Dressage How far in a GP saddle?

[Otherwise]

Re. the WOWs, they're fine IF you have a great deal of trust in your local WOW fitter, because they are few and far between so you can't easily get anyone else to give a second opinion or adjust it. It's why I sold both of mine - lost trust in the fitter after my physio pointed out some grievous errors. Incidentally I feel much more secure about spooks in my dressage saddle and will hack in that on very windy days. On my GP saddle I have a gel out seatsaver which has saved my bacon more than once.

Same, the other problem I had was I couldn't get a different wow fitter out to fix the problem as they all refused. Contacted wow head office and just got told the original fitter competed to x level in dressage and was qualified to fit wow saddles so just to get them out again. I sold the saddle and would never touch one again after that.

 

[spacie1977]

Just measured my Monarch Dressage (Cob version, 17'') and at it's narrowest and right up in the channel is 5cm, however measuring at the point where you can see it has been weight bearing on the horse's back it is 6.5cm at it's narrowest.

Fantastic! Thank you so much for measuring it, you’re a star!

 

[spacie1977]

Same, the other problem I had was I couldn't get a different wow fitter out to fix the problem as they all refused. Contacted wow head office and just got told the original fitter competed to x level in dressage and was qualified to fit wow saddles so just to get them out again. I sold the saddle and would never touch one again after that.

Blimey, that’s not good! 😦 I can see the concern over being forced to use just one saddle fitter specialising in the brand. I had a Sue Carson on my old horse and loved it. Sue Carson saddles of course recommend using their own fitters but they cost a small fortune and any local saddle fitter was happy to check it and adjust the flair when needed. I’d have sold it too if like you, I could only use their own fitter.

 

[Apercrumbie]

If he's short-backed, you may need a saddle that is a little smaller than you would ideally like. They say you need half a size bigger for dressage saddles to fit between higher cantle and knee blocks. I found a flatter, more open seat much better on my short-backed young horse. It was impossible to find a dressage seat big enough for me but short enough for him.

I had this problem with my PRE (admittedly he is very small) and ended up in almost a showing style saddle - lordy I felt insecure as it gave you nothing in terms of support! OP I hope you can avoid that as it really affected my ability to push him through naughtier behaviour (he was young, it was to be expected) as I was having to concentrate on staying on all the time.

 

[isilme]

Babies change so much id go for a GP or VSD and a saddle company saddle you can keep changing the fit as your baby grows and develops the saddle that fits for backing is very unlikely to fit the horse in a years time. Most second hand saddles well looked after hold value it would be a shame to cause any saddle issues on a baby and you might want more knee roll if babes decides it wants to wave its legs in the air 🤦🏼‍♀️ i am a saddler and saddle fitter plus produced many horses just to give u a bit of a cv to my answer. I got my baby a saddle company gp off ebay paid £150 its a bit tatty but ive cleaned it up and i would get my money back on it but i have kept it as a spare like you im hoping to get her a dressage saddle but glad for the gp cut when she was being fresh! Xx

 

[SEL]

Same, the other problem I had was I couldn't get a different wow fitter out to fix the problem as they all refused. Contacted wow head office and just got told the original fitter competed to x level in dressage and was qualified to fit wow saddles so just to get them out again. I sold the saddle and would never touch one again after that.

I tried to change fitter and had issues too. I love the saddle but think they need to improve the quality of their fitters. Some are brilliant ..... Others are not.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi there,
I’m about to buy my youngsters first saddle after being back. I’m hoping he’ll be an all rounder with a bit more emphasis on dressage. I’m trying to figure out whether it’s best to get a GP for just a year or so, or go straight for a dressage saddle. He obviously won’t be doing any dressage tests for a while as he’s a baby, needs to build fitness, develop balance etc. And he won’t be introduced to jumping for a year. Thinking about stretching the pennies and the practicalities, if I were to get a GP saddle how far up the levels of dressage can I use that before I start looking a bit silly and find myself surrounded by competitors only using dressage saddles?

I did unaffiliated elementary with my last horse in a GP saddle (it was actually a Jefferies Falcon Event Saddle). If they move well in a saddle and it suits you who cares whether it's not a dressage saddle?

 

[teddy_eq]

My trainer swears by Paul Fielder saddles and she has had quite a few Spanish horses under her over the years and no sore backs!