Dressage or GP saddle

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Gerilew

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Hi I currently have Bates dressage saddle and Saddle Co. GP which both have been deemed unsuitable by saddle fitter. Long story short horse was diagnosed with navicular last year and has been out of work since Jan this year he is coming back into successfully :) but he has changed shape and is going differently hence why saddles are unsuitable. And here is my dilemma - I love riding in a dressage saddle but I think we will only manage a small amount of light schooling (I cant see us doing anymore competitive dressage) so the plan was to get him out with lots of fun outings beach, forest, fun rides etc, so therefore would a GP saddle suit us best??? Cant afford to replace both unfortunately
 
He was basically written off by Leahurst after his diagnosis, they said either bute him up (which I would never do) or retire him. I worked closely with my farrier and he has fitted him with pads which lift his heels and these have worked amazingly well :)
 
I did everything in my dressage saddle when my old boy got abit too stiff to jump anything of note. Beach rides, fun rides, the works. Never had an issue. I had an Ideal Jessica - loved it.
 
I do everything in a dressage saddle too, and feel really uncomfortable in a GP/Jump saddle. I've been a dressage diva for the last 15 years, and I'm used, and more comfortable in a dressage saddle. I don't jump any more (although I have jumped the infamous plane at the RAF Halton sponsored ride - in a dressage saddle!) but we do have some quite interesting hacks (thanks to Alfs propensity to levitate) and I've always been glad I was wedged into my dressage saddle! I'm riding him in a GP at the moment, and he managed to buck me off a few weeks ago - I swear I wouldn't have come unstuck if I'd had the dressage saddle on!
 
Stockers said:
I did everything in my dressage saddle when my old boy got abit too stiff to jump anything of note. Beach rides, fun rides, the works. Never had an issue. I had an Ideal Jessica - loved it.
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^^^

I still have an Ideal Jessica.

Best bloody saddle I have ever bought, if possible I would never swap it unless it was to buy a new Ideal Jessica.

My mare has thrown some interesting spins, bolts, spooks etc. In this saddle I have always felt secure, comfortable and safe.

I'm not a huge fan of GP's but then because of my own physical conformation (I am short but long legged with a very long hip to knee ration) I prefer a straighter cut saddle with knee rolls not blocks and a narrow twist.
 
Damnation said:
^^^


I'm not a huge fan of GP's but then because of my own physical conformation (I am short but long legged with a very long hip to knee ration) I prefer a straighter cut saddle with knee rolls not blocks and a narrow twist.
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This, except that I am not short :) I have most of my height in my legs and the longest bit of me is hip to knee, so I find GP's tend to leave my knee too far forward. If your horse is going to keep on changing shape (coming back into work etc) it may be worth looking at solution saddles, we now have three (oops) and they work well with changing shapes, they are so versatile that the draught mare (think mammoth) and the Appy (dainty fairy horse :) ) can both wear the same saddle, with different pads, and both love it :) They are not cheap, but I think that you can pick them up second hand, they are beautiful saddles :)
 
My older mare came back in to work about a year ago. We put her in to a Wow saddle. We opted for the Dressage Equitana. Expensive, but so worth it. Very comfy and knee blocks are movable. Was only expecting light hack and unaff dressage she is now jumping metre tracks..in her DRESSAGE saddle! Horse loves the saddle too! Good luck, I'm sure you may have tried already but magnetic over reach boots worked wonders for a previous mare with Navicular!
 
What about a vsd as they are kind of inbetweeny. My vsd wintec was straight cut enough for flat work but my sister still could jump up to 2'9 in it comfortable. We just moved the knee blocks. I always ride with dressage knee blocks.
 
I don't do dressage at all, yet I use a dressage saddle every day.
I specifically wanted the cut of a dressage saddle, my lightweight fits, and is comfortable, I have jacked the knee blocks up a bit but it is fine to ride fast and long distances, or jump.
 
ElleH0506 said:
My older mare came back in to work about a year ago. We put her in to a Wow saddle. We opted for the Dressage Equitana. Expensive, but so worth it. Very comfy and knee blocks are movable. Was only expecting light hack and unaff dressage she is now jumping metre tracks..in her DRESSAGE saddle! Horse loves the saddle too! Good luck, I'm sure you may have tried already but magnetic over reach boots worked wonders for a previous mare with Navicular!
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Elle I have looked at magnetic boots etc but got a bit bogged down with different makes, have you got any recommendations thx
 
Sorry to distract from original point, but my boy too had the same diagnosis.

As part of the rehab he's had Osposh drug, wears magnetic wraps and has high spec joint supp.

Its been nearly a year since diagnosed (only found out from something else and turned out he had 16 issues in each foot including mild to moderate navicular) He did his first wt test last week coming away with 69% - only took him out to see he behaved, didn't look lame, and could do basic movements in front of judge - never expected to win and would have been happy with 60%!

He's also going back to be re mri'd next month so we can see if what it all looks like a year later. I use the equine magnetix

Don't right him off yet........
 
Oh that's great news minimex2 and well done on the dressage win !! No I am still fighting his corner and will do everything I can for him and its always positive when I hear a story like yours :) I will have a look at those boots now thank u
 
your welcome,
There are a few on the market -I went for these as they were high spec magnets but mid price in comparison to others.
 
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