Dressage saddle help -Kent and masters s series or monarch regency

[soph15]

I’ve been offered to buy my new horse’s dressage saddle which is a monarch regency. I obviously wouldn’t buy it without my saddle fitter checking it over first but I’m looking for people’s opinions on both saddles. I’m unsure whether I spend a bit more and buy a brand new Kent and masters s series or buy this second hand one that my horse has been ridden in his whole life (the monarch regency).

If you have any experience riding in either then please let me know as I’d be keen to hear what people thought of the K+M one as the knee block is very big on it whereas the monarch one looks much more subtle. Does the monarch saddle offer plenty of lower leg support without being quite as big and bulky as the K+S?

Thanks in advance?

 

[Littlebear]

I have a real issue riding in K&M, i don't know if they just don't suit my body type but i cannot get on with them, I used to go and school horses for different people and obviously didn't have a choice in the saddle they were in and every time it was a K&M i felt like i just couldn't sit in the right place at all. To the point i would have been better off taking the saddle off.
I do know people that love them, but I would want a decent ride in one before you considered it as an option.

 

[sbloom]

The lower leg can't be supported by a knee block, sorry to be pedantic!

I would try one, I find that the very few riders who think they're really comfy change their mind when you get them into something better. They're not roomy, and basically big blocks and a deep seat introduce tension into the body, rather than allowing you to sit in a neutral pelvis as your basis for riding and don't allow you much room to move out of it as required.

I would go on what your fitter recommends, even if he's always been in the Monarch there's a chance it may not be the best saddle for him either.

 

[abbijay]

I have a K&M Series with Surface blocks and bl00dy love it. I have ridden in K&M for years and they definitely suit me (or maybe I have trained myself to suit them). The blocks are quite big, not enormous though, but well placed for me and it suited me better than my old Albion. I would definitely try to get a trial in one though.

 

[SpeedyPony]

I'd also suggest riding in a K&M for a good while before buying one (unless you've had one before?), I bought one, was alright-ish when I first rode to have it fitted, but absolutely crippled my hips and back when I tried to ride in it for more than an hour or two.
If he's always gone well in the monarch I'd definitely be inclined to get the saddle fitter to look at it. That will give you a rough idea of how it suits you too, although (as I found!) sometimes it takes a little longer to really know how well you'll get on with a saddle.

 

[soph15]

The lower leg can't be supported by a knee block, sorry to be pedantic!

I would try one, I find that the very few riders who think they're really comfy change their mind when you get them into something better. They're not roomy, and basically big blocks and a deep seat introduce tension into the body, rather than allowing you to sit in a neutral pelvis as your basis for riding and don't allow you much room to move out of it as required.

I would go on what your fitter recommends, even if he's always been in the Monarch there's a chance it may not be the best saddle for him either.

Sorry should have mentioned I suffered a fractured spine a few years ago which has left me with a nerve damaged leg which goes completely numb and unresponsive when riding, hence why a knee block is able to help me. When I’ve ridden in a friend’s fairfax saddle with a knee block it’s helped considerably, it’s not a perfect fix but sadly I’ll never be able to fully regain control in my right lower leg again when riding. However I was wondering what people’s opinions were on the K+S one as the knee block seems to be very big and square compared to different brands which obviously will fit every rider differently but I was concerned as I don’t know anyone who has one them self.

I think I’m going to bite the bullet and loan the monarch saddle off them until I can get a saddle fitters opinion but it will just mean having to pay to post it back to them if it doesn’t suit?

From what I’ve seen the monarch seems to have less of a visible knee block which I’m curious as to whether it would provide the same support for me as a more bulkier knee block

 

[soph15]

I have a real issue riding in K&M, i don't know if they just don't suit my body type but i cannot get on with them, I used to go and school horses for different people and obviously didn't have a choice in the saddle they were in and every time it was a K&M i felt like i just couldn't sit in the right place at all. To the point i would have been better off taking the saddle off.
I do know people that love them, but I would want a decent ride in one before you considered it as an option.

This is very interesting as my GP saddle for my other horse is a K+M and I struggle to sit right in it and I always put it down to my back and leg issues from my injury but hearing someone else has had the same issue is really interesting!?

 

[sbloom]

Sorry should have mentioned I suffered a fractured spine a few years ago which has left me with a nerve damaged leg which goes completely numb and unresponsive when riding, hence why a knee block is able to help me. When I’ve ridden in a friend’s fairfax saddle with a knee block it’s helped considerably, it’s not a perfect fix but sadly I’ll never be able to fully regain control in my right lower leg again when riding.

Little is understood about the finer details of fitting the rider, I worked with someone with cerebral palsy last week and padding up the skirts to make the twist wider transformed her, she no longer gripped so hard with her knees that the saddle was pulled down in front as she rose in the trot. It's amazing what the right shaped seat can do, just allowing your leg to hang where it should is the best starting point.