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What kind of saddle do I need?

4K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  StormyBlues 
#1 ·
I've been riding Western my whole life, and I just bought an English horse hoping to learn another discipline and try some jumping. I bought an English bridle, just a single-rein Eggbutt, and already have a Pandur jumping saddle from when my mom rode English. Welll....I somehow found the trainer of my horse from off the track, and she said "what? You're JUMPING her??" Apparently, she had bone chips in her knee from a track injury, had surgery, and her knees collapse and she falls 95% of the time when she jumps. She sent me a video of her jumping her for the first time, and the horse's knees didn't lock, and they went down. So no more jumping on this horse at least! I sent Molly (my new English TB) down to that same off track trainer so she could retrain her while I'm in a sling with a broken collarbone for 10 weeks....she said when she owned her, she knew she would be a great dressage horse. So since I can't do eventing on her, I want to try dressage, along with just trail riding on her. Maybe some w/t/c classes....I'm keeping my options open. And yes, I will get English lessons once my collarbone heals :wink:

So I need to sell my Pandur jumping saddle and buy a saddle that will better suit what we want to do. What type of saddle would suit dressage, trail riding, and w/t/c? An AP or dressage saddle? Or is there another saddle besides the three typical that would be best? Thanks!

Sage
 
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#2 ·
I'd say get a dressage saddle if you want to concentrate on dressage primarily. You can still get up and out of it for any two-pointing you want to do along the trail, and it will definitely help your position. AP saddles are fine, but the majority are too generalized to help much with your position.
 
#3 ·
Thanks, I'll look for one secondhand. Here's a few I found on craigslist and HF:

http://www.horseforum.com/tack-equi...rade-county-competitor-dressage-saddle-55569/
Dressage Saddle
Blue Ribbon Dressage Saddle
Passier Hannover Hard to find 17
^I noticed this one has no knee rolls...

Any preferance? I want to maybe trade my jumping saddle for a dressage. If I give them mine along with some cash, I could get a pretty nice second-hand one. Here's pics of mine:




By the way, if I fit a 15/15.5" Western, how would it compare English?
 
#4 ·
I like Wintecs for a first saddle. They're comfy and help put you in the right position without forcing you to have a super long leg at first. And they last FOREVER! I have a Black Country now for my eventer just because I need a really good dressage saddle and it will hopefully stay with me up until I can't compete Geof anymore. :) Sorry I can't help with measurements, but happy riding! Dressage is probably when I feel most at-one with my horse!
 
#5 ·
I like Wintecs for a first saddle. They're comfy and help put you in the right position without forcing you to have a super long leg at first. And they last FOREVER! I have a Black Country now for my eventer just because I need a really good dressage saddle and it will hopefully stay with me up until I can't compete Geof anymore. :) Sorry I can't help with measurements, but happy riding! Dressage is probably when I feel most at-one with my horse!
Please be careful with these statements; NO saddle will put every rider in the correct position. It's the nature of the beast - every rider has a different "problem area" that they need help with, ever rider rides slightly differently. For instance, the Wintec Isabell put one of my friends in the correct position, and the other was pushed into a chair seat. Same goes for ANY saddle; it will help some and hinder others - from a $100 saddle to a $10,000 custom.


To the OP, generally you add 2" to the western seat size to get the english seat size. If you're riding in a 15" western saddle (again, this is general because there are different seat types) you'll likely be a 17" AP or jumper, and maybe a 17.5" dressage.
 
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