Need Suggestions for a Well-Balanced Jumping Saddle

[JBJDressage]

Hello everyone,

I am looking for some advice. For the past few months I have been fighting a bacterial infection that invaded my joints. Although the pain and swelling have significantly decreased, I am still having bouts of reactive arthritis. It has been suggested that strengthening the muscles around my joints will benefit me in the long-run. I have been riding for just under 20 years, but have not jumped in over a decade. Because of that, I only have dressage saddles.

I am hoping to find a saddle with a more forward flap to do some two-point at a trot and canter to begin building my leg muscles back up. Eventually I would also like to do some light jumping. I need a very well-balanced saddle, but one without a huge price-tag.

Does anyone have suggestions? I have seen quite a few used Stubben Siegfrieds around $350, but do not have any experience with them.

My horse’s saddle is a medium-width Passier Freemove Dynamic with the cutback head, as he has fairly prominent withers. I am concerned about finding a used saddle that will fit him as well as work for me, but I want to try

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time!

[TimelyImpulse]

I’m sorry you’re in pain. I’m glad you’re still riding.

Some questions:
What size seat is your saddle? How tall are you? Leggy, or vertically challenged?
What breed is your horse? Any pix of him or his back? What’s your budget?

Steubens are nice saddles, you just need to make sure the tree on them, or any saddle, is the right shape for your horse.

I’d suggest wool flocked as they are better for adjusting and easier on the hors’so back, and when you do start in 2 point, use a neck strap.

[JBJDressage]

Thank you for your reply

I am 5’9" and somewhat leggy. I have a shorter upper body. My Passier is a 19", but I can ride in an 18" as long as it does not have a very deep seat. I like flatter-seated saddles so that I can move around more and not feel restricted.

Moose, my horse, is a Quarter horse who is around 17hh. I am on my iPhone right now and am having difficulty attaching a picture, but will do so tomorrow once I’m on my laptop.

I would like to keep the price under $500 as finances are tight right now. Less is better

Thanks again!

[Belmont]

I just found an older Albion for $600 on one of those English Tack Trader websites for my guy. It’s the most balanced and comfortable saddle I have ever sat in. It hugs my butt. It also is very secure! My horse decided to “play” during the cold front this weekend, and I sat there and just giggled. I didn’t feel like I was going to get launched. I know you said you liked flat (as do I, my old saddle was flat, flat), but I can’t say enough good about this saddle. It was everything I thought I hated.

It is also the saddle that has fit him best. He is a QH with a wide shoulder and long, sloping wither. He has been a terrible hard used saddle shopping fit. I highly suggest looking for Albions.

[equest]

I would check Ebay. I recently purchased an older (probably 10 year old) County Symmetry on Ebay, which was a 17", and really liked the balanced position it put me in.
Sadly, the seller had misrepresented it as a 17.5", which is the size that I need. I sent it back to the seller yesterday.
I would expect that saddle to be back on Ebay in a few days, listed at about $1000.

Now, if anyone knows of a 17.5 County Symmetry for sale , PLEASE let me know. I actually liked the balance of that saddle better than the Childeric, PJ, and even Antares that I have ridden in.

[TimelyImpulse]

I have a County Pro-Fit 18" Medium or No. 2 fit you can borrow if you pay for shipping. If it doesn’t fit your horse, just ship it back. It’s a forward PLAIN flap, which is old skool, but it has a lovely balance point and will help you 2 point. I picked it up as an interim saddle when I was waiting for my Conquest to be made, and I rode in it, but it’s just too forward for my stumpy legs.

Nothing wrong with it, it’s in excellent condition.

Let me know.

Equest-- I’m visiting a friend in a couple weeks who may just have a Symmetry for sale. Send me a pm aso a reminder and I’ll ask if she wants to move them along.

[equest]

[QUOTE=TimelyImpulse;8459592]
I have a County Pro-Fit 18" Medium or No. 2 fit you can borrow if you pay for shipping. If it doesn’t fit your horse, just ship it back. It’s a forward PLAIN flap, which is old skool, but it has a lovely balance point and will help you 2 point. I picked it up as an interim saddle when I was waiting for my Conquest to be made, and I rode in it, but it’s just too forward for my stumpy legs.

Nothing wrong with it, it’s in excellent condition.

Let me know.

Equest-- I’m visiting a friend in a couple weeks who may just have a Symmetry for sale. Send me a pm aso a reminder and I’ll ask if she wants to move them along.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Timely! I’ll PM you.

[JenEM]

Finding an 18" in an older saddle might be hard, but if you don’t need deep seated or want a bunch of padding/blocking, you should be able to find something in your price range. Maybe an older Northrun Ashland, (unpadded) Beval Devon/Natural, older PDN-knockoff style Collegiates? I think the older Crosby PDNs might run too narrow for a QH type, and the older Pessoas would be out of your price range.

