hunting in a dressage saddle?

[A1fie]

Have you? Would you?

I am seriously tempted to start the season in mine. I have an albion k2 but I feel so much more secure in my dressage saddle. I doubt there will be lots of jumping anyway till after the Opening Meet, only tiger traps etc

So who has hunted in a dressage saddle? Or am I nuts to be considering it?!

 

[ZondaR]

I have show jumped in a dressage saddle and, to be honest, it's not good. When hunting, your canter will be flatter and longer and not that comfortable to sit into and jumping over even small jumps is difficult if your leg is too long. If you ride in your jumping length your knee will be over the knee role. Also, the stirrup leather will be positioned a bit further back then it would be on a jumping saddle. This all makes your position a little unstable, depending on your riding ability. You may cope very well but I would suggest you try it out in the safety of an arena first.

 

[BWa]

I hunted in my very straight cut VSD saddle last season which was fine, however we only stayed out for a few hours, didn't jump anything and spent a lot of time going backwards! So not much help, sorry!

 

[Archiepoo]

I am also going to hunt in a dressage saddle but mine has huge knee rolls and i feel very secure in it ,im extremely uncomfortable in a gp or jump due to an old back injury. TBH im not going to jump very big anyway and i find its fine up to about 3 foot which is plenty big enough for me!

 

[A1fie]

Thanks Zonda - I've hunted the last few seasons in my k2 but on different horses and it's been fine.

Having ridden a lot in other saddles including exercise saddle and dressage saddle, I think that maybe the k2 saddle just doesn't suit me. I'm more aware on this horse that I'm in a real chair position and so I feel less secure.

BW - mine's an ex NH horse and spends a lot of time going backwards when he's excited, it's another reason why I want to feel more secure!

 

[A1fie]

Archie - this is what I want to hear!

 

[BWa]

BW - mine's an ex NH horse and spends a lot of time going backwards when he's excited, it's another reason why I want to feel more secure!

Mine hasn't got that excuse, he is just an old lump who was excited about hunting for the first time in about 10 years. Whilst I was mortified about reserving through most of the field because he didn't want to wait to get through a gate, I did feel very secure!
It did him the world of good though, gave him a new lease of life and I really should go again this season, but I seem to have lost my brave pants this year...

 

[A1fie]

BW - you know it's the best time to start again - just think of all the lovely misty early mornings

 

[Archiepoo]

ooh yes crisp chilly mornings -im excited already!

 

[A1fie]

I went with the jumping saddle - hoiked my stirrups up and jumped everything! Fabulous morning.

 

[JenHunt]

excellent, glad you enjoyed it!

can't wait for it all to get started up here!

 

[BWa]

Ace!

 

[Foxhunter49]

The only saddle I have that doesn't move on my cob is a dressage saddle. It does not have deep knee rolls. Has never held me back!

 

[A1fie]

Thanks BW. Jenhunt, will it be long before you start? We started 3 weeks ago, most of the harvest is in but still quite a lot of places are out of bounds.
Foxhunter - my dressage saddle is quite old and has a flat seat and minimal rolls - it is the most comfortable and secure saddle and fits horse like a dream.