How to tell 'good' dressage from 'bad' dressage?

I just looked at a website that has dressage saddles for sale in the UK for L400 and up, a Wintec for 200. But I understand your point if you're not doing a lot of dressage why buy a saddle for it.

I thought dressage was your discipline now and that you started in show ponies, did not realize you still were doing mostly show ponies. Of course then it's hard to get an additional saddle.

a Wintec is NEVER EVER going anywhere near any of my horses (i've seen one pulled apart and did not like what I saw). Secondly as said off the peg saddles did not fit stan he would have had to have a made to measure. The cheapest made to measure dressage saddle available is approx £800

Yep a lot of people feel that way, I had to get a measured saddle for one of my horses too. Any other photos to post anyone?

I agree, I greatly dislike Wintecs - I find them very uncomfortable and I greatly dislike how they are made to fit 1 type of horse. Strait and flat backed.


Slc, why not post pics of you doing dressage. Lets see your shots.

So what do you see in these, 2nd photo is not very helpful but shows even heavy cobs can do dressage (low level)! (and yes that is me, bless her Rubi was no where near as athletic as stan!)

Is that photo from a dressage class? Because there are a lot of good, dressagey type things going on in that one too. Horse really looks active and energetic, reins are a good length, horse looks balanced, rider has nice position.

The neck might be stretched out a little longer.

I often read intense internet debates on photos of horses when it is a young horse in a more 'up' posture on a shorter rein at the lower levels.

I think it was put the best at the judge's seminar last month - that some riders can do this successfully and others cannot.

The outline seems to work well with this horse.

No it's a showing class but a show horse should be able to do a good standard of dressage test. Most show horses here are capable of an elementary test (2nd level) quite a few capable of medium level (3rd level).

Rubi was capable of a realy good novice test but beyond that she did not have the mind for it nor was it easy for her to lift her withers to the degree needed

Agree. It's good to get some info about those British classes as we don't really have an exact equivalent here in the US.

OMG! ME WANTY!

I love my wintec and bates saddles. Not a huge fan of the wintec for my comfort but with CAIR in both i've found that my horses have LESS back issues than any other saddle (save for perhaps a custom but haha I can't afford that). My arab moves amazingly in his wintec!