I know AP’s have a bad rep. here on COTH. The concern being the stirrup bar placement isn’t positioned correctly, but what about eventing saddles. They seem similar to AP’s, but can anyone share any experience with them?
Most “Eventing” saddles ARE AP saddles. There isn’t much different. a few saddles labeled “eventer” or “Eventing” are close contact/jump saddles (like the Prestige Eventer) but some are just APs and called “Eventing” saddles because they say you can do all three phases in them.
If you can only afford one saddle, get a proper jumping saddle. It’s far easier to do dressage in a jump saddle than jump in a dressage saddle.
When I think of an eventing saddle I think of a flat-seat jump saddle with an extra forward flap for riding cross-country. Not at all like an AP or GP saddle. GPs, by the way, are far better made than they used to be and I’ve been selling quite a few lately. If the idea of a GP appeals to you, definitely try riding in a few before ruling them out. Just like a dressage or jump saddle, they can be fully customized to suit. An added bonus: prices tend to be lower than comparable dressage or jump saddles.
That is the most confusing part. Event people think event saddles are XC saddles with very forward flaps but event saddles according to saddle makers and saddles with a straighter flap versus more forward. I agree that it doesn’t make sense. For example, the BC GP Event is an AP saddle with a straighter flap. Then, we have some saddles such as the BC Tex Eventer that do have a forward flap. It’s helpful to have someone “in the know”, that can interpret saddle particulars.
I’ve also found that most saddles designated as XC saddles have a flap that is WAYYYY to forward for anyone who isn’t on the tall side.
County, too, has an “Eventer,” which is very AP like (actually a pretty decent saddle, and because of some customization options, you can make it pretty well balanced for jumping). I’ve seen a few other things that were called “Eventers” that are very AP like. But, some like the Prestige “Eventing” saddles are more like jumping/xc saddles. It is terribly confusing.
The collegiate event saddle that served as my first saddle was a hybrid between a dressage and jumping saddle. The flap was not forward and cut down like a dressage saddle.
The seat was deeper than a jump saddle but not as deep as a regular dressage saddle. I rode hunters/equitation in it in high school and evented to novice level in it. It got a bit old and broken and I had some money so I bought a new dressage and jump saddle since I was getting serious about Eventing as a primary discipline.
This is kind of what my saddle looked like, but they don’t make mine anymore.
https://www.jefferspet.com/products/collegiate-brown-convertible-event-saddle-size-18-in-seat
Most people did not like it as much, mostly because they were used to having more forward flaps and felt like they were falling off the front of the saddle. I found it very comfortable and did up to 1st level dressage and jumped 4’ in it.
I don’t think they make a trule hybrid event saddle like that anymore, though.
I ride in a Jeffries Flyover monoflap that I’ve had since they first made them. It was designed by Ian Stark just for riding cross country. As I’ve gotten older and competed less, I’ve gotten rid of other saddles but always keep the flyover.
I looked on Jeffries site but it looks like they no longer make this saddle. It is an awesome saddle for jumping but you have to like an extremely close contact saddle.
We have been happy with County Eventers. The demos are reasonably priced.
I bought a Colliegate Eventer, and seriously couldn’t jump…Felt like I was going to fall off…Sold it on. I like a close contact jumping saddle, and a true dressage saddle…good luck
I have an old school Collegiate senior event (and I mean old—it’s from when Ruiz Diaz was making them, before they switched to foam panels) that is still in surprisingly good shape. I really love the deeper seat and moderate flap, though I don’t jump very high. I love it for hacking out because it’s very secure but I can still move around a lot. I wouldn’t buy a new Collegiate event, though. I do like the look of the County saddles.
Thanks all for the input. My leasors lent me an ansur konklusion, but it’s not very secure feeling. I don’t have any intention on jumping more than 2’7, atleast for the foreseeable future.
