if you could only buy one would it be a dressage or jumping saddle?

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cameronD26

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meaning I need both but can't afford two right now. I'm thinking dressage as i do more dressage but need 2 once the season starts. What do you think knowing i have to have 2 eventually or will someone say go for an event or gp? just can't make up my mind?? everyone has a different opinion for me so i need to make some sense out of it all so i can get one.
 
Jumping on the grounds its easier to do flat work in a jumping saddle, than it is to do jumping in a dressage saddle!

However I dont jump so I'd go for the dressage one!
 
ah thank you. i have to do both and it gets so expensive. not as if you can sell a saddle and get decent money for it if it's not right or you don't use it enough. Like buying a new car really you lose so much money.
 
i'd go for a GP, but if i had to choose one, i'd say jumping. partly cos you could do dressage in it if you really had to (ever tried jumping in a dressage saddle? not nice!) but also it's much comfier for every day riding.
 
do nost eventers have both or an event saddle? my dressage instructor says I couldn't possibly do dressage properly in anything other than a dressage saddle. How true is that?
 
Not strictly true at all if you have a good solid position...... a dressage saddle will help but its not the be all and end all.... GP might be the way forward!
 
i'd get a good jumping saddle, not mega-forward cut unless you have very long thighs or ride very short. yes, you can do dressage in a jump saddle. it's not trendy now, but some of the top riders used to use jump saddles for the dr phase, especially on youngsters. i'm sure i saw Toddy do the dr at a 3 day event in a jump saddle, years ago.
show-jumpers never ride in dressage saddles, but most of their work is schooling on the flat, and it doesn't hamper them... okay, they're not riding really long, but they can still sit correctly and be able use their legs effectively to make the horse work correctly, which is what it's basically all about. i'd get the jump saddle now, and the dressage saddle later on.
 
When I was looking at jumping saddles the saddler told me to get a GP/event saddle as jumping saddles are not designed to be ridden in for any length of time as the points may dig into the horse. (I wanted something I could hunt in).
 
I had the same dilemma as you! I've got a lovely leather jumping saddle, but it was proving to be impossible to do any dressage in it, and I certainly didnt have the funds to afford a decent dressage saddle! So I bought a thorowgood - against all my traditional principles - and have been really pleased with it! So now I've got two - use the jumping saddle for hacking/hunting, and the dressage saddle for schooling and competing.

However, if I had NO saddle and could only afford one, regardless of synthetic/leather, I would by a jumping saddle!
 
I wouldn't get a GP as it is not forward cut enough to jump properly or cut right for a good dressage position! They are neither one thing or another so I would buy a dressage saddle to work over the winter and then save up for a 2nd hand jump saddle. At least that way you won't have to sell GP and lose money and will end up with two specialist saddles.
 
If i could only buy one it would be a GP saddle - i don't see the obsession with needing different saddles unless you're planning to compete at a high level.
BUT if the choice was between the two then def jumping - you can do dressage in a jump saddle but you cannot jump in a dressage saddle.
 
Event saddle, I don't like pure jumping saddles anyway and I don't jump high enough to need one. Then I'd look for a second hand dressage saddle when I had some money.
 
Im in the same situation... i bought a jump saddle (on the principle that you cant jump in a dressage saddle!) Im now saving up for a dressage... ive tried some though and much prefer schooling in my jumpsaddle... i guess its what youre used to and i shall have to get used to a dressage...! Id tell your saddler what you want before they come out as then they can bring a good range of one type rather thn a not so good range of the other!
 
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I'm thinking dressage as i do more dressage but need 2 once the season starts. What do you think knowing i have to have 2 eventually or will someone say go for an event or gp? just can't make up my mind??

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Well this is a pretty serious dressage rider riding one of my horses (which she later bought) in my Ideal Event. It sure didn't seem to hamper her at all and he was a big-moving horse!!

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I didn't have a dressage saddle that fitted that horse at that time - but she really liked it. (As do I!) I now have a couple more dressage saddles - but still use the Ideal Event for flatwork on several horses (particularly those who can throw a buck!) I picked it up on E-bay for about £285 - almost new. I also got a very nice Ideal Jessica dressage saddle - in VERY good nick - for £300 from the same place. So try and borrow a few, try them out for size and comfort - and then start haunting E-bay. I've bought about 12 saddles off E-bay in the past 3 years and not a duff one amongst them!
 
Of course you can do flatwork in a jump saddle, as already said alot of the eventers do so on young horses. Jump saddle is also suitable to hack in and obviously jump in. It isnt ideal, but does the job as lomng as you can be effective with the aids which you need to be when jumping anyway!! GP's and Event saddles rae a waste of space IMHO if you are going to buy a dressage saddle anyway, as they are not supportive enough for a rue "long" leg position for dressage, or forward cut enough for a short jumping length....
 
Definitely a jumping saddle, I have 3 jumping saddles for my 3 horses and 1 dressage saddle that fits one horse, I like hacking in the dressage saddle as the seat is far more comfy than the jumping saddle, but I can ride all the horses as effectively in jumping saddles. A dressage saddle is really only truly beneficial if you riding at a high level, I have done Elementary in a Falcon Osprey jumping saddle and Medium in a GP saddle, so it can be done. The analogy I use is 'Would Tiger Woods golf clubs make me play like him?' I doubt it!
 
You have all been most helpful and I am truly thankful. Going by this then a jumping saddle albeit one not to forward cut should do him nicely. I'll tell you what I end up with tomorrow!
 
I'd go for an event saddle. I love mine and can do all 3 disciplines in it.

I've got an Amerigo single flap close contact.
 
Personally, GP can be used for everything! I use a GP for SJ and XC and only last year bought a dressage saddle (as I tend to do nothing but schooling at home so it gets used more than the GP). It depends what sort of competing you mainly do I guess.
 
i would say GP as well-but i perdsonally can not ride as well in them as i am very long hip to knee-so i cant get short enough for jumping without being well over the knee roll, and doesnt sit me at all right dor dressage-dont get me wrong its rideable but i would far rather have a jumping saddle
 
You can do flatwork in a more forward cut saddle but will struggle to jump in a dressage saddle. I'd go for a GP/ Jumping saddle now and wait for the dressage saddle. With my last horse we had an Albion Kontrol Deep Straight jumping saddle and did quite a bit of flatwork in that - plus it has movable knee blocks.
 
You could get a WOW saddle with changeable flaps and use it for dressage, then change the flaps and use it for jumping! Expensive though
 
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