Saddle help :s

Barney9 · #1 24th Aug 2009, 12:24 PM

Im currently buying a dressage saddle...or trying to, and im looking at lots of different saddles, i saw this one but it has 3 straps, and really i want 2 dressage girth straps, can it be changed to 2? this goes for quite a few saddles ive seen on ebay, so was just wandering....And also if it is too wide for my horse, will re-flocking and padding sort this out?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT
thanks

unicornleather · #2 24th Aug 2009, 04:55 PM

Dressage (pure dressage) should have two 27-28" girth straps on one wide web that is attached to the tree.
On the saddle you have shown us it has a GP saddle girth strap set up, so in my books NOT a proper traditional dressage saddle.
I think the reason they do this is because alot of people seem to use their dressage saddles as GP's, why I don't know but they do and this girth straps set up allows more adjustment!
If you are going to use the saddle as a gp as well please read the following and take note.
Gp's are used much more streniously than pure dressage saddles, the webbing that the girth straps are attached to go up over the tree (not all but most) there should be one narrow web the front girth strap is attached to and one 2"-2.5" web at the rear the back two girth straps are attached to.
IF you have a girth strap removed and intend to use the saddle outside the school (ie non dressage) then MAKE sure you remove either one of the back two but NOT the front one, reason being is if you only have the two back straps and the girth web breaks you are in big trouble, the whole saddle will come off (imagine that flying over a jump or at a gallop).
Using the saddle for just dressage in the arena is far less of a risk and you will find most true dressage saddles only have the one wide web that the two girth straps are attched to.
Remember also, if you remove the front one and use the rear two, it will pull the saddle down towards the rear more making the head high. If you take off the rear one, it will have the opposite effect and make the cantle higher pulling the head down, so the fit needs to be taken into consideration when removing a girth strap, your saddler will be able to advise you on this.
Most people tend to use the first and third straps on gp's so as to balance the saddle and apply even pressure throughout.
I hope you can make sense of what I am trying to tell you?
If in doubt ask me and I will go through it with you again.

Regarding the fitting of your new saddle, why don't you get a Saddler out to fit it and buy from them?
Over flocking a saddle is no substitute for a correctly fitting (width wise) saddle, so why take the risk of buying one that doesn't fit?

Kis Vihar · #3 24th Aug 2009, 05:01 PM

Nice post Oz.

Saved me some typing.

unicornleather · #4 24th Aug 2009, 05:02 PM

LOL, beat you this time!
Oz

Barney9 · #5 25th Aug 2009, 09:17 PM

thank you very much for that.
ive decided not to buy it.. and im going to save up my pocket money so by next may ill have double what i ahve now so will be able to get a super duper (hopefully) proper dressage saddle!!

Kis Vihar · #6 25th Aug 2009, 09:18 PM

A wise decision, methinks.

unicornleather · #7 26th Aug 2009, 08:07 AM

Well done you won't regret it and get it properly fitted to avoid disappointment and possible damage to your horse's back, Oz

s4sugar · #8 26th Aug 2009, 08:59 AM

PFIFF saddles are made in India ( or Pakistan or that region anyway) and badged for Gemany -a bit like the Northumbrian saddles that are sold here.

£300 and a bit of patience will find a decent secondhand English made saddle.

Barney9 · #9 29th Aug 2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unicornleather

Well done you won't regret it and get it properly fitted to avoid disappointment and possible damage to your horse's back, Oz

yeah exactly..im going to get a saddler out to buy off them 2nd hand. then it will def. fit both me and him and will be money well spent

Thank you for the advice!