Advice re showing saddles

[ha903070]

I'm trying to find a showing saddle for my hunter, we will be doing jumping, working hunter and ridden hunter classes over the season.

What sort of saddle is acceptable - we want a stright cut saddle for the riding class to show off her huge shoulders and movement, would it be wrong to get a dressage saddle for this class and use the GP saddle we already have for the jumping aspect?

There are so many out there and I've seen a nice dressage saddle but can this be used for showing or are they strictly for dressage?? Any comments and advise welcome! Thank you

 

[scotsmare]

If you get a working hunter saddle they are fairly straight cut anyway so should be fine.

 

[hollyberry86]

you might get away with a dressage saddle at local level but it is not correct tack really. Especially at affilifated level. In working hunter no change of tack is allowed so you would have to do that jumping part in the same saddle as the ridden show part. I had a jeffries stamford working hunter and did everything in it. Its a proper show saddle but designed for working hunter so has knee rolls. Took a few weeks to get used to but was excellent after that. So ideally a working hunter saddle.

 

[Keltic]

If your doing working hunter classes alot of them stipulate no change of tack so i would go for a working hunter saddle, they are very versatile ive hacked, hunted jumped and schooled in mine with no problems

 

[ha903070]

Thanks for all the advice - another question - possibly i'm a bit thick??

What is the difference between a dressage and a show hunter saddle - the dressage saddle has a straight cut and longer girth straps for the dressage girth but a show saddle also has a straight cut?
Is it just the girth leathers that are longer?

The working hunter will only be done locally level and probably in the GP but if we go to bigger shows she will do ridden hunter. I assume from the above she cannt wear a dressage saddle for this class? Thanks

 

[scotsmare]

Show saddles tend to have flatter panels - dressage saddles generally have bigger knee rolls under the panels to aid position.

I think from what you've said going for a working hunter saddle would be your best bet as you'll get most use out of it.

 

[Taffster]

Show saddles are designed to show more of the front end of the horse off often for ridden show classes they are cut slightly back allowing even more of the shoulder to be on show. It works!

the ideal ramsey is a nice versatile saddle very comfy nice design and not stupidly priced. The show saddle experts are Fylde saddlery they have their own website so you can take a look
fyldesaddlery.co.uk

 

[horseywelsh]

if your dressage saddle doesn't have a huge knee roll, i have known people have the straps cut down and use them to show in and it's never been an issue.

i've shown and won at county level in a vsd saddle on a m&m!!!

you will be fine with your gp for workers at local.

 

[Keltic]

From what your saying you would probably be best to go for a saddle you can do it all in, if you do hunter classes at bigger shows ie county etc a dressage saddle wouldnt be suitable. A show saddle has no knee rolls and tends to be straighter in its cut allowing room to show off the shoulder, a working hunter saddle is still a little straighter in its cut but has a slight knee roll to allow for more disciplines ie jumping etc.
Hope that helps a little bit!!

At the end of the day just have fun!!

 

[SNORKEY]

I have a ramsey show saddle made by ideal, they are about £600 ish new I think derby house sell them, I love it, and ive changed horses twice and the saddle can be sent away and have the tree changed as well, ie' from med-wide.
They are straight cut but with some knee roll for jumping.