Dressage saddle question

[AthenesOwl]

My instructor has suggested to me that I should consider getting a dressage saddle, as my aim is to get out and start competing over the winter. Dressage is my main interest, and my horse is finally fit enough to start working on this, after a few challenges in the first few months I had him, so I’m pretty excited wt the prospect and want to do the best for us.

I currently ride in an Albion K2 GP, which came with him, and seems to be a good fit for him. I find it to be very forward cut, but comfortable and secure for hacking, and the jumping we’ll probably do at some stage. For schooling, my instructor suggests that because I have long legs, and my horse is 17hh, we would both benefit from a dressage saddle, which would help me to extend my legs and use the leg aids more effectively. It’s something I’ve found difficult, and we didn’t realise why until we twigged that before I got him, I’d spent a couple of years mostly riding a horse in a dressage saddle. She suggests looking at second hand dressage saddles online, and then getting a local saddle fitter to fit it.

Would it be wrong to think that an Albion K2 dressage saddle might be a good bet, given his current saddle is a K2? And would it even be worth it? Or perhaps should I consider their VSD saddle? I do have the budget for a second hand one, plus getting it fitted by a good local fitter who visits the yard.

 

[little_critter]

What happens if you just drop your stirrups in your GP?
If you are going to buy another saddle, I wouldn’t bother with a VSD, you might as well go full dressage if you have a GP for faster work and jumping.

 

[asmp]

My fitter would measure the horse, look at you and tell you what to look out for second hand. I’d get the fitter out first and ask their opinion.

 

[AthenesOwl]

What happens if you just drop your stirrups in your GP?
If you are going to buy another saddle, I wouldn’t bother with a VSD, you might as well go full dressage if you have a GP for faster work and jumping.

I usually ride a couple of holes longer schooling than I do hacking. I find that because of the cut of the GP, it’s harder to keep my ankles and hips in line. It pushes me into more of a chair seat, which makes me feel more unstable, and less able to use leg aids appropriately. My instructor thinks that a dressage saddle would help with this, and help me to take advantage of having long legs, which she is jokingly envious of!

 

[teapot]

I found the Albion K2 can put tall people into an awkard position on the flat - I absolutely detest riding in them for that reason, have never felt secure in one, and have ridden in them on different horses too, as a fellow tall-ie.

Best bet is to try a few different brands, ride in them to ensure they fit both you and the horse. Sticking to brand just because may not be the best thing. Also dressage saddles vary so much you may want to play around with blocks, lots of blocks, minimal blocks, super deep seat, not so deep seat etc, and work out what works best for you.

 

[AthenesOwl]

That’s very interesting. I wonder if that’s my problem with the K2 GP as well. I certainly wouldn’t have chosen it for myself if it hadn’t come with my horse, although other people seem to rave about them as saddles. His previous owner was an awful lot shorter than me!

I’m still fairly new to horse ownership, after many years of riding school horses, or other people’s, so I’ve never really thought about whether a saddle fitted me, just if it fitted the horse. Not that I ever had any say in either, really.

 

[rara007]

Where as I’m too short for a K2 (I am short!). It would be worth having one on trial or try one via a saddler I think as it’s very individual.

 

[sbloom]

A VSD is just a straight cut GP and has the bar in the same non-dressage location in most cases. It is highly likely to fit the horse but doesn't mean it will work for you, I'd have a fitting for a used saddle if possible where the fit for you can be assessed, as often, unless the saddle was a perfect match for our pelvic shape then riding with a longer stirrup, moving the hip articulation, can change some aspects, and often the seat shape is different anyway so it will ride different even if the GP fitted your pelvis perfectly.

 

[Traks]

I personally would wait till you’ve got a bit more experience, they are a big investment and if you decided you didn’t want to focus on dressage you may regret it, particularly if he’s going well in your current saddle. You don’t need a dressage saddle to compete, particularly if you are in the early stages! Just my personal opinion!

 

[AthenesOwl]

Thank you all, your comments are all very helpful. Plenty to think about, and I’m certainly in no rush to go dressage saddle shopping. I was actually pretty surprised at the suggestion, much as I’m not a fan of my current saddle and it’s not what I’d have chosen myself.

 

[sbloom]

Thank you all, your comments are all very helpful. Plenty to think about, and I’m certainly in no rush to go dressage saddle shopping. I was actually pretty surprised at the suggestion, much as I’m not a fan of my current saddle and it’s not what I’d have chosen myself.

Definitely don't get a K2 then. I would hazard a guess it's working against you in terms of fundamental fit for hips and pelvis, and so your instructor thinks you can do better. I would suggest a change of saddle completely, in all likelihood, rather than adding a dressage saddle, especially one based on a saddle you don't actually like.

 

[j1ffy]

I've always quite liked Albion jump saddles but hate their dressage saddles, so I definitely wouldn't assume it will / won't work without trying it first.

If there's a saddler near you who sells second hand it's worth getting them out (or going to them) to try a few. As others have said, you need something to fit you as well as the horse...otherwise it will be a waste of money!

 

[AthenesOwl]

Definitely don't get a K2 then. I would hazard a guess it's working against you in terms of fundamental fit for hips and pelvis, and so your instructor thinks you can do better. I would suggest a change of saddle completely, in all likelihood, rather than adding a dressage saddle, especially one based on a saddle you don't actually like.

I have started to think that this might be the way to go, rather than a dressage saddle. It’s objectively a nice saddle, but I’m not sure it fits me very well.