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Discussion on Explain jumping saddle
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Friday, Nov 9, 2007 - 7:41 pm:
Hi I have a few questions about jumping saddles.
What are the advantages of thigh blocks?
Does the length of the flap have anything to do with the length of your leg?
Does more foreward have anything to do with how high you are planning to jump?
Some people refer to a close contact, some have said hunter jumper type, is there a difference.
What if you plan to do cross country?
And anything else I should know before purchaseing a jumping saddle.
Thanks
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007 - 12:43 am:
Hi Lori,
Thigh blocks are used to stabilize a rider in 2 point, and may be somewhat helpful for maintaining your seat in a stumble. I don't like them in a jumping saddle myself because they restrict the range of movement in my leg, and prevent a good safety seat in the event that you need it. So try them out and consider the situations that may come up. Make sure they're removable if you decide you hate them.
Yes-- flap length has to do specifically with the length of your thigh.
Forward seats are very helpful for higher fences. An all-purpose saddle is fine for lower stuff (usually up to about 4').
I've never done hunters, so can't comment on those saddles. For cross-country, it depends on what level event or the size of the obstacle.
Try as many saddles as you can and talk to people you know about what they have and what they like.
Let us know what you end up with. Good luck!
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007 - 4:34 am:
I agree with Elizabeth just want to add the choice of saddle will be influenced a little bit by your style of riding, how much collection [and'how deep will you sit'] in between the fences for instance and of course that will depend on the type of horse you ride [to cut it very short we often say German or English]
The most important thing in my opinion is what you like yourself so try as much as you can and if possible take someone with you who tells you what effect the saddle has on how you'sit' and or 'ride'
Be carefull and take your time I made some stupid and costly mistakes because I was hasty and or bought what I was told'everybody' bought.
Jos
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007 - 11:05 am:
ok, good advice thanks.
Jos, by English do you mean TB and German is warmblood?
Yes having someone with me would be very valuable, but not easy to do.It seems sto me the flap needs to be a bit longer than the knee, obviously the knee shouldn't extend past the flap, would an inch be ideal?
Thanks
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Saturday, Nov 10, 2007 - 12:41 pm:
Well yes but lately I have seen warmloods act like TB and vice versa. In Holland my old trainer always said: An English horse you ask to do it for you on your knees and a German horse you give[fair] discipline.
Do I sound confusing? I just meant the English or German attitude.[come to think of it mine are all TB English even the Arab and the Selle Francais who's staying with me is really German]
Jos
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Member:
kstud
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Posted on Monday, Nov 12, 2007 - 5:18 pm:
Hi Lori,
I have also made a lot of saddle mistakes but have just bought a fantastic saddle that is truly a work of art. All my saddles are custom made but that has not saved me from mistakes and poor design. I jump up to 1.20m and also do quite a bit of cross country and already have a GP saddle but felt I needed one that was more jumping orientated without being an out and out jumping saddle. I have tried to get such a saddle made before unsuccessfully but have finally succeeded. I am not sure about the rules on advertising a brand here but if you want to email you I will give you the name of the manufacturer. This saddle fits both the horse and myself like a second skin. It is more forward cut than I am used to but as the flap was made to suit my shape and leg length I was amazed to find that from the moment I sat in it I did not want to ride in any other saddle again. It puts me in such a good position and I find that my horse goes way better and I have a lot more control in it. It has a small thigh block but it does not interfere in my leg position in any way. I would recommend that you ride in a few second hand saddles for a while of different makes and shapes until you find one that you are comfortable with. I bought so many then discovered that I could not even sit in them. I bought one particular famous close contact make and I was literally fired out of the saddle if the horse even coughed. Nothing beats actually riding and jumping in all paces in the saddle.
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Monday, Nov 12, 2007 - 10:28 pm:
Oh, Jos, I had replied but I must not have completed the posting since I don't see it here.
I am a bit ocnfused but that is ok. How do you like the Selle Francais.
Last weekend I saw one jumping (on TV) at the Toronto winter fair. It jumped great and was quite impressive.
Catherine, I would love to hear about your saddle, I chekced your profile, couldn't find you email.
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Member:
kstud
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 5:15 am:
oops, email is kstud@eircom.net
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 6:03 am:
From what I've seen the SF are just as the other warmbloods you've got FABULOUS[but alas very pricey]horses and you've got ordinary horses. I think they got no talent for dressage [at this moment and in my biased opinion] but are often better in the character and soundness aspect then for instance KWPN, less beautiful though.
Still the exceptions will be abundant for all my remarks.
Jos
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 6:33 am:
Selle Francais is now the number 2 studbook in eventing as well as well-represented for showjumping (but I think a lot of that is the "Cavalier" effect as Cor de la Bryere was SF).
Jos may be interested to know that now the Belgian studbook beats the Irish studbook for showjumping - this is because they concentrated on mares...
Imogen
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Member:
imogen
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 6:35 am:
Catherine, was the close contact you didn't like a Berney? I would not be without mine, it's practically saved my life out hunting on a number of occasions, but I also know people who hate them...
Imogen
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 10:34 am:
Off topic but is Selle Francais basically a French Thoroughbred?
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Member:
kstud
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 12:28 pm:
Hi Imogen, no it was a Stubben!
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 12:41 pm:
No it is 'French Saddlehorse' with a lot of Angloarab and thoroughbred though. A bit of Standardbred was used from time to time[it is said that accounts for the strong hind end]And they vary very much in type. Head often not to beautiful[Quito the Baussy fi]and they move much less upwards then Holsteiners for example. But the French riders use a different style too so it isn't easy to say what comes from where.
I just sent a totally Holsteiner [prototype] gelding to a French studfarm to be trained and am very curious to see how he does over here and how he is in comparison to their own SF horses[they started work on about 10 so I should get an impression] I must say Haras Brullemail[www.brullemail.fr] has the thoroughbred and imo very beautiful variety of the SF.
Jos
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007 - 12:44 pm:
One of my costly mistakes was a Stubben Siegfried COULD NOT get used to it and it was so hard it stayed hurting my'derriere'
Jos
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Member:
maggienm
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Posted on Sunday, Nov 25, 2007 - 6:28 pm:
I am looking at a Devoucoux Biarritz. Does Biarritz signify anything>
Also, I sometimes see flap measurement given as 3a. What length is that?
Thanks
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New Member:
realtor
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Posted on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 - 6:00 pm:
Hi Lori,
I decided to have a saddle fitting with my horse. I found it very helpful and the representative from the company brought close to 30 saddles for trials. They did a drawing of the horse and it is kept on file should you decide to order...I did end up ordering an All Purpose saddle. My horse is 4 years old and will fill out some more so I had options put into the saddle specifically for his growth. I have also bought many saddles over the years but this was the best choice! It was great to ride in all the different saddles and also very "eye opening" to realize which I chose.
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Member:
sureed
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Posted on Monday, Nov 26, 2007 - 7:26 pm:
Lori,
I am getting a Devoucoux also, but no one saddle I tried fit me right so they are combining the features of three different saddles and have done a fitting on my horse. I hope it works as this will be saddle No 3. for me too. They have guaranteed that I will be happy or they will take the saddle back and remake it or produce a new one until I am happy. The Antares I ride in now I bought when I owned a TB and it worked great on him but it doesn't fit my Oldenburg mare correctly. Whomever you buy from, get a guarantee that you will be satisfied.
Suzanne
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