Another dressage saddle advice thread!!

[janei]

So, I currently have a 2nd hand Ideal Jessica, horse is broadish in back, has withers and has big shoulders and a broad rib cage, the Jessica fits but is not great for me, I get back ache and dont truly feel he really pushes through when riding in it. I have an ideal VSD, extra wide which is a little on the wide side now but sits round him and he pushes through better, although a little too wide for me :-( - bought this brand new. I also have a K & M bought new a few years ago but has always always slipped, despite saddler changing things (I just think the tree is too curvy for him), not just with me either with my instructor too, so not just my dodgy riding!

So my query really - I would like to try a Suzannah as from what I read and see it 'appears' it might work better for my horse and for me, I have spoken to my saddler who no longer sells them :-( so, she has cavaletti, Bliss, Fairfax, Barnsby and some others - does anyone know if these fit at all similarly to a Suzannah for a broader but not totally flat backed horse? I also wanted brown but was told that saddler would not sell me a brown dressage as if it doesnt fit she wouldnt be able to sell it on and would get stuck with it as they are not popular.

I am only 5'3 and would like something with a bit more thigh support hence my instructor suggesting a Suzannah might work. Do Suzannahs and Jessica's fit the horse in a similar way - assuming standard tress etc? Do I just buy a 2nd hand Suzannah and take a punt, obviously I would get it checked etc. And I know there are lots of you on here that like brown dressage (my Jessica is brown but just not right).

Thanks for making it this far, any advice/suggestions???

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You sound like me I am looking for a very wide not too curvy brown dressage saddle! Not easy is it I love the ideal Jessica but not if it is suitable for my horse his not got much wither and is wide with big shoulders and movement, I currently use a Lavinia Mitchell gp saddle which is fine but the dressage model which my other horse has is too curvy for him, I am gutted because the LM dressage is lovely his also got a Heritage show WH which fits him lovely but I don't get on with it anymore, I just feel insecure in it and his sharp and spooks so I feel that I need something with a bit more support.

My fitter said look for a black country freedom tree or a different make on a hoop tree may work, I did have a black country for him before that fitted well but can't find a freedom tree anywhere, I feel like I will end up having to buy new again to get what I want, I could get a brand new heritage dressage made for under £1000 and I know they do work on him, my fitter has a few second hand ideals and B C he is bringing next so am hoping one fits.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

So, I currently have a 2nd hand Ideal Jessica, horse is broadish in back, has withers and has big shoulders and a broad rib cage, the Jessica fits but is not great for me, I get back ache and dont truly feel he really pushes through when riding in it. I have an ideal VSD, extra wide which is a little on the wide side now but sits round him and he pushes through better, although a little too wide for me :-( - bought this brand new. I also have a K & M bought new a few years ago but has always always slipped, despite saddler changing things (I just think the tree is too curvy for him), not just with me either with my instructor too, so not just my dodgy riding!

So my query really - I would like to try a Suzannah as from what I read and see it 'appears' it might work better for my horse and for me, I have spoken to my saddler who no longer sells them :-( so, she has cavaletti, Bliss, Fairfax, Barnsby and some others - does anyone know if these fit at all similarly to a Suzannah for a broader but not totally flat backed horse? I also wanted brown but was told that saddler would not sell me a brown dressage as if it doesnt fit she wouldnt be able to sell it on and would get stuck with it as they are not popular.

I am only 5'3 and would like something with a bit more thigh support hence my instructor suggesting a Suzannah might work. Do Suzannahs and Jessica's fit the horse in a similar way - assuming standard tress etc? Do I just buy a 2nd hand Suzannah and take a punt, obviously I would get it checked etc. And I know there are lots of you on here that like brown dressage (my Jessica is brown but just not right).

Thanks for making it this far, any advice/suggestions???

What width is your Jessica?

 

[janei]

Thanks Pinkyboots, Black Country may also be worth a look.
My Jessica is a wide.
He doesnt need a hoop tree I dont think as I think this would be too wide.
Have you tried a Suzannah, did it fit similar to a Jessica do you know?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thanks Pinkyboots, Black Country may also be worth a look.
My Jessica is a wide.
He doesnt need a hoop tree I dont think as I think this would be too wide.
Have you tried a Suzannah, did it fit similar to a Jessica do you know?

