Deep seat or shallow seat?

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thegreenergrass

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Do people prefer deep seat or more shallow seat saddles and why? What's the difference?

Thinking of getting a new one for my gelding but there's so much choice! I've never had a choice of saddle before as I've just gone with whatever the horse already had and I'm sure there's way more to it than meets the eye. (I mean obviously will get it fitted by a saddle fitter etc.) Just looking for a GP.
 
Depends what you want from the saddle really. Love my deep seated dressage saddle as it hold me into the saddle better, for jumping a shallow/flat seat is much better!
 
Really depends on what suits you and the horse. The best thing is to get a saddle fitter out and try lots! Dressage saddles tend to be deeper seated than jump saddles - but they don't have to be. You also have to consider whether you want tree'd or treeless, foam or flocked, close contact or not and the width of the waist which suits you. (The saddle's - not yours!)

I would suggest you start with what you want the saddle for. Is it a specific discipline or a GP? If GP do you want it slightly straighter or slightly more forward? What is the horse like to fit? Do they have a conformation point which limits saddle design - for example a low wither, straight or set back shoulders, forward girth groove etc? The answers to those two will give you a basic pool of saddle types of choose from. (Budget I suppose might also be a factor to narrow you choice!)

Then try them. Do you feel comfortable, safe and supported? Does the horse's movement feel free? There is no right or wrong. No "better" or "worse" Just what suits you.
 
Flat seat if you are going to be doing any XC......you need to be able to shove your backside back and also to lean back over drops. You don't want your back or back protector being whacked or caught up on the cantle.
 
We've been saddle shopping for hubby recently, and most GP saddles seem to have a fairly high cantle.

Moving onto jumping saddles, they mostly seem to be a lot flatter, even if not actually 'close contact'

After 9 years riding in a JW jumping saddle with a flat seat (which I found extremely hard to get used to at the start), I've recently moved back to my GP as it fits new pony better, and its been trouble free.

Therefore I think if you want a very flat seat, try to borrow one first and ride in it to make sure you're happy.

I hope that ramble made sense.

Fiona
 
Personally, I'd take a shallow seat every time, as I tend to find deep seats feel very restrictive (not to mention I have a pony who sometimes overjumps hugely). However, as everyone has been saying, it's very much a matter of personal taste; so try a few out and see what you find most comfortable.
 
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