How many of you ride in a ............

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SAL66

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my query is I'm having a new saddle , my instructer threw a slight spanner in the works yesterday by suggesting its time I started competing as me and my lad are ready and I should think about purchasing a dressage saddle, I ride in hers when I have my lesson and I do find that he goes so much better he has far greater movement from his shoulders than he does with my GP. I sit far deeper in to the saddle actually on my "pockets" as apposed to sitting slightly forward as I do know.

My question is I can't really afford to buy 2 saddles, my current is very ill fitting, so do you hack out in a dressage saddle , do you feel ok in it would it be ok for me if I ride out 3-4 times a week doing alot of trotting and hill work.

Your thoughts would be very much appreciated.
 
Will you only be competeing in dressage? I only ask because while hacking will be fine, jumping in a dressage saddle is a pain in the posterior.
 
lady at our yard has a treeless dressage saddle (she doesn't actually do dressage), i personally don't like it, jumping in it was a bit difficult, and also i don't think it would give you much support on a hack, if your horse slipped or spooked ect
 
Do you want to compete? Is dressage the direction you see yourself taking? If the answer to both of those is a resounding 'yes', then buy a dressage saddle (sounds like you really need a different one anyway).

If you are not sure then don't be bulldozed by your instructor, but since you are changing your saddle anyway you could consider a VSD type which would give you slightly more options.

But to answer your original question - of course you can hack out in a dressage saddle and you certainly wouldn't need a different one for hacking
 
How about getting a VSD design? That way, it's not as forward cut as a GP but you'll still be able to dressage in it but will be fine for hacking & jumping
 
I hacked out across the Downs yesterday in my dressage saddle, and it was fine!
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DONT jump in it though, whatever you do!

Alternatively, you could do as I did, and look into buying a synthetic dressage saddle.....my Thorowgood is fantastic, a smidgin of the price of leather, and certainly does what i want it to do!

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I have left my jumping days firmly behind there's no chance I will take it up again getting too old!

Yes dressage is the way I want to progress and I suppose want a saddle to suit my needs of this and also when I hack out.

Without sounding thick - what does a VSD stand for?

I was having dilema's of which brand to to purchase without now deciding which style.

I know it will be a case of trying each to make sure I get the right one but I guess I feel slightly pressured in the fact that mine is tight for him on the shoulders and I need to sort asap.
 
there is also the option of a working hunter saddle.
Straight cut enough for dressage and showing, so frees up the shoulder, but got enough kneew roll that you can do anything in them very easily.

However if you seriously want to persue dressage, then a dressage saddle is the way to go, yes you can hack in them, and it doesnt make much difference on the hack (except for the fact that popping the odd log becomes nigh on impossible)
 
I do have GPs but I love hacking in my dressage saddle! I never jump anyway, so thats no problem. They definitely do help your position and my horse is so much better in one too.

I have the Wintec 500 dressage saddle, love it!

Only thing I'd say about a VSD is that I had an Ideal VSD and it wasn't deep enough and didn't help like my dressage saddle does.

You can get a Wintec dressage off ebay for about £150.
 
Dressage fine to hack in - I know a lot of people that do because they feel more secure. As far as choosing what sort you want - if your instructors saddle fits him well that sounds like a good place to start. Murphys law says that the saddle you fall in love with wont fit him - so in many ways your horse will help you to decide. A good saddle fitter should be able to give you a good indication of what types and brands of saddle will be most likely to suit you and your horse.
 
Also seconding the Wintec 500 dressage saddle. Its so comfy and horse goes better in it than his 4 times more expensive GP! Personally Id probably go for a dressage if thats what you mainly do as I would hack out in mine (if I hacked!).
 
Hi, I hack out in my dressage saddle daily in fact although I have a GP saddle I prefer to ride in my dressage saddle....I find it does give me a good seat especially if the horse spooks! sounds like a VSD is the way to go for you if you arent sure but when trying your new saddle with the saddler see how you feel in a pure dressage saddle and make your mind up then.
 
I would buy a dressage saddle. If ever I go for a hack I always go in a dressage saddle. In the past I have also popped small fences in mine.
If you are unsure then try something with a shallower seat and smaller knee blocks rather than going for something more restricting.
 
I compete endurance in a dressage saddle - I feel far more secure in a dressage saddle than a GP and they tend to put you in a more classical position (stirrup bars further back) which I find the most comfortable for doing long distances (mostly at trot or canter).
 
My old tb was very difficult to fit a saddle to so I just used his dressage saddle for everything and never had a problem. It was an old saddle with a flatter seat and barely any knee roll unlike modern dressage saddles. I even won chase me charlie at pc camp jumping 4'9 in it
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although I have to say it was a bit hairy on the landing side
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I would go for a good G.P and have the best of all worlds, depends how serious you are about dressage and what percentage of your time is spent doing it. If its a case of regular hacking then you could get away with using a dressage saddle for all, but if you need to jump I would scarfice the dressage saddle.
 
Many thanks for your replies, i can't wait until Friday to try lots of different saddles, probably try dessage and a vsd.
 
I hack out in a Wintec Isabel dressage saddle, never had any probs, great for roadwork and feel really secure in it (suede seat v good on spooky horse!). My dad has also ridden out cantering/the odd gallop no problems.

Does VSD really stand for very slightly dressage?! That's awesome, I thought it was something really technical!
 
I would seriously consider the working hunter option, this works so well for Amber, who realy needs her shoulders fre, and its good for securityon the spooky one.
 
I hack and only own one saddle and that is a dressage saddle. I couldnt even sit on a gp now, dont like the position they put you in!!
 
I hack in my dressage saddle ( I love it to much not too!) My mare is quite spooky and is on the sharp side, and if I'm completly honest, I find it all so much comfier to sit to in the dressage saddle than in any other of my saddles!
 
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