, but the actual JUMP will not)

[buffy_vampire]

I love jumpin over logs and small ditches and little streams and puddles! I dont do big jumps but small ones and i even set up jumps on concrete blocks and putting a peice of wood over them! :p

[Silence]

ok i know this has been asked TONS of times but anyways

how many people think its ok to jump, for fun in a western saddle

im not saying any giant jumps, but just like tiny cross rails

Silence-I think it'll be great fun to jump Western as long as they're not too big,
(When I say that I mean like four feet-measured in and English way-even though that might not be very big for other people Western, it is for me.)
P.S-Last Christmas I was such a novice- I didn't know you had to sit to a trot in Western! :D :D :D

[michelle c]

i dont really think you should jump in a western saddle, unless, you can compensate for what the saddle doesnt allow you to do ,coz it doesnt allow you to get angles in all your joints to get over the jump and you tend to hav to throw your weight forwards while going over the jump! im not a perfect rider but i can jump up to 3' 6 with an english saddle but cant even jump a 2' jump in a western saddle without getting left behind

[Bacharel]

Dont take this in the wrong way but you dont HAVE to sit the trot/jog to the a western horse. I rarely ever do.

[RodeoDreamer33]

michelle c-
she's just doing it for fun, I also do. She doesn't have to compensate for anything or worry. If it's just a few small jumpss then whats the harm?

I'd say go for it! :D

[KarinUS]

I don't jump at all in a Western saddle. If it's by accident, you are out on the trail and the horse hops over a ditch I don't see a problem, but the tree is not made for jumping. It seems it would be very uncomfortable for the horse. Because of that it's not something I would ask for on purpose.

[mustang fan]

I only jump in the western saddle if i have to ( on the trail) try to avoid it. the western saddle restricts the movement of the horse. keep the jumps low! :)

Mustang fan

[Caz&Irena]

Hmm interesting thread! Pat Parelli jumps quite high in a western saddle on a training video that I have, but I did notice that he sits and doesn't lean forward. I must admit I was amazed and would never even attempt it myself although I did have to jump over a piece of wood that was across the path when I was out hacking once! As for sitting to the jog/trot I've always done rising trot and I've seen Bob Mayhew do it too:)

[Just.Jump]

Well at my barn, often times there are low rails set up just by using the fence and an object or something. My coach uses this with beginner through to intermediate riders because small jumps like that teach a rider more balance in their riding. I've jumped maybe a foot in a western saddle, thats it because I don't have real training in jumping. Nevermind the restriction of the saddle, a western saddle generally weighs in around 25-40 lbs, maybe more. You really want to force your horse to cart both you and that over big jumps? I should hope not =P but if its just out on the trails or for having some fun in the ring, go for it. Your horse will tell you when it's time to stop, believe me.

And as for the trotting thing which came up somewher ein the middle of this.. western saddles don't restrict the movements of the rider. We jog and trot both sitting and posting, it's a riders preference. That's like trying to say you can't post trot/jog on a horse thats bareback. Utter nonesense =P

[3 day eventer]

if the horse is used to be ridden in a western saddle then it is fair enough to jump in it. there is no point upsetting the horse by changing to an english saddle just to jump this would cause more upset to the horse than if you jumped in the western saddle. I used to have a pony who was ridden in an austarlian stock saddle and when i was going through jumping with him (he was an ex cross country horse that had been left in a field for 7 years!) we jumped in this saddle and he was fine with it. I did in the end change him to an english saddle but this was just for my preferance. If you were showing or competeing i would suggest an english saddle to jump, but as this is just a bit of harmless fun there is no problem with jumping in a western saddle whatsoever!!!!!!! hope thats of help to you?!!?!?!?!

