Jumping saddles- Opinions?

Carri · 08-12-2008, 04:56 PM

When I started riding again 2 years ago, after a 5 year break, I bought a Marcel Toulouse Celine close contact saddle. I loved it, and I am not sure exactly what possessed me to do this, other than that is was older and kind of beat up, but our local saddle store was going out of business and I bought a new saddle at 60% off. I sold my Celine for what I paid for the new saddle, and the saddle I bought was "supposedly" a nicer model than the Celine. It is a Toulouse Padjette. I rode in it before I bought it, and thought it just felt stiff because it was so new. I have been riding and jumping in it for 3 months now, and I HATE it. I feel so unbalanced and insecure in it.

Today, I had my trainer ride in it. She has ridden my horse several times, but always in my dressage saddle. I told her today how I was feeling about my current saddle, so she got on him and she agreed, she did not feel like it is a good saddle for the way I ride, and she didn't love it either.

I am thinking about trading it in for something I like better. But what?
Today I brought home another Toulouse, it is a Legano, and will try it tomorrow. I am looking for something in that price range, which is about $900- $1000. Nothing more!

What other saddles are there out there in that price range that are good, comfortable jumping saddles? I like a little deeper seat, the flat seat is something I don't like about the Padjette.

sli92 · 08-12-2008, 05:17 PM

Personally I like Crosby's... although they are fairly expensive new. They are comfy, put you in a good position, and can be good for long legged people.
The good part is that you can usualy find a few used ones around because they do last.

Thunderz Gurlz · 08-13-2008, 11:51 AM

I had a Toulouse and I loved them, What about finding another Celine?

SoCo · 08-13-2008, 11:57 AM

Stubben, the only way to go! You can find nice used ones in your price range if you take the time to look.
I can't ride in anything but and they wear for years and years and years.

KatieMae · 08-13-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sli92

Personally I like Crosby's... although they are fairly expensive new. They are comfy, put you in a good position, and can be good for long legged people.
The good part is that you can usualy find a few used ones around because they do last.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCo

Stubben, the only way to go! You can find nice used ones in your price range if you take the time to look.
I can't ride in anything but and they wear for years and years and years.

For jumping saddles, I like both of these brands...
I rode a 17h Selle francais in the Stubben, a 16h TB in the Crosby.
If I had to choose between the two, I'd probably go with Crosby...
I always felt a little more secure in it.

**gbarmranch** · 08-13-2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sli92

Personally I like Crosby's... although they are fairly expensive new. They are comfy, put you in a good position, and can be good for long legged people.
The good part is that you can usualy find a few used ones around because they do last.

I love a crosby.. I have one that is 20 years old, that I bought used.. and you couldn't pay me enough to sell it..

They break it well, are soft, supple, move well with the rider and horse.. Does she have any there to try ..

ruffian · 08-13-2008, 12:26 PM

I am a traditionalist, I like the German and English brands.
I rode for 30+ years in a Pandur (similar to a Passier), sold it for more than I had paid and still kind of regret it.
I have never been able to fit the Stubbens, but if you want a deeper seat they are good and last forever if well cared for, so you might find a nice used one.
The Pessoa's are nice and I currently ride in an Excelle, but it is not as secure as what I'm used to.
The advantage to buying used is you can usually test ride it and rule out how much it will improve/change with breaking in. Around here we can't test the new saddles, so unless you track down someone with and identical model, it is a bit of a gamble.

Hideaway · 08-13-2008, 12:30 PM

I'd also go for a Crosby or a Pessoa. I like both. Never could love a stubben but they do last.

Wolfesden · 08-13-2008, 12:44 PM

I love Judy 2's...
They are made at a tack store in Franklin TN... Judy's Tack. I'll never use another saddle than that to jump in

mafarion · 08-13-2008, 12:48 PM

Ditto to that! I love both of my crosby saddles. I only paid about $350 for each because they are used, but they are more well put together than most new saddles, I find.

From my personal experiences, stubbens just never quite sat me correctly.

kellidahorsegirl · 08-13-2008, 12:51 PM

I have had a no name A/P saddle...moved to a Courbette A/P saddle. Have rode in many other kinds of saddles as well. The current saddle I have is a Beval Natural.......it is the BEST so far (I haven't sat any saddles that are higher end than it). It helps the position just because its built correctly. It doesn't even have knee rolls or anything.

New they sell for $2500 but I got mine used for $800. There are actually a couple Beval CC saddles on ebay right now for around 7-900 bucks.

I like the Beval I have cuz its built for what I do though. I compete at 3'6 and regularily school a bit higher and will be moving both my horses UP soon. So when you're jumping large fences, a good saddle is KEY. Smaller fences (under 3') don't require such 'precision' in the tack and you can get away with "cheaper" saddles.

I've also heard great reviews about the Dover Circuit saddles. Those are between 800-1000 as far as I recall.

Carri · 08-15-2008, 06:23 PM

I took the Legano back today, and decided to sit in basically every saddle in the store... (Yep, they love me!). I sat in a $5000 Hermes (knowing fill well I wouldn't buy it!), Bates, Crosbys, Barnsbys, Pessoas, Toulouses, Stubbens... I did not look at price tags or brand names while trying them, and I picked my top three.

Oddly, all three were all purpose event type saddles, as opposed to more jumping or equitation style saddles, with lots of cushion and very deep seats and not so forward flaps. They were all pretty similar, and one was a Crosby, one a Barnsby, and one a Jeffries.

Since the Jeffries has been in the store for a pretty long time and was on MAJOR sale, I brought it home to try. I can't wait to try it tomorrow!