IME, the Stubben Sigfrieds are well made and last for ages, but are deeper seated and put you in a bit of a chair seat; if you go Stubben, look for a bit newer, h/j-type model rather than the AP-type Sigfrieds, like an Edelweiss.

[equest]

I would try riding in a 17.5" in a flatter seat saddle if I were you. I am also a long legged 5’9", and generally ride in a 17.5" in that type of saddle.

In addition to the suggestions from JenEM, I would try a Dover Circuit, which I have ridden in and thought was fine for the price. A Bates may be worth a try as well.

[kashmere]

If the passier tree and cut back pommel work for your horse, why not try a passier jump saddle - or one of their A/P saddles with a forward flap? If you search “Passier jump” on Ebay, a few come up well within your price range.

I have a Passier for my c/c saddle and I love it. Great balance and they are impeccably well made saddles.

[x]

I second the Passier jump saddle, and also have had good luck with the Courbettes being a decent saddle that tends to be less money.

[Inclined]

Another option, and definitely thrifty, is an older Thorowgood AP. The balance on them, IMO, is excellent, and the seats are usually a medium depth. On mine, the flaps are quite forward, and the head is cut back. To me, as a middle aged re-rider with aches and pains, it provides enough cushion to allow me to exercise safely, using my muscles without damaging them. I have a Morgan/QH cross with wide shoulders and some wither, and the standard medium/ medium-wide (non-adjustable gullet) fits him really well - better actually than wide or extra-wide trees in other saddles. My DD and I both have one, and they were both purchased very reasonably on ebay. I know this isn’t the right size, but to give you an idea, this one is similar to mine: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Thorowgood-Walsall-All-Purpose-Dressage-Gel-Ride-Saddle-17in-Med-tree-/221980057170?hash=item33af0ade52:g:q9kAAOSwf-VWaG0T . They’re not the prettiest saddles in the world, but they make up for it in usefulness.

[JBJDressage]

Thank you for all of the replies :). Here is a link to a picture of Moose to show his conformation. It was taken by his previous owner and is the only one that I have that offers a good view of his back and withers. I could not figure out how to make it show up on here

[anmoro]

I was going to also suggest a County. I have a County Stabilizer. I purchased it prior to an accident I had, but post accident, I have developed arthritis in my left hip as well as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in my right arm and left leg. Due to many previous athletic injuries years over the years, I have back problems and sciatica. The County Stabilizer has made a world of difference for all of the issues. It has also helped my balance tremendously. I purchased it to fit my TB that was very bulky and stocky with huge shoulders and also had shark fin withers. The chances of finding one around $500 is probably slim, unfortunately, but if you can find one at a reasonable price, I would suggest it. The other advantage is, they are wool flocked so they can be fitted to your horse and the in my PERSONAL opinion, they absorb shock better. I love my saddle and if it were to not fit the next horse I purchased, I do know that I would look for another County.

[Saskatoonian]

What a cute picture. And thanks for tipping me off to that dressage saddle - it looks like what I’ve been (halfheartedly! I hate dressage saddles!) looking for.

Had Stubbens for years - Siegfried jump and Tristan dressage - and dumped the latter for a Passier with freedom panels and the difference in the horse’s way of going was night and day. That, and your description of Moose, gives me pause about the older Stubbens and Passiers, and I wouldn’t buy one til I tried one. As for balance, it’s very personal, just like with dressage saddles. I ended up dumping my Stubben jump saddle for a Stackhouse, which is perfectly balanced for me (even the used one I had before my custom). I tried lots of others - County, Amerigo, whatever I could find. They didn’t work. Beval Natural did. Point is, though, that you may have to experiment to find one you agree on.

In the meantime, are the blocks on your dressage saddle small enough to jack up your stirrups and let your knee hang off the front? I could do that with my old Tristan - jumped 3’ courses in it, even. Looks a little weird, but you won’t be able to pinch with your knee (silver lining!) and Moose will like the saddle.

Good luck!

[beowulf]

from your description, price point, and picture of your horse… I don’t think you could go wrong with an Ainsley XC Pro, or some other xc/jump saddle by them. They sell dirt cheap and are good quality, I liken them to ‘english Stubbens’. I normally fit in an 18" in most saddles and I’m still in my 16.5 Ainsley saddle from HS… I’m long-legged, 5’7 but all my height is in my legs so I’ve always had to have long flap saddles except in Ainsleys. My 16.5 Ainsley has fit every horse I owned except one. Obviously you’d have to adjust it for your horse but I’ve had nothing but great luck with Ainsleys - I have two now and both never sit long enough on the sidelines to collect dust… I have a small fleet of saddles and always seem to grab the Ainsleys when I ride :winkgrin: