I need a seat saver for both my saddles: dressage and jump.
The dressage saddle because I’ve just re-dyed the seat and it fades in the sin. The jump saddle because it’s a Stübben and well… rather hard!
What are everyone’s faves? Something that stays put, looks discreet, and won’t damage the seat underneath (as I suspect my sheepskin one might as it has rivets on it)
thanks!
I have ridden thousands of miles using JMS Sheepskin seat savers (purchased from Riding Warehouse).
I bought the jump saddle JMS one from riding warehouse as well for my delicate calfskin saddle and love it! It completely covers the flaps so I can ride without tallboots or halfchaps comfortably and it’s so plush. There’s no hardware on it, it just has a spandex velco string that fastens under the channel of the saddle so I don’t think it would cause any scratches. I believe they make a dressage version as well.
I very much like the Acavallo seat saver that I have on my jump saddle. I’ve had it for 4 years or so, and find it very comfortable with the right amount of padding. It also has some “stick” to it that I’ve benefited from. (I have the “gel out” version).
I’ve been using this gal’s products for over probably over 20 years. Thin, secure and comfortable. http://www.theotherseat.com/
I have thought about seat savers for making my basically very comfortable dressage saddle stay comfy past the 4 hour mark on back country trail rides:)
It seems to me it matters what job you need the seat saver to do.
If you have a bad back and want cushioning for an hour’s schooling, it sounds like the gel pads like the acavallo are the way to go (haven’t seen them IRL yet).
For long trail rides in my particular saddle, its more like softening things and preventing rubs, so I’ve been thinking about sheepskin because I feel like 4 plus hours on gel in hot summer weather might be counter productive.
But I’m also nervous about any seat saver shifting in a spook, or going down a steep hill. I’ve been on mountain trails around here where if you lost any traction in the saddle you’d go over the horse’s head.
The gel seat can be ordered with the fabric side, not the gel side up.
That may help the concern you have there.
I have one of those thick ones, but I also have a saddle that is way too big for me.
The thick sheepskin is ok to help fill the too large seat, not sure it may be too much on a tighter fitting seat.
I was wondering if the gel one may be less bulky?
I may not should even be riding, why looking for extra cushion.
Two collapsed vertebra and a few crunched discs worry my dr with any concussion on the spine and if a horse were to trip or pull something silly.
I haven’t had any issues with the gel seat feeling too hot for my backside during the summer. It has perforations in it which does seem to allow for air-flow.
It’s not so thick that it really changes the size of the seat (or at least not that I’ve noticed). And because of the way that it attaches to the saddle, it stays put, no shifting.
I second the Acavallo Gel Out. It is super comfortable, looks fine when it’s on the saddle, and is just sticky enough to give a little extra grip. A few friends mocked me when they saw I had a seat saver - then they sat on it and the mocking stopped
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