Are dressage saddles safer?

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Hi, I am riding in a GP saddle on my new cob. I was talking about Aussie stock saddles to my friend saying I liked the look of them as they have a secure deep seat. (I have fallen off a few times :() Anyway she said I should think about getting a dressage saddle as they have thick knee pads which make you more secure and help you have good posture. What do you think, Is this right????
 
if my dressage saddle was anything to go by no but it doesnt have much of a knee block and yes the deep seat keeps me in but i would prefer to ride in a gp... or my spanish exercise saddle as its virtually impossible to fall out of... or get out of when dismounting :p

good posture bit is true but really it shoudnt matter what saddle you are in its about balance but thats just what i think :)
 
I only have a dressage saddle and ride my PRE in it all the time. Go for long hacks and fast gallops in it and feel perfectly safe. However, as previously said, the knee blocks won't keep you from falling off. You really need to develop an independent seat, so perhaps try having a few lunge lessons first
 
Certainly not for me!! I came off big time earlier in the year and broke my shoulder - in a borrowed dressage saddle (borrowed from saddler, I should add).

I now have a GP! Not that that will stop me coming off!!! :)
 
im not sure about falling off but i personally hate big chunky dresage saddles as i feel like i cant move and cant feel my horse (but ive only ever sat in one dressage saddle before)

I usually ride in race exercise saddles and much prefer these but of course they are basically just something to sit on and hold your stirrups!! But i can feel every movement the horse makes so i love them plus with 2 thick pads underneath they are quite comfy

its your personal opinion of what you feel more secure in, if i got a racing saddle
and put it on valegro when charlotte rode him i reckon she would find it almost as weird as i do dressage saddles!!
 
Relying on any saddle to keep you on is a risky strategy from the start! You need to develop an independant seat.

I tend to choose my jump saddle for fast work & hacking becuase I find it better with my stirrups up a couple of holes to stay in a half seat while my horses get the kinks out underneath!
 
well i think my dressage saddle makes me safer-it has huge knee rolls and helps with my back which i suffer very badly with. i jump in it and go hunting and hurtle about the woods and forestry with no problems- in fact i would go as far as to say i wont ride in anything else now:D
 
Thanks everyone for your advice. I think the lunging lessons sound great to practice for balance as I know I shouldn't rely on anything but my ability and that will take a bit of time. X
 
I think dressage saddles enable you to sit up more and lengthen your leg down, and in my case that does seem to make me more secure. When my TB has provided me with involuntary high school movements combined with a few freestyle gymnastic acts, I find the dressage saddle allows me to put the weight down my leg and sit up. But I've ridden only in dressage saddles now for about 10 years, for dressage, a bit of low level jumping, endurance rides and on the gallops and much prefer them to any GP saddle.
 
I think to an extent tho, if a certain saddle makes you feel more secure, then you will feel more confident/less nervous/worried and be able to concentrate more on your riding rather than feeling insecure. I have several saddles which feel less safe than others..I prefer those with a suede seat..so maybe try a range of different ones, chose one you feel safe in that fits your horse and then try one like it with a suede seat?they just feel more grippy/velcro like!Some synthetics have a nice secure comfy feel-I have a synthetic thoroughgood dressage saddle with a suedey seat, its cheap & chearful for nasty weather but I love it if I'm getting on after some time off!
 
Holly Hocks said:
I think dressage saddles enable you to sit up more and lengthen your leg down, and in my case that does seem to make me more secure. When my TB has provided me with involuntary high school movements combined with a few freestyle gymnastic acts, I find the dressage saddle allows me to put the weight down my leg and sit up. But I've ridden only in dressage saddles now for about 10 years, for dressage, a bit of low level jumping, endurance rides and on the gallops and much prefer them to any GP saddle.
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Yes when I was on holiday I rode in a dressage saddle and remember feeling very restricted but my legs were long. It felt weird but I could get used to it I've ridden in riding schools with them and I'm sure I felt more secure :o
 
Not per se, its your position that gives you security, as well as what you're used to. I ride very long & as though I'm in a dressage saddle even in a gp. However, if I'm jumping, or riding a pony my legs are too long for in a gp with short stirrups, & it starts seriously throwing itself about, I tend to kick my feet free, let my legs down long & sit up. So if I was riding a horse I suspected might ditch me, I would go for a dressage saddle. Others may prefer other methods & therefore saddle types though.
 
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