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question about knee blocks; can they make you looser??
Topic Started: Jun 25 2007, 10:33 AM (415 Views)
Delia
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I've ridden in a pancake flat Crosby PDN for 35+ years and generally never have had a problem staying tight over fences. But now I'm need of a new saddle, and all the demos I've tried have come with knee blocks. While I found some of them comfy when flatting, without exception I've had a terrible time jumping in them. For example, I rode in a friend's Tad Coffin yesterday, which had knee blocks and thigh blocks. I thought I was in heaven on the flat, but when we started jumping I COULD NOT keep my leg from swinging back in the air, even over trot jumps. I actually think most of my left leg lost contact with the saddle over one oxer -- I caught some serious air and my horse did not appreciate the thump against his side on landing. It got a little better over the course of the lesson, but it was never good. My poor horse was justifiably PO'd and today the upper part of my inner thighs are screaming. I'm going to ask Tad to send me a demo without blocks of any kind, but I'm curious as to whether anyone else has had this kind of trouble adjusting to a saddle with more "stuff" on it, after riding for years and years in the flattest of flat saddles? Or am I just a spaz??
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coriander
Is the meadow on fire?
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Even on the flat knee and though blocks make me hurt (borrowed a saddle w/them when mine was at a show nut I was home for a day working greenbeans), and I've never jumped in them. Having said that, I did learn quickly to love padded flaps. :lol:
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Delia
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I flatted in it again the other day and think I figured out what the problem is. In three point my position is generally OK, but in two point with the knee blocks I'm rotating my knees and toes out, so my thigh is looser and I'm gripping with the back of my calf instead of the inside. Not good . . . my horse made it clear that the nut-cracker calves will not be tolerated. :lol:
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Anyplace Farm
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
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I still go back and forth over whether or not knee and thigh blocks do what people think they do. Was reading Practical Horseman's book on Training and Showing Hunters and Jumpers (something like that) and there was a spot on saddles. Knee rolls came into fashion around the late 70's where they were primarily for children and insecure riders. They went away, then came back in the late 80's. Several top riders grand prix riders of the time (which happen to also still be top riders today) were interviewed and asked which saddle they liked best. Not one of them wanted the padded flap. In fact, two of them said they fell off more with the padded flap than without and went back to the flat flap.

I'm loving how cheaply I can get a flat flapped Beval now, since they are out of fashion. And that's just it -- they are simply out of fashion, not function. From what I can see, I can pick one up for about $400 -- a saddle I coveted back in the late 80's for $1200.

My leg is rock solid and I honestly don't think it has a lot to do with time in the tack. I only ride about 2ce a week in the winter and 3-4 times a week in the warmer months with lately, maybe only 2-3 of those days being jumping days. I only just started jumping regularly again after two years and prior to that, 25. So, I attribute my solid leg to a) a good foundation and b) riding in a saddle that promotes that. I don't think the padded flap promotes that. You see so many leg-swinging-jump-up-the-neck riders these days.
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Delia
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Thanks Anyplace -- the lack of responses was definitely making me feel like maybe I am just totally uncoordinated! :lonely: Fortunately, I loved the Tad Coffin demo that didn't have blocks, and both my horses went beautifully in it. I didn't mind the padded flap, but was told that they will make it with a totally flat flap as well if you really, really want it.
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Duffy
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When I ordered my first Devoucoux after my flat PDN, I ordered it with no blocks. I added them with my second Devoucoux. (There were years between the two purchases.) But, I didn't think I'd be comfortable going from my pancake to all that stuff in one saddle. :lol:
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