Did i get an ok saddle?

Question

I just bought a saddle. Its the older senior collegiate event saddle (black). I was told that the eventing saddles were just like all purposes so i went for it. When i told my horse knowledgeable friend, she said she would have gone with an A/P saddle. She said the eventing saddles are more flat but didn't tell me what she meant. I am training to be a 3-day eventer but am not ready for the cross country yet. Did i get the right saddle or should i get an A/P?

Answer 1

I am not sure but I have a Peossa A/O junior 15 " and the same saddle in a 15 3/4" and they work perfect for jumpers with me. I dont use my ashland or other saddle as much though. And if you are doing eventing then an event saddle should work.

Answer 2

you definitely got the correct saddle. event saddles are meant for what you're doing, and it will really help you to be ready for cross country.  My friends went through the same ordeal except i was training there horses using the same tack you're talking about.  I found the Eventing saddle much easier to work with and it was an all around good saddle.  much better to use.

Answer 3

an event saddle is ok, but once you get into eventing you are going to need a jumping and dressage saddle.

All purpose saddles should be called no purpose saddles, they are great for hacking out in, and just fooling around, but when you want to do something like dressage or jumping, it DOES NOT sit you correctly. Your legs are not long enough for dressage, yet they are too long to hold a secure position over fences. my first saddle was an ap but I was doing w/t/c not showing, and jumping under 2ft. When I started going higher in it, not only was it hard to balance, it was putting me in a bad position due to not being able to have my sturrips at the correct length. Then I got a lovley jumping saddle about a year ago that i just sold. It was AMAZING for jumping, but you could not flat in it. My legs would be pushed forward and I would also lean forward quite badly as a jumping saddle is not designed to accommodate the longer sturrips you have while on the flat.

So for right now it should be ok, but a year or two down the road, you might want to consider selling it and  getting two saddles, a dressage and a jumping.  

Answer 4

The saddle you got is like an all purpose saddle.  Some of the newer eventing saddles have a very forward flap and are made for the X-C phase (probably what your friend was thinking of).  If you look at catalog pictures of the Collegiate Sr. Event compared to other A/P saddles, you will see they are pretty similar.  This saddle should work out fine for you as long as it fits both you and your horse.