Buying a showing saddle for dressage?

[CrazyDog]

I have struggled to find a dressage saddle to fit me. I am long from hip to knee so need a slightly forward flap. Deep seated saddles seem to tilt me forward. Would a showing saddle be a good compromise? They seem to have flatter seats and slightly more forward flaps than dressage saddles but are still designed to allow freedom of movement for the horse.

 

[Jo C]

I have dressaged quite happily in my show saddle but do find it lacks support if that makes sense.

 

[Pasha]

It depends what showing saddle you get....... my Ramsey is as straight cut as a dressage saddle and I do use it for dressage only because I cannot get a dressage saddle to accomodate his huge shoulder movement (weird I know but it's true - saving up for a WOW).

I use mine for dressage but to be honest you get absoluetly no support at all.... no knee rolls, the seat is practically flat and the stirrup bars are slightly too far forward for a really good dressage leg position (obviously on showing saddles they are positioned to allow you to take a forward seat for galloping).

I am also long from hip to knee and struggle to keep my leg back in my showing saddle..... lots of companies (like WOW) do flaps to accomodate this now. Have you tried speaking to them?

 

[conniegirl]

Have you thought about a working hunter saddle?
They are normaly almost as straight cut as the showing saddle, but have bigger knee rolls so more support.
Ive done dressage in mine with no problems.

 

[CBAnglo]

I agree - a working hunter would be a better compromise.

When you say that you have struggled to find a saddle to fit, do you mean seat wise (in relation to your horse) or just that you find dressage saddles have deep seats? With some saddles, the deeper the seat means that it is actually a smaller seat. This can contribute to you leaning forwards.

 

[CrazyDog]

The straight flap either pushes my heel too far behind me causing me to tip forward or pushes me to the back of the saddle with the same effect. This seems to happen even when I go up a seat size. The dressage saddle I have now is an 18" and my jumping saddle is a 17" with a flatter seat.

Do you have suggestions for dressage/WH saddles that might work for me? I have a feeling that a saddle with a slightly more forward flap will allow me to sit comfortably, especially if combined with not such a deep seat.