Love em? Hate em? Why?
Trying to educate my brain before buying a saddle! I don’t want to not get them only to find I wanted them.
I hate them all. My saddle has no blocks of any kind.
I never like the feeling of being locked into place. Plus, in any sport I’ve been in, I’m kind of minimalist when it comes to equipment.
Many like them for support in two point or the down side of a jump or for half halts. You can also order many saddles with the blocks on velcro or order a saddle with a modified block.
I like thigh blocks and have them on all my saddles. Grew up without them but in middle age learned that they help keep my legs correctly positioned. Some people do not need them, some do need them.
Not sure if I’ve got the terminology right because I’ve always thought calf and thigh blocks were the same - the back blocks - as opposed to knee blocks, in the front, so I’ll just use front and back.
There are so many variables whether you’re looking at D or jump saddles - shape, location and size are probably the major categories. I like a small, high front block and nothing in the back. I had a very nice jump saddle once that had small back blocks which I loved until I jumped up a bank and couldn’t move my leg to remain vertical - got left every single time. Ugh. No back blocks for me. If I’d kept the saddle, I’d have taken them off.
I come from more of a hunter back round. I loved my Beval Devon with it’s minimal knee roll and slightly padded flap. On Thursday I just got my new monoflap with a thigh block. I really like it. I was a little concerned that I wouldn’t like it. I had a really good jump lesson yesterday. My guy can get a bit strong and root down so he pulls me down his neck. The thigh blocks really helped to stabilize me. My trainer really liked it for me too. The blocks were just there, right where I needed them but I didn’t notice them either.
I would have liked to try one of these saddle before I bought it but nothing fits my horse well enough off the rack to try ahead of time. I bought this one and the previous one from Patrick Saddlery on faith and have been very happy.
Patrick will be at Rolex. Make sure you check out his saddles while you are there. My new one is the Society. Mine was more expensive than the County price you quoted. I have never seen a used Patrick jump saddle for sale. Pelham frequently has used dressage. He is a small shop but his workmanship is fantastic. He has won a few Master Saddler awards.
My older Patrick has the adjustable gullet. So that is an option on his saddles. I think he also offers an adjustable stirrup bar. I did not go with either of those options on the Society. I never used the adjustable gullet feature so we didn’t bother on the new saddle. Can you tell I love my Patrick saddles? The only reason I am getting rid of my old one was I lost a lot of weight (100 pounds) so I was swimming in it and it was putting me in a chair seat.
I prefer very minimalist saddles, and would go for a plain flap if I could. That being said, depending on placement, I actually will take some blocks over very padded saddles. What I don’t like is feeling “locked in” to my saddle, but I don’t mind a little extra support strategically placed for if I have an “oh S#@!” moment over a fence or down a hill or something.
I ride in a Passier Military II, which is a monoflap, so feels very close contact and bare bones, but which has a knee block placed quite high up, and a thigh block placed very far back. On my particular conformation, I don’t feel them unless I’m cantering downhill, or get knocked loose, or if a horse throws a particularly back cracking effort over a fence. When that happens, I don’t mind them so much 
When I moved to 3’+ fences for the first time, I did so in a completely plain-flap saddle a la Hermes Steinkrauss, and I’ve retained a real fondness for barely-there saddles, and I’d always choose less over more when it comes to padding etc.
[QUOTE=Saskatoonian;8625135]
Not sure if I’ve got the terminology right because I’ve always thought calf and thigh blocks were the same - the back blocks - as opposed to knee blocks, in the front, so I’ll just use front and back.
There are so many variables whether you’re looking at D or jump saddles - shape, location and size are probably the major categories. I like a small, high front block and nothing in the back. I had a very nice jump saddle once that had small back blocks which I loved until I jumped up a bank and couldn’t move my leg to remain vertical - got left every single time. Ugh. No back blocks for me. If I’d kept the saddle, I’d have taken them off.[/QUOTE]
You’re probably right! I have no clue what I’m talking about! Front block and back block!
Oh, you may very well be right! I just wanted my comments to be clear. I’m no saddle lingo authority.
This is my saddle with the thigh bock and a calf block.
https://www.facebook.com/353214898064095/photos/pcb.1141409245911319/1141408875911356/?type=3&theater
The thigh block is literally on top of the thigh.
This saddle has a knee roll. It is in front of the knee.
http://centerlinetack.com/TackShop/HorseTack/Saddles%20(detail)/R)%20Prix%20de%20France.htm
So the front blocks/rolls can be thigh or knee blocks. I hope that helps with some visualization.
Yes it helps! I’m 100% talking about your saddle! It’s lovely! Looking into those now 
[QUOTE=Ready To Riot;8625349]
Yes it helps! I’m 100% talking about your saddle! It’s lovely! Looking into those now ;)[/QUOTE]
I love it. Patrick is great to work with. And yes that picture is my saddle before he shipped it to me. I work with a local saddle fitter that will do the final wool adjustment in a couple of weeks. She has another client that also purchased a Society. Her’s she ordered with larger blocks, a narrow twist and it did not have the havana accents.
Patrick has a number of piping and paneling and welting and leather choices. I went relatively simple. The nice thing is my previous Patrick saddle was all the dark havana so my bridle and leathers are havana. Therefore my bridle and leathers still look good with the new saddle.
I recently splurged on a monoflap Stackhouse with thigh and calf blocks. I love love love love it!!! The saddle feels so secure, and the close contact feel I have with my horse can’t be beat. I used to be completely minimalist on saddles, but after experiencing this saddle, I will never go back.
I don’t mind an appropriately placed thigh block, IF it fits the length of the femur. I’d venture to guess that mine has probably helped me a time or two, usually in moments where my horse stumbled or otherwise dropped out from under me.
Calf blocks…ehh. I think for the most part if your leg is in the right place it’s not going to make much contact with that block. At least, mine doesn’t.
[QUOTE=PrinceSheik325;8625451]
I recently splurged on a monoflap Stackhouse with thigh and calf blocks. I love love love love it!!! The saddle feels so secure, and the close contact feel I have with my horse can’t be beat. I used to be completely minimalist on saddles, but after experiencing this saddle, I will never go back.[/QUOTE]
Do you mind sharing pictures?!
The only thing about the thigh block that I hate is that when I put my stirrups down and flat in my jump saddles, I hit my thigh block sometimes. I rarely flat in my jump saddle so it isn’t a problem that I’m concerned about.
I personally like having both thigh and knee blocks. I don’t like massive blocks. My Prestige Eventer had large blocks. They were velcro and I could move them, but I wasn’t a huge fan of them. I like smaller blocks that don’t lock me in place.
