Dressage saddle help!

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LouiseG

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I got a new dressage saddle last week... I haven't really ridden in one before as have always used a GP. I was so full of optimism, walk and trot my horse was going lovely, although I do feel like my legs are swinging about all over the place. Had a canter in it last night for the first time and oh my goodness, it was TERRIBLE! I felt like I couldn't ride at all, my horse was really flat and the canter kept breaking as I bounced around almost losing my stirrups. So now I am feeling really disappointed!! Is this something that just takes a lot of practice and getting used to?! Any tips of how to get used to it? :)
 
Not sure I can help Louise, I've had a dressage saddle for 7 years. I have just bought a new one last year and I love it, it's an Albion platinum royale. I don't have any problems, infact I don't use my GP, I do everything in the dressage saddle. What are your knee blocks like? Are they fixed or can you move them?
 
They make you ride longer in a more 'classical' position. Maybe your stirrups were too long?
Or perhaps it's highlighting a problem you may not have noticed before?
Try riding in it without stirrups, if it's safe to do so, just to get used to position it puts you in?
 
Assuming that a saddler fitted the saddle to both you and your horse, my first thought also was whether you were trying to ride with your stirrups too long.
 
I was riding fairly long in my GP and I think the stirrups were dropped about 2 holes so that would be a sensible explanation, I did feel like I was reaching for my stirrups when cantering so i'll pop them up a couple of holes tonight and see. only thing when the stirrups were up my knees were really pushing against the knee blocks, is this normal? If so then my stirrups were clearly too long last night! We were just getting our canter sorted in the GP so I thought this would help us. It was fitted by a saddle fitter and my horse goes lovely in walk and trot and I think the canter is just problematic because I couldn't find my balance last night and I have a very green 5 year old so I'm not sure I want to be taking away my stirrups on him yet.
 
LouiseG said:
I was riding fairly long in my GP and I think the stirrups were dropped about 2 holes so that would be a sensible explanation, I did feel like I was reaching for my stirrups when cantering so i'll pop them up a couple of holes tonight and see. only thing when the stirrups were up my knees were really pushing against the knee blocks, is this normal? If so then my stirrups were clearly too long last night! We were just getting our canter sorted in the GP so I thought this would help us. It was fitted by a saddle fitter and my horse goes lovely in walk and trot and I think the canter is just problematic because I couldn't find my balance last night and I have a very green 5 year old so I'm not sure I want to be taking away my stirrups on him yet.
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Sounds like you've dropped your leathers down too quickly. Go up two holes, then gradually start dropping them over the next two weeks. Yes, riding shorter will result in your knees pressing up against the knee blocks.

The other really useful thing for you to do is to have weekly lunge lessons on your horse, without your stirrups. This will enable you to start riding with a longer leg.
 
I had the same problem when I first changed! Take the stirrup shorter (feels weird against the knee blocks) then gradually got longer. I also did a lot of work on core strengh as this was already a weakness of mine.
 
The current fashion is for deep seats and honking great knee blocks - dressage saddles vary SO much, a smaller block might be better for you - smaller and higher gives your knee more room and is what I prefer. Many intructors eg Mary Wanless don't agree that you should ride super long and as a fitter I tend to side with them.

Everyone's different and likes different shaped saddles, and buying a dressage saddle when you've not ridden much in one is very difficult - if the fitter came to you the saddle is on a week's trial, whether they told you or not you are legally entitled to one, so be sure that you want to keep it at the end of the week, or call them and tell them there is an issue.
 
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