Not tried a Suzannah but the pictures of them look quite curvy so not sure it they would work, there was a nice one on eBay a while back, my horse is an x wide in a black country not sure if the ideal come up wider or not, his an xx wide in some other brands so I think that's why the fitter said a freedom tree would work.

When my fitter comes next week I will ask him I have a whole list of questions about different saddles.

 

[McFluff]

I had a Jessica (on my TB) which I liked (both horse and saddle are long gone)
I had a Susannah initially for my cob mare, that I replaced with a made to measure Justine (basically a mono-flap Jessica) when she matured - I loved the Justine - it felt like a narrower Jessica to ride in
I had a Susannah for my Welsh - which I replaced with a Bliss once he matured (we both love the Bliss)
Personally, I find the Susannah a bit too much block for me - but others who rode in it loved it.
From what I understand Ideal can build any of these on the tree that is right for your horse. The hoop tree may work for you - my welsh has one and it is more to do with his shoulders (being big) than his width (he isn't particularly wide).
The Susannah's I had were black, as they were always temporary saddles while horses matured, so I was told they would be easier to sell. My Justine was brown and it sold easily. My bliss is brown too. I think more brown saddles are infiltrating the dressage world!

 

[Britestar]

Check out winners circle saddles.
They will make to your requirements, and not cost the earth.
I cannot recommend them enough, and am delighted with mine.
3 friends also have them, all made to their size, shape and their own colours, and all the horses are going really well.

 

[janei]

I had a Jessica (on my TB) which I liked (both horse and saddle are long gone)
I had a Susannah initially for my cob mare, that I replaced with a made to measure Justine (basically a mono-flap Jessica) when she matured - I loved the Justine - it felt like a narrower Jessica to ride in
I had a Susannah for my Welsh - which I replaced with a Bliss once he matured (we both love the Bliss)
Personally, I find the Susannah a bit too much block for me - but others who rode in it loved it.
From what I understand Ideal can build any of these on the tree that is right for your horse. The hoop tree may work for you - my welsh has one and it is more to do with his shoulders (being big) than his width (he isn't particularly wide).
The Susannah's I had were black, as they were always temporary saddles while horses matured, so I was told they would be easier to sell. My Justine was brown and it sold easily. My bliss is brown too. I think more brown saddles are infiltrating the dressage world!

Thanks for that. What's the Bliss like tree wise, as she does have these, there's also a brown for sale on ebay but it's hoop tree but going from what you said that might be a possibility.

 

[janei]

Not tried a Suzannah but the pictures of them look quite curvy so not sure it they would work, there was a nice one on eBay a while back, my horse is an x wide in a black country not sure if the ideal come up wider or not, his an xx wide in some other brands so I think that's why the fitter said a freedom tree would work.

When my fitter comes next week I will ask him I have a whole list of questions about different saddles.

Thank you, it's so difficult especially if fitter only really has a few new ones to choose from

 

[janei]

Check out winners circle saddles.
They will make to your requirements, and not cost the earth.
I cannot recommend them enough, and am delighted with mine.
3 friends also have them, all made to their size, shape and their own colours, and all the horses are going really well.

Thanks, will take a look

 

[McFluff]

Thanks for that. What's the Bliss like tree wise, as she does have these, there's also a brown for sale on ebay but it's hoop tree but going from what you said that might be a possibility.

From what I understand (from listening to my saddler) they have a few tree designs that they can make the saddle on.
My Welsh has big shoulders, a bit of whither, and a fairly flat and short back. my saddler took templates and ordered it for me. He’s not overly wide.
Hopefully your saddler is one of the talented ones who can see the tree and find you a good fitting saddle.

 

[hollyandivy123]

So never seen it....but if you believe the bumph

https://batessaddles.co.uk/products/bates-wide-dressage?variant=32538793574460

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

My first Friesian ..flat backed/big shoulder...was fitted with a Collegiate dressage saddle.