how much difference does a dressage saddle make

[Roz Morris]

I'm wondering if anyone has found that buying a dressage saddle has made a significant difference to their horse and their riding? I have an Albion Legend GP, a very nice saddle that I use for hacking, jumping and schooling. When I got it I just wanted something that fitted well and would do for any discupline. But now I'm concentrating more on dressage and have the opportunity to buy a close contact, suede-seated air-flocked dressage saddle for a good price and get it fitted by my saddler.
I'm tempted by it as I'm a keen follower of all these bodyworker riding gurus such as Heather, Sally Swift and Mary Wanless, and therefore I firmly believe that small details of rider placement and body alignment make a big difference to how the horse goes.
My question is, would a dressage saddle allow me to continue to refine my balance, sensitivity and influence in a way that I couldn't get using my GP? I'm riding tests at prelim and novice level - should I wait until I'm further advanced before I go buying a dressage saddle?
HELP - this saddle offer won't be around for long and I have to decide quickly!!!

[Sharon H]

I always used to use a dressage saddle in prefernce to a gp as I found them more comfortable anyway. Could you not try riding in it and see what you think?

[Lancashire Lass]

Hi Roz,.. Yes, I'd definitely have a sit in it initially to see what you AND your horse think of it, I think you'll find it's quite a different experience from a GP.

You go for it....., get them rung up and ask if you can have the saddle over the weekend and then make your decision.

You can always invest in one of Heather's seat savers (if you haven't already got one!), they'll help with the leg alignment especially with so many saddles' stirrup bars being so unaturally far forward. I have one and haven't regretted one moment of buying it, it's wonderfull, especially when I have to sit in so many 'riding school' saddles if you get me drift!!

[ros]

Just one thing - if you're talking about the Flair type system, I've heard it suggested that they may not necessarily be as comfortable for the horse as is supposed. Confined air isn't really that soft - it can give you quite a hard and unyielding pressure.

I think Heather's saddles are the nicest I've come across, both for horse and rider. The flocking looks very bulky at first sight, but when you feel it it's lovely and soft for the horse, and gives you maximum bearing surface as it's designed to do. It's also given me the best position I've ever had. I really wouldn't want to go back to anything else.

[floppy]

dressage saddles are longer in the saddle flaps than gp saddles. I find them alot better for dressage as they tend to keep your legs more in place and giv eyou the ability to maintain a better position. I think the best thing to do is to see if you can borrow someone elses dressage saddle and try it out a couple of times.
(providing it fits your horse)

[Wally]

Heather's saddle, even on a plastic saddle horse is a really good saddle. You drop straight into position and are supported there. Balance is sorted, so you can get on with riding the horse.

You'd be amazed at the difference the saddle makes to both horse and rider.

[~alison~*]

I do believe that a dressage saddle is much better for your position, etc... However, as mentioned before, even in dressage saddles, the stirrup bars are usually too far forward, preventing your leg from lying in the correct position. This really does make a difference when you are doing certain things, like sitting trot. So, whatever you decide to do, make sure that the saddle fits you and your horse properly and aids you in getting the correct position.

[Roz Morris]

Thanks for your input, guys - if this saddle doesn't suit I'll look into a Heather saddle!

Ros, your comments about air flocking are interesting. I'd heard bad things myself, and asked my saddler some searching questions. She told me that it's very easy to overinflate the air bags, and when you do this you get what you described, a rather unyielding surface. Also the rider bounces!

[Pixie]

I have an old (10+ years) Albion Legend Lux dressage saddle, which has suede seat and knee rolls. It is the most comfortable saddle in the world and it is anotomically designed for a woman!! My cob is wide and it fits her like a dream and makes me ride so much better than in my GP. I only really use my GP for SJ and XC as I tend to hack in my dressage purely for more comfort. I don't know if it just coincidence but I believe my horse prefers the dressage saddle as well, as it frees her shoulder.

[ros]

I'm sure it's not coincidence. Lots of cobs are wider than their owners realise. You don't think the fact that your horse goes better in her dressage saddle is an indication that her GP is a touch too narrow, do you? If the GP is actually wide enough it shouldn't really interfere with her shoulder movement at all. I only ask because I've got two extremely wide horses myself and have had similar experiences.

[Pixie]

I too was concerned about this, so I had my saddler come and check both saddles and they both fit her well, the only thing that was affecting her was that I had a tendency to put her GP on a but too far forward, which would certainly have affected her shoulder movement! Since then I have altered the position of her GP and she does go as well in it as the dressage, however I just find the position that the dressage puts me in feels better than the GP.

[ros]

I recently went to a lecture/demo by Kay Humphries (a remedial saddle fitter) and was surprised when she pointed out exactly where the saddle should sit - certainly further back than I would have imagined (although all horses differ, of course) and she did mention that people generally tend to put the saddle on further forward than they should.

As far as hacking out in a dressage saddle is concerned, I hack out in mine quite happily - hacking out isn't that much different from flatwork unless you want to go galloping about up hill and down dale, which I don't! I wouldn't attempt jumping in it, but for a canter round the fields it's absolutely fine.

[Wally]

Arrrrgh, I use to work for Albion!!!!***:mad:

A dressage for hacking is fine. Most of our Icelandic saddles are straight cut and designed for flat work, we go for miles, up very steep inclines and down, no bother.

[ros]

Wally - are you able to expand on your first comment, or should we assume you'd rather not? Or shouldn't I be asking?

[Roz Morris]

Yes, Wally, do tell! I think Albion make great saddles. They had to make my GP to measure as my horse has a wither like the Matterhorn and was very skinny. They spent a long time puzzling over how to make a nice, balanced saddle for such an odd-shaped back, and have done an excellent job. And now my horse has built up they were able to change the head plate to make the tree wider - although it costs a bit, it's much much cheaper than having another saddle made. Full marks for design! (Full marks also to my saddler, who will be overseeing my excursion into dressage saddles...)