[KarinUS]

if the horse is used to be ridden in a western saddle then it is fair enough to jump in it. there is no point upsetting the horse by changing to an english saddle just to jump this would cause more upset to the horse than if you jumped in the western saddle. I used to have a pony who was ridden in an austarlian stock saddle and when i was going through jumping with him (he was an ex cross country horse that had been left in a field for 7 years!) we jumped in this saddle and he was fine with it. I did in the end change him to an english saddle but this was just for my preferance. If you were showing or competeing i would suggest an english saddle to jump, but as this is just a bit of harmless fun there is no problem with jumping in a western saddle whatsoever!!!!!!! hope thats of help to you?!!?!?!?!
An Australian Stock saddle does not have the same tree as a Western saddle. Comparing the two and concluding that it is fine to jump in a western saddle because you did it in an Australian Stock saddle is comparing apples to organges...

[Peace]

Hmm interesting thread! Pat Parelli jumps quite high in a western saddle on a training video that I have

Yep, the other night on RFD I saw Parelli jump a picnic table (the kind with the benches attached to each side) in a western saddle. :eek: Sheesh - what some folks won't do to sell people something. :rolleyes:

I only jump in my synthetic western-style endurance saddle when it's my horse's idea - only over puddles and things when he thinks he might unnerve me by taking to the air. ;) I post the trot all the time, though. :)

[jinglejoys]

I can't believe the cowboys never jumped in their saddles?

[KarinUS]

I can't believe the cowboys never jumped in their saddles?
You mean obstacles? Why would they? If they are driving cows would they expect the cows to leap over the obstacle first while they are in pursuit? :confused:
Jump over a little creek, etc. maybe- but real jumping would have no purpose in cow-work. Also cattle country isn't really littered with big natural obstacles. In most places it's more of an open prairie rather than English country side. ;)
Cows are usually guided to stay within fences, boundries, etc. rather than encouraged to jump over them.
The saddle is designed to provide comfort to the rider for long hours in the saddle, use of the saddle horn to rope, and security during fast maneuvers (tight turns, spins, etc.). To get these features they had to neglect features that are desirable in an English saddle (maximum contact, minimum shoulder interference, etc.).
Both saddles are perfect for their intended use. Kind of like an off-roads motorbike and a big luxury car. You wouldn't take the Cadillac around a moto-cross course without getting stuck, bottoming out, etc. On the other hand it would be tough to take your parents around town on your motorbike... ;)

[3 day eventer]

An Australian Stock saddle does not have the same tree as a Western saddle. Comparing the two and concluding that it is fine to jump in a western saddle because you did it in an Australian Stock saddle is comparing apples to organges...

well im sorry karinUS!!
I have not only jumped in a stock saddle but have also jumped a few horses in a western saddle!
I was not suggesting that because i jumped in a stock saddle that made it ok to jump in a western saddle i was just merely saying what experiences ive had jumping in a different kind of saddle!
Sorry if i offended you in any way!

[3 day eventer]

An Australian Stock saddle does not have the same tree as a Western saddle. Comparing the two and concluding that it is fine to jump in a western saddle because you did it in an Australian Stock saddle is comparing apples to organges...
sorry! i8 wasnt suggesting that a stock saddle was like a western saddle i was just telling of my experiences. I have in the past jumped in a western saddle although it did slightly restrict the shoulder movement of the horse and unabled the horses back to move as freely as it would in an english saddle small ditches etc...are ok. im sorry if i offended you in anyway but i did not conclude that a western saddle was anything like a wetsern saddle.

[3 day eventer]

sorry i meant a stock saddle.

[KarinUS]

eventer,

I am not offended and quite possibly got a little carried away here... ;)
The point I was trying to make was that all three saddle designs are inherently different and therefore suited for different uses.
We expect so much of our horses. I think the least we can do is do everything we can to make it as easy and comfortable as possible for them to do what we ask of them.
I think you already got the right idea. :) Using a western saddle to jump in is in my opinion not very considerate of the rider. A small ditch is probably okay.
Galadriel would probably be much better to talk about the different trees, etc.

[3 day eventer]

thanks karin.
I totally agree with your opinion. if it can be helped DONT JUMP IN A WESTERN SADDLE!!!