Dressage saddles for tall riders/short horses?!

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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I posted a couple of days ago about deciding to get an interim dressage saddle for my cob, rather than sticking with the GP any more. I had the saddler out today, and whilst it turns out my cob is easy to fit, I'm not..!

I want to just get a second hand one for now, partly because he's only 5 and still growing and filling out, and partly because I don't have the funds to spend loads - later in the year once I've sold some horses I can get a new saddle and get exactly what I want.

So I tried a Barnsby Richard Davison one, I wanted something with big knee blocks (as he has huge movement that's hard to sit to) and a narrow twist, which this one had, but the knee blocks were very straight down, and in order to fit my legs I'd have to have my stirrups almost to the ground and would end up with legs too far back! I also tried an Ideal Jessica - this was better on the blocks, but to be honest wasn't that different from my GP and didn't feel like it was making a big difference. Annoyingly my horse went amazingly in the Barnsby - lots of room for his large shoulder and he did the best canter ever, but I could feel my knees slipping forward over the blocks. He didn't seem to go any better in the Ideal, but then he was also having a sulk by then as I'd got off and on again and that's NOT how we do it.

I'm 5'10 and my horse is 15hh. The saddler said I looked better in the Ideal, and it was comfortable but just didn't feel like it made much difference. I've held on to both saddles to have another go in, but just wanted to see if anyone can recommend brands/models (preferably that I'm likely to find second hand) that might work?
 
I've had a farrington WH saddle on my 15hh short coupled mare (I'm 5ft 8 and mainly all leg), I now have a thorowgood t6 cob dressage on her and she loves it and it's very comfy.
 
I'm also 5'10" and I ride in Albions. My little 14.3 hh mare has a K2, and I use an SLK on my 16 hh mare as they tend to be a bit long for small horses.

Not sure what your market is like there, but you can buy them very reasonably second hand here and they are very adjustable by a good saddler.
 
If he likes the ideal Jessica he might like the suzannah or roella. Both give the proper dressage saddle feel where the Jessica doesn't seem to, at least I didn't think it did anyway. What size and width does he need? I have a suzannah I need to sell because I want to start jumping again.
 
i Have a lovely Harry Dabbs I'm selling - fit my little cob lovely and she was really uphill and free in it, and has nice big knee rolls without being restricting - What size do you need?
 
Princess Rosie said:
I've had a farrington WH saddle on my 15hh short coupled mare (I'm 5ft 8 and mainly all leg), I now have a thorowgood t6 cob dressage on her and she loves it and it's very comfy.
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We had a Farrington WH saddle too, but it was too small for the husband.

We found that all the saddles suitable for a tall rider and small horse (6ft2" husband, 5'8" me, 15.3hh horse) were pricey, were still going to be a compromise and we were also worried about our horse growing and changing shape.

Our answer was treeless so we have a solution size 5 dressage saddle. It is blissfully comfortable and fits us all. It was expensive but will fit forever and is suitable to use on future horses.
 
Im 5'8" and my fell is 13.1hh, we have an equipe emporio which I managed to find second hand, totally in love with it!
 
Yes you don't want too much block, as it will force you to ride too long... I have this problem - 5'10 on a narrow 15.2hh TB. I had to sell my Prestige dressage saddle as too deep seated to work without riding with full length stirrups, which meant I couldn't get my leg on the horse. Currently have a wintec pro dresage, which is fairly flat in the seat and not got too much block - this lets me ride at an appropriate length, with enough support. Not the most glam of saddles, but does the job - fits me and the horse.

Dream dressage saddle for us would be a flat seated Butet monoflap dressage.... but will have to win the lottery!
 
I have most of my horses in the Equipe Emporio which I love. However one of mine, although 16.2 and in a 6'9" rug can only take a 17" seat. I am 5'9" and was riding him in an Amerigo Vega until he changed shape. He has a massive shoulder and I've found that the Barrie Swain semiflex has been a revelation on him - my trainer noticed an improvement in him the first time I rode in it. I picked mine up second hand for £900. They are adjustable but it was already set to wide which is the width I needed.
 
I have an equipe emporio dressage and I love it! I'm 5'9 and horse is a very dainty 16hh tb. I decided to try a monoflap dressage as I love my butet cc jump saddle so much. They are so light and my horse definitely goes better in the equipe :)

I got mine second hand on eBay for £900 and have seen quite a few advertised since so they do come
up :)
 
I have a similar problem, tried lots of different makes but now have a Roella, which is fab :). They are like hen's teeth secondhand unfortunately, but worth a try. Good luck! :)
 
Within reason for fitting the horse you want a flattish seat for more room, though hip size is more relevant to seat size, and for your legs, especially if you need a bigger block - the bigger the block the more room it takes up and the less you want your leg to ride up onto it as it be pressed outwards - you will want a more forward flap and a higher set block that supports thigh rather than knee.
 
Coloredred could you pm me please?
I'm currently looking for a dressage saddle, have a Jessica but want more support. I'm 5'10 with long thighs so struggle to fit :(
 
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