Ideal Suzannah

[Palomino Mare]

I'm adding a dressage saddle to my wish list and would like one with large knee blocks.

I'm reading up on Ideal Suzannah's and have found a few threads on H&H forum and seems a few members there own them.

The Ideal website describes it for a fit horse at competition level so is this the kind of saddle that isnt suitable for beginners dressage?

[Gruntfuttock]

As long as it fits your horse correctly, there is no law that says you can't ride in a specific saddle at any level. If you had more money than brains, you could do a Walk/Trot test at your local riding club in a £10k made-to-measure Hermes saddle !

If you want a Susannah, and they suit your horse as well as you, then go for it ! They are lovely saddles, and will put you in a good position.

Personally, I am after an Albion SL (or a SLK Ultima if I win the lottery) !

[andreaB]

the ideal suzannah is near enough a copy of the slk ultima , i have a suzannah & have ridden in several slk's . basically bought the suzannah because of the price differential

the horse i have it on is a WB only working prelim , but big paces , i find it easy to sit to him in it , i think they are fairly aimed towards the largish built WB's & their back profile

as already said if it fits go for it , when i bought this saddle my first choice for me was actually as prestige but it didn't suit his back

[eventerbabe]

agree with what's been said, there's certainly no laws against using one! i really like them, would love that or a jessica but ideals don't really suit tobs, his grandee gave him a sore back :( i started off in a cheap and cheerful thorowgood til i decided (last month ;)) it was worth me looking for a posher one.

[MrKia+Me]

Cant really comment on doing dressage in a certain saddle as I dont really do dressage but can I ask that apart from the deeper seat and straighter cut panels/flaps what is the difference??:confused:

I found that that last time I rode in a dressage saddle it actually made me feel in a worse positon and I didnt feel as though I was as balanced as I feel in my GP with longer stirrups.:o

Is this just me or is there a certain way that they sit??:o

Had a look at the dressage saddle Pm is talking about and it is a lovely looking saddle!!!:)

Nikki xxxx

[coss]

agree with everyone else - you don't have to be at a certain level to use a certain saddle. i have dressage saddles for both my horses as i find them more comfortable - i rarely compete and dawn is never going to be "a fit horse at competition level" - she's 31 with a dippy back (have a pad so the saddle doesn't bridge as the amount of dip varies with work) and i work her enough to keep her fitter and supple so she can work - she sulks if i don't ride her so have to keep her fit enough to do so. go with what is comfy for you and your horse

Cant really comment on doing dressage in a certain saddle as I dont really do dressage but can I ask that apart from the deeper seat and straighter cut panels/flaps what is the difference??:confused:

I found that that last time I rode in a dressage saddle it actually made me feel in a worse positon and I didnt feel as though I was as balanced as I feel in my GP with longer stirrups.:o

Is this just me or is there a certain way that they sit??:o

Had a look at the dressage saddle Pm is talking about and it is a lovely looking saddle!!!:)

Nikki xxxx

the stirrup bars are sometimes further back so they "pull" your leg back under you more. if you are used to pulling your leg back in a gp then when you do the same in a dressage saddle you will put your leg too far back making you unbalanced. different dressage saddles do this to different degrees and you can get fairly flat seated dressage saddles. i find gp's really annoying now as my leg nearly comes off the back of the saddle flap and has a huge gap between the knee roll and my leg :eek: after riding in dressage saddles a lot i can hold my position but i'm fighting the saddle.

[MrKia+Me]

Thanks coss I was wondering lol!!!

Cant really seem to balance all that well but I have been riding in gp saddles for years now and not really had long term exposure to sitting in a dressage saddle.

Wasnt up to date on the stirrup bars thing tho!!! Thanks for that!!!

Nikki xxxx:)