Dressage Saddle sizing advice please

[amienata]

I am hoping to buy my first dressage saddle soon and have had some conflicting advice about what size seat to get - i currently ride in a 17 1/2 inch which fits me and my horse nicely but i have been told that when choosing a dressage saddle i should go for a size smaller i.e. a 17 inch as you are 'held' more in place with them and therefore do not need/want a 'roomy' seat to move around in! Is this true? I know i should try before i buy but as i tend to buy my saddles from ebay (easy when a particular make suits my horse) it is a little more difficult - any advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you

 

[kerilli]

you really need to try lots of different saddles when it comes to a first dr saddle, esp if you aren't used to riding in 1. any will feel odd to begin with because it puts your leg in such a different place.
i ride in the same size dr saddle as jump saddle usually, or sometimes 1/2" smaller, depends as much on length of horse's back as on placement of stirrup bars and straightness of flaps.
i have wasted literally thousands on dressage saddles to be able to find a few that fit me perfectly...
what width is your horse? how tall are you, how long are your thighs, and how wide are your hips? (sorry, personal question, but it makes a big difference when it comes to dr saddles)