The 10 Best Jump Saddles
Jump Saddles
In this article we will discuss all about jump saddles, what they are and The Saddle Bank's top 10 Jump Saddles of 2022!
Today we are talking about those of us who take flying lessons. No, we aren’t talking about those dreaded unexpected dismounts. We are talking to the adrenaline junkies out there, who choose to jump, this blog is for you!
If you by the end of this blog you are still a bit confused about which saddle or any saddle related product is best for you why not get in touch with our friendly customer support team. Via phone on 01733 301 488 or email info@thesaddlebank.com. Our lovely team are always happy to help as much as they can and provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for you and your horse.
If you would like help narrowing down your saddle search or would like some recommendations on what may work, please fill in our Saddle Recommendations form.
What is a jump saddle?
What is the difference between a jumping saddle and an all-purpose saddle? An all-purpose saddle has a deeper seat and encourages to have the stirrup leathers to a medium length. A jump saddle will allow the rider to have shorter stirrups, this gives the rider a more secure and stable leg.
A jump saddle has a more forward cut, close contact design with a flatter seat to allow greater freedom of movement for the rider in the jumping position. The seat will naturally encourage you to sit in a relaxed two-point seat with forward soft hands allowing the horse to move freely. This type of saddle has supportive padded knee rolls for extra support. For those of you that choose to jump big fences, this comes in very handy. It is so important to be in balance and sit symmetrically on the horse.
The jump saddle gives you more support. Having more support on these saddles can also aid the recovery of the rider over a bigger fence from jumping position back to normal position. Which means if you need to sit up in a short distance having a saddle which supports you really is so important.
For the eventing friends, there are differences between a cross country saddle and a jump saddle. A cross country saddle is fit with a more forward flap for galloping and a long seat to aid the rider in the different elements that your eventers like to get up to, like banks for example. Due to the close contact element a jumping saddle has a flatter seat and a lower cantle.
Our top 10 Jump Saddles for 2022
The Bates Advanta
This saddle is used for the eventers. It is a monoflap, close contact saddle. This saddle has many features that aids the rider. Firstly, it has an adjustable ergonomic stirrup bar which allows you to customise your stirrup position for natural alignment. Secondly, their knee and calf blocks can be moved to suit the riders position. The Easy-Change system is also available, so you can adjust the saddles size if your horse changes shape. We also really liked the protective cushioning the saddle has to offer which absorbs shock, encourages blood flow, and reduces any pressure.
The Bates Advanta is one of the most popular jump saddles sold at The Saddle Bank. It has so much to offer both horse and rider and is a must try for any eventer!
Albion K2
The Albion K2 Jump saddle was originally launched in 2000. This ever popular saddle was then re-launched with a brand-new design in 2014 featuring the ghosted stitching and the Albion Adjusta Tree. The Albion K2 is a jump double flap saddle with a slightly deeper, super soft seat with a wider panel bearing surface. 2014 onwards models also benefit from the Adjusta-tree technology. This technology means that an Albion approved fitter or Albion themselves can change the width by two sizes each way! For the horse, they have a specialist pressure distribution to minimise saddle movements. They also have unique girthing options to provide stability over a fence. The knee and thigh blocks are what makes the K2 popular for its superior support. This saddle is ideal for show jumpers, eventers and hunters alike. It is also great for anyone riding an horse who can throw some shapes or has a very large jump.
Voltaire Palm Beach
The Voltaire Palm Beach is a jumping, double flap saddle. It was developed by Voltaire designs in-house research and development team in partnership with leading riders. The Palm Beach enables riders to improve their position and provides a high level of comfort. It has a wide and partially deep-seated saddle. Not only that but multiple flaps possibilities are available according to the anatomy of the rider. The anatomical panels are custom-made for the horse. The Palm Beach is available in calf, buffalo, and grained leather in black or chocolate. This saddle has become a saddle of choice for several great international riders, including Beezie Madden, she has been riding in these saddles since 2011. Its an extremely popular model for riders on the East Coast of USA and is much loved in the UK too by Showjumpers. The price for these saddles start at £3,900. Click here to see the secondhand Voltaire Palm Beach saddle's we have available.
Arena Jump Saddle
The Arena Jump Saddle boasts a balanced and supportive seat both for flatwork and jumping. It is designed to target the middle group of customers between the Bates and Wintec saddle brands. This is for the rider that wants a leather saddle but less maintenance and at an affordable price. Arena saddles are made from a European leather with the flaps on the Arena Jump featuring a grainy feel. The Arena Elastiflex tree is flexible and lightweight and can easily be adjusted from Narrow up to Extra Wide. This is a fantastic started jump saddle.
