Seat Saver and Showing

[CLAUDIA]

Heather,

Recently, I've been using my trainer's saddle when I ride, or I use a brand new saddle of one of her customers to break it in for her. Well, since then I've been really reluctant to ride in the old school saddles that belong to her school horses. Don't get me wrong, they're fairly nice saddles, but the cushioning is just a little lacking. I was wondering if you think it would be appropriate for me to ask my trainer if I could use one of your seat savers on her saddles. Also, how do they feel about them in the show ring?

And while I'm writing I might as well tell you that a friend of mine is making a trip to England to ride for a week in some sort of program. I'm not sure about the details though. Do you allow people to visit your facility to observe your training?

Thanks!

 

[Heather]

Hi Claudia,

I do know of people using the Seatbone Saver herein England in showing classes, and no one seems to mind. It is only dressage that they are not permitted in, for some obscure reason. By all means ask your trainer. The SS can do the saddle no harm, only protect the seat from wear!

If your friend is anywhere near Devon, and I am atworking at home, then she is very welcome to come and watch. Tell her to email me and let me know when she is over.


Heather

 

[intouch]

We have got away with using ours for dressage as it matches the saddle and looks like part of it. So far no tack inspector has noticed it!

 

[fionahogg]

intouch, is that affiliated or unaffiliated dressage that you managed to sneak your seat saver into? i did considering getting one but my main interests lie in dressage but when i found out you shouldn't use them when competiting i didn't. but the tack inspectors around here aren't very vigilant and if no-one notices yours....!!

heather, why can't we use the seatsavers for dressage here in england? seems to be a very daft rule to me!

 

[lamprellsarah]

we didn't know that you couldn't use one in riding club horse, and it was pointed out by the judge that we were not allowed it.

 

[intouch]

If it is the same colour as your saddle it just looks as if you have a suede seat. Have to admit it was unaffiliated comp. Seems a silly rule to me too.

 

[fionahogg]

DO any of you find that if you were to remove your seat saver, your position would be worse than if you never rode with it in the first place? (does that make sense?!) You see the thing is I don't really want to buy a seatsaver, use it, then have to remove it for a dressage test, and find that I've come to rely on it and my position is weak.

 

[Sarah]

hello!

I rode without my seatsaver at a show recently (but after reading this thread i don't think i will remove it next time!). I found that it didn't put me in a worse position than before, my position certainly wasn't as good as it is with the seatsaver, but I think I had sort of learn what a better position was through riding with the seat saver. I tell you what though, i suddenly saw quite how un-padded by saddle seat was when i rode without it! Sore bottom by the end of the day!

bye!