Searching out the best jump saddles to find one that fits and works for you as well as your horse isn’t something you can do solely on the internet, but it’s a good place to start. Unlike most purchasing decisions you make, this one really has to strike the balance between getting the best one for you and the perfect fit for your horse – if it’s not quite right for either of you, the chances are you won’t get as many clear rounds as you potentially could.
H&H recommends consulting a qualified saddle fitter prior to purchase and following up with regular checks to tailor the fit to your horse’s changing shape. The links below should help direct you to local stockists of the best jump saddles. You might also want to check out what stirrup leathers, technical stirrups, girths and jump saddle pads are on offer, too.
Best jump saddles
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Whitaker Overton
Colours: Black or Havana
Seat sizes: 16–18in
RRP: £1,095
Part of the Whitaker Demands collection, this saddle is described as low maintenance, with a forward cut and interchangeable gullet. It has a large padded knee roll that is staggered to encourage proper leg positioning. The leather flap also features a padded section at the skirt to stop creasing and aid comfort. The underpanels are made from a synthetic leather and memory foam core that moulds to the shape of your horse, but there are also felt slits should you require additional flocking.
This jump saddle is lightweight, compact and ultra-close contact offering your horse complete freedom in every stride. It has an adjustable ergonomic stirrup bar and adjustable blocks that aid balance and allow you to fine tune your position for your perfect natural alignment.
The monoflap design helps to create a closer contact and a lighter weight design. The fusion benefits from modern styling, a new flat seat and a pure wool flock and felt-lined panel to allow for minor adjustments. The refined weight-bearing panels work in conjunction with the low-profile seat, ensuring the correct balance of the saddle when in work. The Fusion Mono-flap Jump saddle has been extensively researched and trialled with a wide cohort of riders varying in abilities.
This saddle is designed for horses with an average length of withers to the deepest point and a straighter topline, but it’s also great for short backed horses and bigger warmbloods. There are four flap lengths available and you can choose between grip leather, pinerolo leather and traditional leather. Customisation is available in nameplates, coloured stitching and coloured welting,
Perfect for riders seeking balance and style, comfort and performance. Made from high-quality leather, this saddle has a composite tree and semi-deep seat to help the rider maintain a balanced and secure position.
This saddle is for riders looking for a cross-country or jumping saddle with a close-contact feel. It is fully covered in super-soft full grain hide for superb grip and looks, the knee block is large and supportive, providing enhanced security galloping or over fences. Wool flocking, changeable gullet bar and unique monoflap girthing options that really help with stability. Also available in a low wither version that’s perfect for Connemaras, cobs and crosses.
This jump saddle is a forward-cut monoflap saddle designed for jumping and eventing. It offers extreme close contact due to reduced bulk under the leg and seamless girth points. The saddle features a flexible polymer synthetic webbed tree and is available in various seat depths and flap lengths to suit rider preferences.
The Liberty tree has flatter rails and an open head that make it ideal for warmbloods and heavier horse types.The wool-flocked panel has a good depth and bearing surface. The saddle has an open head, generous gullet and soft dual density seat. Other features include substantial knee and thigh blocks and stitched knee pads. Also available as a monoflap.
This saddle has a square cantle to help the rider develop a perfect jumping position, while double adjustable rubber knee rolls offer comfort, security and stability. It is particularly suited to the modern day sports horse and has interchangeable gullet plates so you can change the width of the saddle if your horse changes shape.
This close-contact jump saddle has a narrow twist and flat panel with a short rib, which reduces the distance between you and your horse. The saddle is made of full grain, soft leather and has eye-catching decorative stitching. There are plenty of customisation options available with this saddle.
Colours: Wide range of combinations and customisation options
Seat sizes: 16–19in, N–XXW
RRP: From £4,744
This saddle has an exceptionally close contact seat as well as a new adjustable seatbone support system that helps the rider sit level and distribute their weight equally. An adjustable under flap leg support can be moved creating maximum lower leg stability. Interchangeable panels and headplates ensure a perfect fit for every horse, even after shape changes. The panel choices include the new BBS panel with its massive bearing surface encouraging the horse to lift through its back.
This fully customisable lightweight, mono flap jump saddle offers a half deep seat and multiple flap possibilities to accommodate the rider. The anatomical panels are custom made for each horse to ensure support, comfort and freedom of movement.
This saddle has been designed to allow your horse to move freely on the flat and over fences. It’s shaped to help you maintain the correct position and is now available in smaller seat sizes, too.
This close contact jump saddle is designed with a fashionable monoflap to offer a close contact feel, with the added benefit of a lighter weight saddle. A shallow seat with moulded front blocks provides direct support and a unique 3-point flexible billet system creates greater stability. This saddle is available in our range of classic, warmblood, hoop, close-contact, adjustable, or pony trees. Made in England using tactile calf nappa leather for suppleness and grip with plenty of design detail options to personalise your saddle.
This dual-flap, forward-cut saddle is designed to offer stability and security over a fence yet the freedom to move with your horse. It has a chunkier knee roll for a secure leg position and is crafted in the UK from high quality British leather selected for its durability and longevity. The saddle is fully customisable with coloured welting, stitching and an array of personalisation.
This jump saddle has been designed with a medium-deep seat to offer a secure, comfortable position that enhances rider stability. Built with the innovative Coreshield tree and soft Italian leather, it offers exceptional comfort and responsiveness. Ideal for both jumping and flat work, it combines modern design with customisable features for horse and rider.
Offering a bespoke cut and twist, this saddle aims to brig you closer to your horse and give you the feel and position you want. It offers a slightly deeper seat than other Childéric jump saddles. The open head enables the saddle to be shared between horses more easily. All saddles are fully bespoke and therefore available in single or double flap, and with options for integrated panels and customisable flap design. Stitching and piping colour is also fully bespoke.
The tree used in this saddle is described as being able to ‘fit a large range of horses and ponies, and great for really wide horses. It has a deep, contoured seat, large adjustable knee blocks and fixed external thigh blocks. The monoflap saddle comes with a special wide gullet, large weight-bearing panels in gel foam or flocking, and four girthing straps. Custom options are available, including knee blocks, twist, flap length, or suede/doeskin seat or knee rolls.
This close contact saddle has a narrow twist and recessed thigh support, which enables the rider to make controlled postural adjustments and precise aids. The open seat profile offers the rider more manoeuvrability, while the fully flexible saddle also allows your horse’s jumping to be unimpeded.
It has deep panels with a larger surface area, to support and lift the saddle on a wide range of back shapes, and a contoured shape that creates clearance around a prominent wither.
What’s the difference between a GP and a jump saddle?
A GP (general purpose) saddle is designed for riders who enjoy doing a bit of everything. They typically have a fairly deep seat and short flaps, which offers balance and a good range of movement for you and your horse. A jump saddle tends to be more forward cut, have a much flatter seat and give you a closer contact with your horse. They also have knee and/or thigh blocks to offer security and help you achieve the right position while showjumping.
What’s a monoflap saddle?
A traditional (or dual flap) saddle has two flaps that sit under your leg, and the girth straps lie between them, while the stirrup leathers lay on top. A monoflap saddle is designed to offer you a closer contact with your horse – it has a single flap and the girth straps emerge from underneath it.
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Georgia is Horse & Hound’s deputy website editor and equestrian products expert. She curates content across the website with a particular focus on upcoming equestrian events horse care and buying advice. She also manages all the ecommerce opportunities that allow us to give you easy access to the best products at the lowest prices via our buying guides. Georgia has first-hand knowledge of all the equestrian brands and their ever-evolving product lines, having been working with them closely since she started in equestrian media in 2015.
