Finding the perfect dressage saddle?

[Wildfyre]

Hi all!

I’m having trouble with my dressage saddle, but I’m trying to work out what isn’t suiting so I can avoid this. My options for trying a whole bunch of saddles are quite limited.

I find that when I’m working I’m sitting trot and the horse is working well I’m wriggling up, and I literally need to take my legs off the saddle to get back down. I won’t claim to be a sensational sitting-trotter but I’m not terrible either, this issue is exclusive to this saddle.

I don’t think I’m bringing my knee up, I don’t lose the stirrup, and I don’t think it’s a tense thigh thing as this only happens when the horse does soften his back and it’s easier. It’s more apparent on my TB who has a harder-to-sit trot. I’m short but actually longish in the leg,

Pic attached of same model as my saddle, I wonder if a deeper seat might suit me better. Any ideas?

 

[milliepops]

if taking your legs away puts you back where you should be then it does sound likely that you are tightening somewhere.
that may be just a habit or it may be because the balance or shape of the saddle is sort of leading you to do that.
I think it's impossible to say just from a photo of the saddle what the problem is. when was it last checked for correct fitting? and Do you have pictures or videos of you riding in it?

saddle choices are so personal and so dependent on individual preferences and anatomy I think it's really a case of trial and error - if you don't have access to a saddler with lots to try, do you have friends around who have saddles you could try (prob having a sit on their horse)?

 

[CanteringCarrot]

It could be that the twist is too wide and therefore you have trouble letting your leg hang nice and relaxed.

I don't like a super narrow twist myself, nor a really wide one, but I've been able to find some that are in the middle. To me, anyway.

I find that dressage saddle preferences are very personal. Moreso than jump saddles. As you progress in your dressage riding, your preferences may change! I know that mine have as far as seat depth and block/no block, and block placement.
Try to find as many saddles as you can to sit in. I had two fitters come and also had some fellow liveries offer their saddles for me to try. They didn't fit my horse but it was fine enough for me to sit in for a few minutes just to get a feel.