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Re: Civilian Saddles
First let me say sorry for the late entry into this post as I have just now started on this site , after a long absence, I am reading old posts.
I would disagree that a classical seat jumping, if done right, is harmful to the horse. I jump that style and yes, you do rise with the horse and back with the fall, but you should not pound the horses back. You roll your hips and polish the saddle and keep some of the weight in your legs on landing so there is no hard contact to the horses back. You remain verticle with the horse. Only the modern teachers, who are so used to the Caprilli style say this is harmful. They are not as familiar with anything else and often are very narrow minded in their approach to the subject because it is all they were taught. I know, in my business I have often had these discussions with many of them. Classical teachers such as, Baucher , L'Hotte, and Nolan would have probably differed with them as well. I would go on to say my experience should enlighten some. I will, at times, be on a horse for five hours foxhunting. This includes Jumping large heights, often at speed, and some runs can last +/- an hour. I ride a longer leg and deeper seat than most moderns and while the horse is very tired and sore from this marathon his back is no worse than any other horse who rider used the forward seat. I will also say that if you use only the forward seat, as in the hunter ring, you may not last long in the field. This is because in the real world (where everything is not flat and well groomed- and the horses go by at speed and in different directions.) riding too forward can loose you in a bad situation. Many a show rider has hit the ground because they didn't ride defensively enough, in other words you've got to sit back some in deep ground, sharp turns,and twisting trappy jumps. The horse often needs to engage his rear and with your weight out over his neck that can be difficult, not to mention your center of balance when in a sharp trappy turn and the horse turns out from under you. Now this is not too say that you can't sore a horse's back, as with any style, a poor rider who is not a light rider will sore the back. Just food for thought concerning the 20th century style and the 19th.
By the way, as military saddles go a Jenifer is very comfortable for jumping with it's close contact and low pommel. The mac is not quite as much because of the higher more pronounced pommel but it's ok. Remember the period manual says you should be able to rise six inches which is more than enough to get off the horses back. As for the texas saddle, one has to be careful of your position so as to not jam the horn in your stomach, though I have seen it done easily by others. I am going to make a mulie saddle (texas w/o the horn) as I believe it would be very comfortable.
Another By the way, foxhunting is the closest thing the American continent will ever see to real cavalry again, the simularities are vast. But that is a post for later.
First let me say sorry for the late entry into this post as I have just now started on this site , after a long absence, I am reading old posts.
I would disagree that a classical seat jumping, if done right, is harmful to the horse. I jump that style and yes, you do rise with the horse and back with the fall, but you should not pound the horses back. You roll your hips and polish the saddle and keep some of the weight in your legs on landing so there is no hard contact to the horses back. You remain verticle with the horse. Only the modern teachers, who are so used to the Caprilli style say this is harmful. They are not as familiar with anything else and often are very narrow minded in their approach to the subject because it is all they were taught. I know, in my business I have often had these discussions with many of them. Classical teachers such as, Baucher , L'Hotte, and Nolan would have probably differed with them as well. I would go on to say my experience should enlighten some. I will, at times, be on a horse for five hours foxhunting. This includes Jumping large heights, often at speed, and some runs can last +/- an hour. I ride a longer leg and deeper seat than most moderns and while the horse is very tired and sore from this marathon his back is no worse than any other horse who rider used the forward seat. I will also say that if you use only the forward seat, as in the hunter ring, you may not last long in the field. This is because in the real world (where everything is not flat and well groomed- and the horses go by at speed and in different directions.) riding too forward can loose you in a bad situation. Many a show rider has hit the ground because they didn't ride defensively enough, in other words you've got to sit back some in deep ground, sharp turns,and twisting trappy jumps. The horse often needs to engage his rear and with your weight out over his neck that can be difficult, not to mention your center of balance when in a sharp trappy turn and the horse turns out from under you. Now this is not too say that you can't sore a horse's back, as with any style, a poor rider who is not a light rider will sore the back. Just food for thought concerning the 20th century style and the 19th.
By the way, as military saddles go a Jenifer is very comfortable for jumping with it's close contact and low pommel. The mac is not quite as much because of the higher more pronounced pommel but it's ok. Remember the period manual says you should be able to rise six inches which is more than enough to get off the horses back. As for the texas saddle, one has to be careful of your position so as to not jam the horn in your stomach, though I have seen it done easily by others. I am going to make a mulie saddle (texas w/o the horn) as I believe it would be very comfortable.
Another By the way, foxhunting is the closest thing the American continent will ever see to real cavalry again, the simularities are vast. But that is a post for later.
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