A dressage saddle/showing question.

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Moomin1

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I am considering doing a swap/selling on my GP/Event saddle. It's too big for me, being 18 inch and me needing a 17 (came with her when I bought her).

The only thing is, I don't really do any jumping, and if I do, it's a crosspole every blue moon. Certainly not interested in doing any comps. I do however, have a strong interest in doing ridden showing and some dressage at some point.

My question is, being that I may aswell get a change in saddle (I'm not 100% sure it fits her anymore properly either), if I get a dressage saddle, will that be acceptable for ridden showing? Only local level!!

:confused:
 
What classes will you be doing?
I used to show my ridden hunter in a dressage saddle to begin with but all the ride judges used to moan about it. So I rode him in his owners GP saddle instead.

When I bought Herbie a new saddle the saddler asked what I intended to do with him. When I said Mainly showing and dressage she sugested a working hunter saddle and I love my new saddle and have even started jumping again. We have been showjumping this summer but no showing or dressage :p :D
 
I recently did my first couple of local shows and rode in my dressage saddle, the judge didn't say anything about it, and we came third in both our classes
 
I would also suggest going for a WH saddle or a VSD (very slight dressage). The VSD is fairly straight cut so shows the shoulder off nicely for showing but doesn't have the deep seat or long straps of a dressage saddle, which on the whole and definitely if you show in classes where the judge rides would be wrong.

I showed to a fairly high level (RIHS qualifying) in a VSD and only got a proper showing saddle at a later stage.
 
Call me a snob but I hate seeing dressage saddles in the show ring :p would rather see them in GP's but thats my personal opinion lol I'd def consider a working hunter type saddle also preferably in brown/havana as again it's a showing thing :D
 
Showing saddles have two purposes and one is to show the horse off - they are not too bulky, especially at the back (the cut is obviously similar to a dressage saddle so no difference there), the saddle is supposed to not sit up from the topline much, so having a not-too high cantle, smallish blocks, low pommel etc. You can get WH saddles that do have decent support, I find they are very popular with my clients.

Also of course the judge - most really dont' like dressage saddles as they are deep and blocky, on the whole. Not to say that judges SHOULD mark down because of a saddle, but I think it happens.

If you had called me to book an appt I would be bringing out both dressage and the slightly deeper seated WH saddles :)
 
I have a working hunter saddle and it is fine for dressage, looks very smart for showing, is comfy enough for hacking etc. The only problem I have is that there isn't much support for jumping and fast work, but that is largely because I'm fairly long in the leg and the saddle was originally fitted for someone smaller. I won't be changing it while it fits the horse.
 
Agree with the above posts recommending a working hunter / show saddle. I used to have an Ideal Josephine which is a show saddle built on the same tree as the Ideal Jessica (a dressage saddle). It was comfortable to hack and jump in as well as being perfect for the show ring and lower level dressage.

It looked like this:

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l601/suziq77ponies/Idealleft.jpg
 
i got a working hunter saddle to enable me to do a bit of everything i jumped showed and did dressage in it - love showing in it its so comfortable, didnt really help my position for the dressage but didnt hinder it either and was suprisingly supportive!, super comfy to jump in aswell but it ment i had to ride with sligthly longer stirrups than i'd have liked but still not an issue! its deffinatly the perfect medium if you want to do a bit of everything i called it my jack of all trade saddles (master of none :p )
 
I did the county/ affiliated circuit (quite successfully), and used an Albion K2 dressage saddle (which I don't think is quite as blocky as some), and it didn't affect our placings.
 
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