What's a Close Contact Saddle?
- Thread starter wanabe
- Start date
wanabe
ignoring the cynicism about marketing/branding...
a saddle is a layer of "stuff" between the rider and the horse. Depending on the design of the saddle and what "stuff" it is, it does more or less to affect the feel the rider has for what the horse is doing.
"Close contact" is a design to try and reduce the "stuff" between the horse and rider.
The opposite might be some of the "thick" built up saddles you see which kind of wrap around the rider
(I have also heard a rider comment on a saddle might using "impact absorbing foam" that she could not feel a thing that horse was doing !)
ignoring the cynicism about marketing/branding...
a saddle is a layer of "stuff" between the rider and the horse. Depending on the design of the saddle and what "stuff" it is, it does more or less to affect the feel the rider has for what the horse is doing.
"Close contact" is a design to try and reduce the "stuff" between the horse and rider.
The opposite might be some of the "thick" built up saddles you see which kind of wrap around the rider
(I have also heard a rider comment on a saddle might using "impact absorbing foam" that she could not feel a thing that horse was doing !)
Close contact jumping saddles also tend to have much shallower seats (to nearly flat) and small to no knee rolls.
It makes getting out of the saddle for higher (3'+) jumps much easier, but also makes it easier to get into bad positions. You have much more freedom to move around and sit as you like.
It makes getting out of the saddle for higher (3'+) jumps much easier, but also makes it easier to get into bad positions. You have much more freedom to move around and sit as you like.
wanabe
I would say it had a purpose - which makes it more likely that certain rider will consider it - but I would *not* say it was exclusively for "advanced" riders. How on earth will anyone develop an independent seat if they are just "wedged" in where the saddle puts them ?!
So instead I would think about your style and preferences...
for example, what kind of seat (armchair, car seat etc) do you prefer ? firmness ? support etc etc ?
what kind of feel do you want from your horse ?
what kind of help does your posture and riding need ?
what kind of things do you want to do ?
Plus you need to look at fit - if you found a nice close contact that suited you and your horse, I'd hate to think you turned it down cos you didn't feel you weer "advanced" enough
I did think about close contact for Fi and me - and then realised that the saddle I am most likely to get to *stay* when she spooks is the western saddle, which keeps me in place. So in a cc saddle, I would probably feel insecure, get nervous, wind Fi up, and end up on the floor
the dressage saddle I used to borrow for her was quite firm, a bit built up, but not too wedged in
Oh and it was synthetic so had a matt not-shiny (and not slippy !) surface
Thanks for all that cvb. 
I think I'm too green to know all those things about me that you mentioned.
Anyway, after going to the nearest "botique" saddle shop and doing some pricing, I'm in a state of sticker shock and looking at picking up a cheap (and I mean many are in the $25 price range) used saddle off the Web. If it doesn't work out I'll give it away and try again.
I think I'm too green to know all those things about me that you mentioned.
Anyway, after going to the nearest "botique" saddle shop and doing some pricing, I'm in a state of sticker shock and looking at picking up a cheap (and I mean many are in the $25 price range) used saddle off the Web. If it doesn't work out I'll give it away and try again.
I appreciate you being worried about me making a mistake -- really, I do.
My YO won't let me put a harmful saddle on her horses and she knows what to look for. Financially, well I can take a lot of 25 GBP "hits".
I just bought a saddle for less than $65 (33 GBP), shipping included, and we'll see how it works out. It includes the fittings as well.
My YO won't let me put a harmful saddle on her horses and she knows what to look for. Financially, well I can take a lot of 25 GBP "hits".
I just bought a saddle for less than $65 (33 GBP), shipping included, and we'll see how it works out. It includes the fittings as well.
sorry but id be pretty wary of a saddle that cheap i had a £100 saddle that was cheap and horrid and wrecked my horses back, current nice synthetic was almost £400.
i had a £100 saddle that was cheap and horrid and wrecked my horses back, current nice synthetic was almost £400.
I guess we'll see. I've been told it's a Rossi & Caruso from Argentina and is of decent quality. Saddles are like golf clubs, I think. People pay (sometimes) ridiculous prices for them new and 10 years later they are being practically given away at garage sales.
I appreciate you being worried about me making a mistake -- really, I do.
My YO won't let me put a harmful saddle on her horses and she knows what to look for. Financially, well I can take a lot of 25 GBP "hits".
I just bought a saddle for less than $65 (33 GBP), shipping included, and we'll see how it works out. It includes the fittings as well.
ah see - I *knew* it was a dumb comment
we had an advert over here - the tag line was "no, but I know a man who *can* !"
you don't need to know as long as you know someone who does
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