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I would love to buy a Stubben from my BO and hope to some day, but at the rate I am able to save up money (which has slowed down significantly since I am all out of things to sell) and a $2400 price tag, the reality is that it will take about 2 years to get there.
I need something sooner than 2 years from now. Currently I have $500 saved up and it will take me a while to get much more than that. I've been scouring the internet for used options, but Gem needs a few very specific things in a saddle to make it work for her and those aren't popping up. I'm also not a big fan of purchasing a saddle with a fixed tree that is measured in "narrow, medium, wide" instead of actual centimeters. It is kinda like buying a pair of jeans: each brand measures differently. I know what she needs in centimeters, but good luck finding many used saddles that are 28 cm. I don't have the money available to purchase and hope it works, then resell and purchase again. There are also no good consignment shops within 2 hours of me. Womp...womp.
I do believe that I may have found my perfect solution that is basically within my budget if I stretch it just a tiny bit.
Here is my big question for you all though and I would really, really, really love input here so please speak up!!!
The entire purpose of said new to me saddle would be for flat work/beginner basic dressage and low level jumps. To me this sounds like the perfect scenario for an all purpose/general purpose saddle. Flap straight enough for a longer flat work leg yet forward enough to raise the stirrups and jump small jumps. That way I could do both in the one saddle I can afford to get.
However, BO says that AP saddles are really "no purpose saddles" being neither good for jumping nor dressage. I understand the point of view. She would prefer I have a jump saddle to skate by in flat work and do well in jumping on versus a dressage saddle where I could do well on the flat but be very hard pressed to jump in.
Since I am really not actually doing any jumping at all and just doing ground poles, I'm not sure a jump saddle is the way to go though. Wouldn't a dressage saddle be better for what I am currently doing?
If I could only figure out the style of saddle to purchase, I could much more easily hone my searches. I don't have any wiggle room in my budget, so I need to focus and get what is going to work out for us for the next several years in a back up discipline on a senior mare.
So....AP, dressage or jump???
Help!
It really depends on the saddle and how you sit in it, honestly. I think there is such a thing as a true AP out there. No, it isn't as good as a purpose-built saddle, but it will do the job just fine for you. You'd have to sit in a bunch of them and feel your balance and position to really be sure. I have an old Passier AP that did a great job of being a true AP for a long time - for 6 years it was all I had to ride in. Then it became my jumping saddle.
ReplyDeleteIt's really a question of philosophy - are you the person who has to have the absolute correct tool for the job that will be as good as it possibly can, or are you a person who can find a good general tool and make it work to fit multiple purposes, even if it might be a little trickier or require some adjustment?
Very good points. While I'd love to be someone who gets the exact right tool for the job, my budget won't allow for it. And honestly I'm not even sure what tool of need becaus the job is currently a little fuzzy :(
DeleteIf you're serious about jumping, I'd get a jump saddle and do dressage in it. If you're more serious about dressage, do the opposite. Jumping will be hard to do in the dressage saddle and you'll have to work harder on your dressage position in the jumping saddle - but it can be done. If I were you, I'd get a jumping saddle and use for both as I know I can sit up nice and straight in a jumping saddle if I need to. I use a wintec AP to jump Griffin in, and while it's nice, it isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination! I expect I'll one day pick up a jumping saddle, but until then, I certainly make due.
ReplyDeleteI think the problem is that I'm not sure what I'm serious about beyond endurance. I love what we are doing now but honesty it isn't dressage or jumping. It's just all the basic flat work I've never worked through. When I started taking lessons it was with the thought of focusing on dressage so I was geared up to buy a dressage saddle but now I'm liking the thought of doing more of a horse trial with both dressage and jumping. Ugh.
DeleteI love my AP saddle, but completely agree with the 'no purpose' sentiment. It works great for endurance and starting youngsters, but it leaves my posture in no man's land. I would say get the jumping saddle, because you CAN do dressage in it, but you really can't jump well (if at all) in a dressage saddle. Plus, jumping saddles tend to be easier to find used for cheap and tend to fit a wider variety of horses. Dressage saddles tend to be pretty specific in fit, and often need a fitter to work for any given horse.
ReplyDeleteOh! I didn't realize that about a dressage saddle and fit. Good to know! In my searches I have found a lot more used close contact than dressage available and they do tend to run cheaper.
DeleteDon't get an AP. It'll put you in a bad position for either jumping or dressage. Get a good used jumping saddle and you can do dressage in it. If you then feel like you really need a dressage saddle, you can get a used wintec for less than $200 in a year or so.
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for jumping cinches it! I will focus my efforts there. I already know what I want now to just wait patiently u til a used one pops up or I save enough to get new.
DeleteUnless you really want to jump I would get a dressage saddle. You can always pick up an inexpensive jumper saddle later on.
ReplyDeleteYou may have already seen this, but Stubben has their Summer Saddle Sale on right now: http://stubbennorthamerica.com/product-category/summer-2016-saddle-sale/
ReplyDelete