I am in the market for a new saddle. What is the best saddle to pick that would best go from show ring hunter to hunting with hounds?
A hunt does not pay attention to what type english saddle you use when hunting. If the show ring has a fashion then purchase that and hope it works for you out hunting.
In my own hunt some members love their flat Crosby saddles while others use deep seat, big knee roll saddles. It is critical that the saddle fits the horse and does not cause back soreness after a 2 or 3 hour hunt.
SLW has it right - there’s a very wide variety of saddles in the hunt field and no one I know frowns on anyone else’s choice. I personally ride in a Stackhouse that’s fairly flat and extremely comfortable for both me and my horse. There are many Berney Bros. AP-style saddles and probably an example or two of most brands/styles you could name.
Find what works and go have fun!
I guess I didn’t phrase my question well. My concern is what brands do well in the hunt field but are still acceptable in the show ring.
Thank you for your answer.
IMO, having some exact saddle brand/style for the hunter/jumper rings is a lot less crucial than many folks would suggest. No, I probably wouldn’t recommend taking an obviously eventing styled saddle or an odd colored/shaped saddle into the hunter ring, but there are a ton of saddles that are easily appropriate for both hunting and showing. Many hunt/event style saddles wouldn’t stick out in the h/j ring anyway–they would only be noticeable while you were hanging around the in-gate waiting for the hack.
My only suggestions would be to stay away from calfskin saddles (leather not sturdy enough) and also to stay away from lower end h/j saddles especially including saddles that have flaps that are made of two layers of leather glued together. Many of those low end saddles have a nice look and perhaps a nice feel but lack durability for the rigors of hunting.
I was nervous about bringing my beloved Antares out on wet/muddy hunts, but it is super comfortable for me and the horse and any wear from mud/water is imperceptible. One of my sons hunts in a Pessoa Gen-X which has a slightly deeper seat but is also suitable for the h/j ring.
As an aside, has anyone noticed how new saddles don’t come with D-rings any more? I just had D-rings put on a couple of saddles that I also show in and those bright shiny rings do seem to stick out a bit.
I hunt in an Amerigo, which I find comfortable and secure. It would certainly be appropriate in the hunter ring as well. I have also hunted and shown hunters and jumpers in my Prestige Meredith (even won a hunter class at WEF in it, despite the white on the cantle ;)) and Devoucoux Biarritz. Personally, I like a deeper saddle with a soft seat and front and rear blocks, and have found that plenty of the popular h/j brands meet those requirements. That said, I don’t worry a lot about whether my saddles get scratched or otherwise marked up a bit.
The best saddle is the one that fits you and your horse, and you feel secure going x-c in. It is completely personal preference. When astride, I usually hunt in my Tad Coffin. My husband uses a Delgrange or a TC. We have also used Butet, Antares, and Pessoa if that is what saddle fit the horse. We used to hunt in flat Hermes saddles.
The show/hunt people we have out with us have every range of saddle: Amerigo, Antares, Black Country, Butet, County, CWD, Delgrange, Devoucoux, Hermes, Pessoa, Prestige, Tad Coffin, Stubben, etc, etc. Some ride in monoflaps. Use the one you like that fits!
Honestly, saddles are designed to be RIDDEN in, and getting muddy, soaked, etc is NO BIG DEAL. They are leather! Just clean, dry, and condition, they will be fine! As 2goals said, just get durable leather (pigskin, buffalo, or grain leather) as calfskin is too soft and will not wear well.
I hunt in my Childeric monoflap xc saddle or my Prestige Eventer. Doesn’t really matter as long as you and the horse are happy.
Albion!
[QUOTE=2foals;7953797]
IMO, having some exact saddle brand/style for the hunter/jumper rings is a lot less crucial than many folks would suggest. No, I probably wouldn’t recommend taking an obviously eventing styled saddle or an odd colored/shaped saddle into the hunter ring, but there are a ton of saddles that are easily appropriate for both hunting and showing. Many hunt/event style saddles wouldn’t stick out in the h/j ring anyway–they would only be noticeable while you were hanging around the in-gate waiting for the hack.
My only suggestions would be to stay away from calfskin saddles (leather not sturdy enough) and also to stay away from lower end h/j saddles especially including saddles that have flaps that are made of two layers of leather glued together. Many of those low end saddles have a nice look and perhaps a nice feel but lack durability for the rigors of hunting.
I was nervous about bringing my beloved Antares out on wet/muddy hunts, but it is super comfortable for me and the horse and any wear from mud/water is imperceptible. One of my sons hunts in a Pessoa Gen-X which has a slightly deeper seat but is also suitable for the h/j ring.
As an aside, has anyone noticed how new saddles don’t come with D-rings any more? I just had D-rings put on a couple of saddles that I also show in and those bright shiny rings do seem to stick out a bit.[/QUOTE]
I always use the d ring add-ons that slide over the stirrup bars-- I’ve seen how easily the built in d pops out if the horse puts its head down to grab grass or something and wondered why they bother putting them on at all. I just got an older Stubben made for Millers that has an extra set of rings sewn on under the flap that look like they might be strong enough to actually use, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Flat Crosby for me, but that is what works for me and my horse! I have seen everything above mentioned in the hunt field. I think most would transition well to the ring provided they don’t have any crazy leather contrast or look too cross country (obvious monoflap type that might be distracting). Just go with what fits you both well!
I hunted and showed hunters, eq, and jumpers in a flat, old Crosby.
My friend did all three in a Pessoa then a Stubben before switching to a much nicer saddle when she went to work for an Olympian in LA.
Others rode and showed in County, more Crosby, Stubben, Collegiate, Pessoa, Antares, and more. You saw all sorts of saddles out there!
We hunted rough country, so it wasn’t recommended that you bring your nice sparkly, calf saddle out. Usually it would just get scratched and people would be upset (same with fancy custom, calf boots). I would recommend something you won’t mind getting dirty, muddy, or scratched that cleans up nicely!
It really depends on what your horse needs. If your horse needs a hoop tree or an A shaped tree is important to know and if you need a squared cantle. Many saddles can be ordered with a squared cantle as opposed to a round cantle. The Killington, Black Country Wexford or Wexford X are two saddles commonly used in hunting and the Wexford with a squared cantle for hunt shows.
Just curious jaybird660, why would you ‘need’ a square cantle? I’ve ridden in both square and round and haven’t noticed that makes a difference to me.
It is customary in the Hunter show ring to have a square cantle. That is the only reason. It really doesn’t affect anything else except maybe making the seat feel a little more open.
Thanks! I always felt it was more of a fashion thing. Having gone from eventing to hunters, and now to hunting, I’ve seen what’s popular in each.
Though I love the saddle with square cantle that currently I ride in - I suspect I’d love it just as much with a round cantle…
I found that the Stubben Roxane S was well designed for fox hunting and put me in the best position for jumping. It’s an older (now) Stubben design with a deep seat and felt very secure for me. I would think it would also be good for the show ring. One of the older hunt people took one look at it and said it was a good saddle for foxhunting. And it was.
If the Roxane S fits you and your horse, I highly recommend it.
