Anyone need pants for Saddleseat?

[Karin]

I switched disciplines to hunter/jumper and no longer have any use for 2 pairs of pants I bought in Lexington this summer. The waist size is 28", one is navy the other khaki colored (the navy only worn once). I paid $75 but will take a reasonable offer.

[Rachel R]

Apologies for my ignorance, but please could someone fill me in on the translations of saddleseat and hunter/jumper.

Thanks,

Rachel

[Karin]

Oh boy. I'm no expert but having experienced 3 months of each I've observed the following.

Quite simply they are different disciplines. Riders use different saddles, different posture, often times different breeds (although there is always overlap), different gaits, different "traditional attire", different classes in shows.

I started riding this summer and fell into saddleseat equitation on American Saddlebred horses quite accidently. (You'll see Morgans in this class as well). I was riding with a completely flat saddle (next time you're in a tack shop ask them to show you flat vs. dressage vs jumper) and very long leg, no bend - the stirrup hit the bottom of my foot. Now in h/j the stirrup hits my ankle bone, my knee is bent and my lower leg held back slightly.

In saddleseat, the rider's posture is more upright than h/j as is the horses head carriage. When I rode the saddlebreds their heads were quite high (kind of in your face) quite disimilar to the qtr. horse I'm riding now, who's neck runs along the same line as his back.

As with all disciplines, the attire varies. (Just go to any major horse show for examples). Many saddleseat riders wear a long pant and paddock boots. The pantleg falls over the boot and is held in place by an elastic strap. It is an elegant, clean line. Much more flattering on my bod' than my new riding breeches/tights (spandex- ugh!) but not practical for the type riding I am doing now (cross country and jumping).

For some pictures try www.american-saddlebred.com/OLDINDEX.HTML (http://www.american-saddlebred.com/OLDINDEX.HTML) on the 1st page you'll see a few shots that will give you an idea as to what I am talking about.

I hope I've helped a bit - sorry if I confused you even further.

Karin

[cynthia]

here are a few more pix (click on the smaller ones to get to larger images where you can see lots more detail):

http://www.chrislar.com/4saleslist.html

these are actually from the website of the barn where i take lessons. they specialize in the Morgan breed, and are veeeerryyy competitive in Morgan Saddleseat classes at the high levels, and pretty much everyone at Chrislar eventually rides Saddleseat (except for me... don't like it!).

REIN aids, rather than leg and seat, are used very heavily in Saddleseat, and you'll notice that the rider's hands are kept up quite high off of the horse's whithers, which is in line with what Karin was explaining regarding head carriage. not sure if this is typical or not, but i also see a *lot* of riders holding their legs almost completely off the horse, which i suppose makes the rein aids more effective, but still... seems bizarre to me.

anyhoo. there ya go. more babble from me. ;)

-cyn

[Rachel R]

Thanks guys. I get it now.