Close contact saddle help?

Question

What is a close contact saddle and how do people use it in riding?

Answer 1

A "close contact" saddle is a huntseat saddle without any knee rolls (Or blocks, depending upon how old you are, depends upon what you call them.).  Their seats are shallower than your traditional knee rolled saddles.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...

Now that's a Crosby Prix Des Nations close contact saddle.

And here's an Stuben Siegfried with kneerolls (Blocks).  You can see how deep the seat is in comparison.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...

I hope this helps explains the difference.

Answer 2

it is usually a hunt saddle with out any knee blocks or thigh blocks. You get the closest contact with your horse and their is no interferance of knee blocks.

A cc saddle will really teach you how to ride.

Answer 3

Nowadays, "close contact" saddles are commonly padded up with knee and thigh blocks as well as knee rolls. There are also deep seats. Still, they're is less between the horse and rider than a western saddle. A jumping or XC saddle may be balanced differently, or might just have slightly grippier leather.

The older style, flatter seat no knee rolls/blocks are out of style. Which is a shame. I just got a brand new Harry Dabbs from a tack store(supposedly the saddle retails for 1200) for 350 dollars because it wasn't padded up, they had a bunch of them too. I have a Hermes saddle that I use less often that's flatter with less cushion, it does have knee rolls though.

http://www.beval.com/Result/Saddles.aspx

That link has a bunch of popular and newer style jumping and close contact.