I definitely thought it was interesting to sit in all those different saddles and just get to pick which ones I like. Oddly enough, also, the ones I liked were 17" rather than the 18" I always though I needed. We were just trying them to see if I liked the style, but my trainer did not think it seemed too small at all. We will know for sure when I ride in it, and jump Opie in it.

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08-12-2008, 04:56 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	Jumping saddles- Opinions? When I started riding again 2 years ago, after a 5 year break, I bought a Marcel Toulouse Celine close contact saddle. I loved it, and I am not sure exactly what possessed me to do this, other than that is was older and kind of beat up, but our local saddle store was going out of business and I bought a new saddle at 60% off. I sold my Celine for what I paid for the new saddle, and the saddle I bought was "supposedly" a nicer model than the Celine. It is a Toulouse Padjette. I rode in it before I bought it, and thought it just felt stiff because it was so new. I have been riding and jumping in it for 3 months now, and I HATE it. I feel so unbalanced and insecure in it. Today, I had my trainer ride in it. She has ridden my horse several times, but always in my dressage saddle. I told her today how I was feeling about my current saddle, so she got on him and she agreed, she did not feel like it is a good saddle for the way I ride, and she didn't love it either. I am thinking about trading it in for something I like better. But what? Today I brought home another Toulouse, it is a Legano, and will try it tomorrow. I am looking for something in that price range, which is about $900- $1000. Nothing more! What other saddles are there out there in that price range that are good, comfortable jumping saddles? I like a little deeper seat, the flat seat is something I don't like about the Padjette. __________________

08-12-2008, 05:17 PM
sli92 Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 596	Personally I like Crosby's... although they are fairly expensive new. They are comfy, put you in a good position, and can be good for long legged people. The good part is that you can usualy find a few used ones around because they do last. __________________ ~Sarah * PA Sebastion(Oh CanadaxCrystal Vision)

08-13-2008, 11:51 AM
Thunderz Gurlz Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South West Michigan Posts: 3,749	I had a Toulouse and I loved them, What about finding another Celine? __________________ Proud Owner To Pogo 15 yr old Quarter Pony Mare Thunder 30 yr old Hackney/Quarter Pony Gelding

08-13-2008, 11:57 AM
SoCo Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Phila Pa Posts: 113	Stubben, the only way to go! You can find nice used ones in your price range if you take the time to look. I can't ride in anything but and they wear for years and years and years.

08-13-2008, 12:26 PM
ruffian Yearling Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 981	I am a traditionalist, I like the German and English brands. I rode for 30+ years in a Pandur (similar to a Passier), sold it for more than I had paid and still kind of regret it. I have never been able to fit the Stubbens, but if you want a deeper seat they are good and last forever if well cared for, so you might find a nice used one. The Pessoa's are nice and I currently ride in an Excelle, but it is not as secure as what I'm used to. The advantage to buying used is you can usually test ride it and rule out how much it will improve/change with breaking in. Around here we can't test the new saddles, so unless you track down someone with and identical model, it is a bit of a gamble. __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

08-13-2008, 12:30 PM
Hideaway Coming two Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: PA Posts: 1,950	I'd also go for a Crosby or a Pessoa. I like both. Never could love a stubben but they do last. __________________ Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History

08-13-2008, 12:44 PM
Wolfesden Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Tullahoma, TN Posts: 211	I love Judy 2's... They are made at a tack store in Franklin TN... Judy's Tack. I'll never use another saddle than that to jump in __________________ Attempt the impossible! Semper Fi!

08-13-2008, 12:48 PM
mafarion Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 81	Ditto to that! I love both of my crosby saddles. I only paid about $350 for each because they are used, but they are more well put together than most new saddles, I find. From my personal experiences, stubbens just never quite sat me correctly.

08-13-2008, 12:51 PM
kellidahorsegirl Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Nebraska Posts: 355	I have had a no name A/P saddle...moved to a Courbette A/P saddle. Have rode in many other kinds of saddles as well. The current saddle I have is a Beval Natural.......it is the BEST so far (I haven't sat any saddles that are higher end than it). It helps the position just because its built correctly. It doesn't even have knee rolls or anything. New they sell for $2500 but I got mine used for $800. There are actually a couple Beval CC saddles on ebay right now for around 7-900 bucks. I like the Beval I have cuz its built for what I do though. I compete at 3'6 and regularily school a bit higher and will be moving both my horses UP soon. So when you're jumping large fences, a good saddle is KEY. Smaller fences (under 3') don't require such 'precision' in the tack and you can get away with "cheaper" saddles. I've also heard great reviews about the Dover Circuit saddles. Those are between 800-1000 as far as I recall. __________________ Kelli I'm not so good at the advice... Can I interest you in a sarcastic comment?

08-15-2008, 06:23 PM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	I took the Legano back today, and decided to sit in basically every saddle in the store... (Yep, they love me!). I sat in a $5000 Hermes (knowing fill well I wouldn't buy it!), Bates, Crosbys, Barnsbys, Pessoas, Toulouses, Stubbens... I did not look at price tags or brand names while trying them, and I picked my top three. Oddly, all three were all purpose event type saddles, as opposed to more jumping or equitation style saddles, with lots of cushion and very deep seats and not so forward flaps. They were all pretty similar, and one was a Crosby, one a Barnsby, and one a Jeffries. Since the Jeffries has been in the store for a pretty long time and was on MAJOR sale, I brought it home to try. I can't wait to try it tomorrow! I definitely thought it was interesting to sit in all those different saddles and just get to pick which ones I like. Oddly enough, also, the ones I liked were 17" rather than the 18" I always though I needed. We were just trying them to see if I liked the style, but my trainer did not think it seemed too small at all. We will know for sure when I ride in it, and jump Opie in it. __________________