Monarch Jump XS
The Monarch Jump XS Saddle is a forward cut, double flap saddle and is more suitable for a rider more serious about jumping. The saddle has a flatter seat than the other saddles in this range to give more room in the seat and less interference over fences. It can also be great for those wearing a body protector to jump in as you are less likely to catch your body protector on the cantle in this saddle. This saddle also features Velcro front and rear flexi block which allows the rider to adopt their ideal jumping position. This means you can change from the show jumping to the cross country in the same saddle. Also, because of this they can accommodate a number of leg lengths. The saddle also has an X Change gullet system meaning you can adjust the width of the saddle easily from narrow up to 2XW.
Shop or Trial a Monarch Jump XS saddle here.
Bates Elevation
The Bates Elevation saddle has been engineered for precision and performance. There are a lot of options for this saddle, so you can make it customised specifically for you. Firstly, there is a choice of leather, you can choose from the Luxe or the Opulence. Luxe is a calfskin leather which offers a super soft grippy feel. Opulence is a full grain leather. You can also choose whether you want rear Flexibloc system for extra support. The main thing that stands out to us is you can choose what seat you prefer, whether you want a deep or flatter seat. This saddle has moulded knee inserts as well. They also have an easy change gullet system and rider system, making the option to adjust the saddle when your horses’ changes shape.
Equipe Synergy
Selleria Equipe is an Italian brand with all saddles designed and manufactured in Italy. These saddles have a close contact and a narrow twist. The Equipe Synergy comes in three different options. Firstly the ‘standard’ Synergy, the Synergy Special and the Synergy Special Monoflap. The special models feature quality Italian calfskin leather with a square cantle and anatomically shaped knee rolls. Their saddle trees offer a lifetime guarantee and their leather and craftsmanship for 2 years. The tree precisely follows the morphology of the horse. You also have the option to choose the length and forwardness of flap to suit the rider. Most riders using Equipe opt for the standard fit as this tends to work well for most riders. They are a really popular option for riders who love that close contact feel with their horse.
GFS Transition PX (Petite adults/teens)
The GFS Transition PX saddle has been developed with a neat and proportion design. This means that their features are of a smaller nature which makes it perfect for more petite riders whether that be a tall child, teen or petite adult on a pony or short backed horse. This saddle features an adjustable gullet which is adjustable from Narrow to 2XW. The knee and thigh blocks are adjustable velcro so can be positioned to suit the rider. This saddle is a low seat close contact saddle with subtle designs, made from calf leather. Its girth system is also interchangeable making it even more adjustable. They also offer it in a Dressage saddle to match!
Shop or Trial GFS Transition PX Saddles here.
Cavaletti Mono Jump
The Cavaletti is a monoflap saddle, brining you immediately closer to the horse. It has a forward cut shape and a classic low seat which means it can turn its head to any discipline, from show jumping to hunting! This saddle also has external knee and thigh blocks. With the blocks being external as opposed to the double flap saddle, it gives you greater security. This leather is a soft grippy leather and the saddle also has an interchangeable gullet system with 6 width fitting options. You don’t have to send your saddle away to change its gullet either. The best point about the saddle is its affordability.
Shop or Trial Cavaletti Monoflap Jump Saddles here.
Fairfax Andrew Hoy
The Fairfax saddle, as you might have guessed, was developed with 7x Olympian Andrew Hoy. This Cross Country saddle has a specifically designed seat which aligns the rider over the horses centre of balance. This full grain leathered saddle has been waxed for extra grip. The most stand out feature for us is if your horse has asymmetrical shoulders, there are 2 sets of adjustable shoulder blocks available. These blocks change in size, for example the shoulder with less muscle would have the larger block. This allows the rider to sit squarely while allowing the horse to move freely. It also has 7 changeable gullet bars which go up in ½ width measurements. Along with their adjustable gullet and moveable shoulder blocks which allow for custom-made support we feel this saddle has thought of everything.
As you can see, we truly believe all these saddles above deserve to be on our top 10 list. To top if off, we stock all of them. Brand new, or second hand. Check out this link to see the bargains we have to offer! Be quick though, they don’t hang around! Don’t forget about the 5 day trial we offer either.
