Dressage saddle advice. One that doesn't 'lock' you in position

ArcticFox

ArcticFox

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Hi all

After having a fab lesson with my instructor in my K2 jump saddle with longer stirrups its got me thinking!

I felt so much more comfortable and relaxed in the saddle that I have come to realise that whilst the Albion style dressage saddle I have is very comfy I think the knee blocks are too big as I feel locked in position.

What dressage saddles are there that don't do this? I'm happy to continue with my jump saddle but would also like to try some other ones to see if there is one that suits me better than the style.

Thanks in advance
 
Black Country Eloquence Dressage Saddle has very flat soft knee rolls and rides very comfortable just like your jumping saddle
 
I have exactly the opposite! Passier just gone on preloved so i can buy something that locks me in more after riding in friends Albion and loving the secure feeling. Would say ideal Jessica and Passier grand gilbert are both very nice saddles if you want bit more space, suit different shaped horses though, ideal probably more similar shape to Albion.
 
The Devoucoux Milady. I had an Ideal Jessica but that still locked me in too much (causing me a lot of hip pain). The Milady (ordered in their most forward cut option with least knee roll) is the only dressage saddle which I can ride in for however long, stay comfortable and be able to walk when I get off. Puts you in a really good position but doesn't hold you at all.
 
Albion dressage saddles are beautifully made, and fabulous quality, but i cant bear to ride in them as they make me feel so blocked in and sort of locked into position, i also struggle to feel the horses back properly when using an Albion. However, i do like the Albion jumping saddles! For dressage, i love my Passier Grand Gilbert as its very simple, with minimal blocks, also some Amerigos too.
 
mushroom said:
The Ideal Jessica which is why I sold mine! It left my leg too free :)
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I would recommend the Jessica too I have three of them and I use them until the horse has developed and I am ready to buy him a saddle .
I have mine on the flair system so they are easily adjustable.
You can ride shorter on them than many dressage saddles making them useful on young ones an dif you like to take a hack after schooling.
They do leave the leg very free .
 
No idea if you can buy them over there, but I have a 'Collegiate Convertable'. I have the leather version with ajustable gullet and normal flock. Smart to look at possibly won't be the longest lasting saddle but is holding up well given I use it to hack in as well so it gets used quite a lot.

I really like it, it doesn't lock you in position at all and is really comfy.
 
I have riddeb a few horses in Albion dressage saddles and I agree that they really do wedge you into place!
Have heard (but never ridden in them myself) that ideal jessicas arent too blocky so might be worth a try?
 
I've got a Butet dressage saddle that I absolutely love:-



I've literally tried all kinds of dressage saddles - Ideal Suzannah, Albion SLK, Devoucoux Makila and Mendia and this is my favourite by a long way. I can see that it wouldn't be for everyone - it has a flattish seat and minimal blocks but it is not at all restrictive and I find the flat seat encourages me to sit up properly and not tip forward, unlike the more blocked saddles that I've tried. I bought mine second hand and it was £800, if that helps, so not massively more expensive than a new dressage saddle from another brand. It's very light as well and fits all my TBs - I can genuinely say they like this saddle more than others, probably due to the weight as dressage saddles can weigh a ton. Hope that helps!
 
For what you'd pay for a decent dressage saddle id get one mtm, i did and it only cost me £1500 i love my dressage saddle, both saddles were made to my spec in colours and trims with the type of leather i liked, i got exactly what i wanted
 
I have a Stubben Genesis Spezial, which is totally flat seat and no knee rolls what so ever. Like another poster, the horses love it (possibly weight and the flexible tree). I haven't been riding much recently so my legs are currently bouncing up and down in it at the moment, but every blocked saddle I've ridden in gives me excruciating back pain and when I've got a bit more tone in my legs, it's all good!
 
Thanks AF, I'm currently thinking about a dressage saddle for my boy, but HATE feeling "locked" in., so this post is perfect!!! :D

I really need to find a saddler with a decent selection to try, but always feel obliged to buy.... Must man up!
 
Festive_Felicitations said:
No idea if you can buy them over there, but I have a 'Collegiate Convertable'. I have the leather version with ajustable gullet and normal flock. Smart to look at possibly won't be the longest lasting saddle but is holding up well given I use it to hack in as well so it gets used quite a lot.

I really like it, it doesn't lock you in position at all and is really comfy.
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I've just bought one of these....don't think they're very common in the UK though! Really like it, and not locked in at all (almost wish I were a bit more!)
 
Try lots! what works for one won't necessarily work for you. I had a Silhouette which had massive knee blocks and I hated it. Changed to the Ideal Jessica and love it. But I was equally happy in an old Albion that the saddler brought up.
 
I have a Passier Corona (mark I) and it's not at all the sort to hold you in place. My knees don't touch the knee block unless I'm riding badly and have for some reason hoiked my leg up.

I tried a few more blocky saddles and found them a bit frightening (probably just not used to being held in place so much). Having said that, now we've found medium/extended trot, I'd love something that would hold me a bit more secure as I seem to flail about all over the place :eek:
 
I have a Kent and masters. I also dislike saddles that force you into place and this one doesn't at all.

I find it very comfortable and at £650 new it was nicely priced too!
 
Another vote for Passier. Mine is an ancient one, model is Patron, that I have just purchased off ebay for less than £300. The block are very minimal and quite similar to an extremely extremely old Kieffer Wein I used to have. The Passier seems to put me in a correct position so balance is maintained but without blocking me in. Another friend has the same model and says the same thing. I believe the Passiers also have short points so do not hinder shoulder movement of the horse.

I have ridden on quite a few dressage saddles, from top of the range Devoucoux right through to synthetics and if I was in the market for a new saddle Passier would be my first choice.
 
Hi all


many thanks for your advice and suggestions, lots to look at. think I'll sell my albion first then start shopping around so I know my budget.

Would love a mtm or new saddle but unfortunately I'm going to have to settle with a second hand as I don't have the budget. My budget likely to be around £600 or so once I sell my albion I reckon?
 
ArcticFox said:
Hi all


many thanks for your advice and suggestions, lots to look at. think I'll sell my albion first then start shopping around so I know my budget.

Would love a mtm or new saddle but unfortunately I'm going to have to settle with a second hand as I don't have the budget. My budget likely to be around £600 or so once I sell my albion I reckon?
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You should get a nice second hand Jessica for that .
Alene at Stirlingshire saddle fitters sells a lot of ideals two of my Jessicas came second hand from Alene .
 
sillygillyhorse said:
I believe the Passiers also have short points so do not hinder shoulder movement of the horse.
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Yes my saddler said the same thing - my horse has very large shoulders and the Passier was the only one that he moved freely in. I absolutely love mine. It's also adjustable (by heat treatment I think) so I've been able to have it changed as my horse has changed width.

Mine cost about £1,800 new I think (can't remember, have tried to block it out!!) so I think they will still be expensive second-hand, but absolutely worth it. I don't ever want to part with mine. I had a Barnsby before and in comparison it was horrid for me personally - massive blocks, hideously deep seat and very wide across the twist. Passier suits me much better.
 
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Tiffany said:
I've got an Albion SLK and don't feel locked in ;)
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I had an SLK too and didn't feel locked in. I really liked the K2 when I tried that as it was even flatter, but my horse preferred the SLK (his stride length almost doubled!) so I went with that!
 
Which Albion do you have? I loved the SLK which has the big knee rolls. Sadly my new horse did not so I now have the Albion SL which doesn't have said knee rolls. The K2 dressage is different again. I had a very straight cut Kieffer years ago as well. I really like the big knee rolls and deep seat for dressage but like a flat seat and no rolls for jumping !
 
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