Dressage Saddle VS GP

[MS123]

I will soon be investing in a dressage saddle which I am very excited about. My current GP gives no support what so ever, and I find I can't get a nice deep seat as it tips me forward slightly. Anyhow, after chatting to a few friends, they mentioned how amazingly better there horses went in a dressage saddle.

So, I guess I'm just pondering as to why some horses go better in dressage saddles? Is it because the rider is then in a better position, which signals clearer aids? I did ride my current horse in a dressage a few months ago, and she went fantastic, so I'm excited that this could help us with our progress.

 

[TarrSteps]

You've hit it - the rider is in the right place, the balance is more conducive to the work involved, and the saddle is (should be) designed to optimise ease of movement for the horse. Obviously a saddle that doesn't fit is another issue but basically there is a reason saddles are built for purpose.

That said, especially for lower level work, a good jump saddle should allow for decent flat work. That's not always true the other way around though - trying to do too much jump training in a modern style dressage saddle can be unsafe and unproductive.

 

[kc100]

I always experience the same - all of the horses I have ridden go better in a DR saddle. I think its a lot to do with the freedom it allows them through the shoulder, the cut of the saddle is much straighter near the horses shoulders compared to a GP so it allows them more freedom for bigger movements.

Also helps a heck of a lot that the rider is sat in a much better position (I'm like you, tipping forwards in a GP saddle). I dont necessarily think it makes the rider give clearer aids as such, as you probably have more freedom in a GP to move your leg backwards or forwards (depending on the knee rolls in your DR saddle), but I do think it helps you sit taller, your legs are a bit longer therefore have better reach to give the aids (generally you ride a hole or 2 longer in the DR saddle).

This is all providing the DR saddle fits properly of course! A badly fitting saddle, whatever the style, will not make any horse go better.

I bought a DR saddle at the weekend and although the fit wasnt perfect (too wide so need to swap for Medium-Wide or Medium) he went so much better even in the space of 10 minutes, normally getting into canter is a struggle for him as he's unbalanced but he was straight into canter (understood my aid much faster than in a GP - in the GP I have to really shift my leg back whereas in the DR hardly needed to move my leg at all) and maintained the canter much better.

Enjoy your new saddle when it arrives!