Jumping saddles are designed to provide the rider with a moderately deep seat and a forward leg position for maximum control of the horse over jumps and obstacles. This design allows the rider to keep their balance with the dramatic jumping motion of a horse. Because of the more extreme movement involved, a jumping saddle will have a larger kneepad and thigh roll than you’ll find on the more general use, all-purpose saddle. Jumping saddles are reinforced and moderately supportive of the rider as well as providing a cushion and padding for the horse.

A very versatile saddle type of a variety of English events from hunt seat to moderate jumping is the English close contact saddle. These saddles have a very flat overall seat and cantle but they do have the slightly forward flaps and stirrup bars to allow the rider to keep the knees slightly bend for posting and jumping. The close contact saddle is a very popular English saddle type as it provides the rider with a lot of “feel” of the horse by eliminating most of the knee and thigh roll.

Dressage saddles are very specific for dressage work and typically have straighter flaps and less forward stirrup bars, allowing the rider to sit on the horse with the legs straighter down from the saddle for balance and centering. The kneepads and thick rolls are low on the saddle and the seat tends to be deeper than that of a more all-purpose saddle. Dressage saddles can be used for any type of groundwork but are not designed for jumping or hunt type events.