No kneeroll jumpers?

I use kneerolls on my saddle and I couldn't imagine jumping without them. I can just as easily jump without a saddle at all, though and not have an issue with no kneerolls. My best friend can jump in a saddle without kneerolls and not even notice the difference. It has a lot to do with preference =] The only difference I notice between kneerolls and no kneerolls is comfort, I prefer kneerolls.

I love my knee rolls and calf blocks, but my event saddle with the blocks is still new to me. When I jumped in my GP, I didn't have any knee rolls - even for cross country. So I appreciate the extra security!!

Also, faye - love the photo of that kid. He's like "I can *just* get my butt out of the saddle, so it's all fine".

I haven't listed it yet. If you pm me your email address I can send you a pic and more info.
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Back in the day??? Old school people? Popular way back when????

Oh dear Mother! I feel soooo old

I'll admit I'm old school. But it wasn't back in the day or way back when. It was just yesterday. Really it was. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

Your 'extra' security is not a good thing!

Part of the reason there was a phase where several people were killed eventing in the UK due to rotational falls. Some of this was because riders were using deep seated, big knee rolls and thigh block saddles, this not so easy to fall from.

As for the boy not getting his seat out of the saddle, he is fine, not the best of positions but darn sight safer than the rider who stays in the two point position! Bet that lad has Fox Hunted that pony for many hours!

I go along with Freya!

We were taught to ride and not use knee rolls and thigh blocks to get a good position.

I too learnt to ride with no knee rolls. I feel safest with none which is why i've rebroken a highly explosive young horse using a working hunter saddle which is basicly a straight cut show saddle with the most minimal of knee rolls (just enough to give you something to ride into but not enough to hold your leg in place).

It means that when I do ride in a dressage saddle my leg NEVER moves and I an sit the biggest of trots!

Charlotte duJardin learnt to ride in show saddles and spent much of her younger years in the showring. Certainly hasnt done her any harm!
Here she is muh younger and riding a show pony in a show saddle with no knee rolls:

Steady on! I wasn't insulting the boy - to be jumping where he is he's a great rider, I was merely commenting on his stirrups looking long. It wasn't meant to diss him at all - hell, I used to jump with my stirrups really long too, and it is secure enough. However I'd love to know why you think jumping with long stirrups is safer than jumping in two-point?

Also, I think if I were in a rotational fall, I'd be dead whether I was in a saddle with or without the knee blocks - I'm not nearly a good enough rider to think that quickly and get out of the way whatever saddle I'm in. So if I can save myself landing on some solid fences if my youngster decides he'd rather not jump them? Then I'll take it.

I agree learning to ride without them teaches you a more secure seat and leg, and I did - I've had a few nasty moments XC in my old GP without blocks etc where for example I've had a slip before a combination, lost stirrups and then jumped a triple drop staircase with no stirrups AND still holding my horse together - I'm not relying on them to stay in the saddle. However I do appreciate anything that gives me bit of extra security XC.

I never jump with knee rolls. Ever. I have a habit of pinching with my knees and find that knee rolls make me pinch worse. I'd use back blocks to remind me to keep my lower leg more forward [I tend to swing it back a bit] but I absolutely refuse to use knee rolls.

I jump bareback on occasion. I don't believe you even NEED stirrups, let alone bulky hardware on your saddle.

My first saddle was 2 pieces of leather strapped to a piece of wood all tied on my horse. It gave me GREAT balance and leg strength. I recently grew out of it and got a big comfy county(which I love)....but I miss the "close contact" feel of my saddle with no rolls. Im glad that I can ride without them and that I do not need to depend on knee rolls to ride correctly, but I certainly don't complain 4 hours into the hunt when im sitting tight and comfy So I guess, in summary, it doesnt make much of a difference, really just pesonal preferance, but I like to know im not relying on my saddle to keep my leg steady and strong.

I have never ridden in a saddle with knee rolls. I don't see why I would need to. We can jump up to 4ft and do extremely tight turns with no problems, and my position is solid enough to where I am able to stay out of my horse's way so that he can set himself up for the jump/turn. I think it is just a preference thing.