Is it ok to use this kind of saddle lower level dressage?

[welshpony216]

****Not my photo****
I am looking for a saddle for my mare. We do beginner novice, but plan on moving up to novice soon. I have a limited budget, and can not afford 2 saddles (one for events, and a dressage one). Can I use this in regular dressage, or is it to jumpingish.

 

[nikicb]

That's absolutely fine. Taken from the BD rule book (a lot of unaffiliated dressage runs under BD rules).....

84. Saddles and stirrups Permitted:-
• English or continental style saddles and must have a cantle and pommel (including Treeless).
• Saddle colours brown, black, grey or navy panels of colour on areas such as the cantle.
• Riders choosing to ride side saddle must notify the organiser before the start of the class who will inform the judge.
• All colour stirrups are allowed.
• A gel pad / memory foam / sheepskin seat provided it is unobtrusive and matches the colour of the saddle.

Not permitted:-
• Western style, traditional Iberian or Arabian.
• Saddles without stirrup leathers and irons attached to the saddle and used in the conventional way.
• Velcro straps from the girth to the stirrup iron unless dispensation has been granted.
• A rider’s boots fixed to the stirrup iron by mechanical means unless dispensation has been given. The penalty for breaching this rule is elimination.
• Saddle covers are not permitted except during warm up.

https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/media/2842/2020-rule-book-searchable.pdf

https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/m...quipment-booklet-dec2019_updated23jan2020.pdf

 

[welshpony216]

Thank you!

 

[SpotsandBays]

That's absolutely fine. Taken from the BD rule book (a lot of unaffiliated dressage runs under BD rules).....

84. Saddles and stirrups Permitted:-
• English or continental style saddles and must have a cantle and pommel (including Treeless).
• Saddle colours brown, black, grey or navy panels of colour on areas such as the cantle.
• Riders choosing to ride side saddle must notify the organiser before the start of the class who will inform the judge.
• All colour stirrups are allowed.
• A gel pad / memory foam / sheepskin seat provided it is unobtrusive and matches the colour of the saddle.

Not permitted:-
• Western style, traditional Iberian or Arabian.
• Saddles without stirrup leathers and irons attached to the saddle and used in the conventional way.
• Velcro straps from the girth to the stirrup iron unless dispensation has been granted.
• A rider’s boots fixed to the stirrup iron by mechanical means unless dispensation has been given. The penalty for breaching this rule is elimination.
• Saddle covers are not permitted except during warm up.

https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/media/2842/2020-rule-book-searchable.pdf

https://www.britishdressage.co.uk/m...quipment-booklet-dec2019_updated23jan2020.pdf

Interesting about the saddle and stirrup colour! I always just assumed black or brown tack and not sure where I got this from but metal or black stirrups!

 

[welshpony216]

same!

 

[Laafet]

I have done BD Elementary in a close contact jumping saddle, its fine, no one will notice as long as it's legal tack.

 

[ycbm]

I have a friend who rode Badminton (no, not the grass roots version, the full monte, and all the other 3* 3 days as well) in the same saddle for all three elements. That probably shows our ages ?

 

[welshpony216]

ok, I guess I can!

Wow, way more expensive then i thought, $3,235! yes, I am in the USA

ok, um how much would you guys say is a reasonable price range ?

 

[ycbm]

You can, but you will probably find it difficult to ride in shoulder hip heel alignment at a good stirrup length for dressage in a saddle like the one pictured. I think most people who start dressage in a GP and want to compete sooner or later decide they need two saddles if they want to refine their riding.

If you are looking at new, then I think your money would be better spent buying two second hand.

 

[j1ffy]

ok, I guess I can!

Wow, way more expensive then i thought, $3,235! yes, I am in the USA

ok, um how much would you guys say is a reasonable price range ?

How does saddle fitting and buying work in the States? Over here, there are some saddlers and saddle fitters who stock a selection of second hand saddles and they will come to you (or you take your horse to them) to find one that fits you and your horse. Is this an option for you?

Whichever route you take, you need to make sure the saddle will fit you both and get qualified advice on the saddle fit before purchasing, otherwise it can be a very expensive mistake

ETA - you can spend anything here from £4-500 for a reasonable second-hand saddle up to £thousands! For a new saddle I would expect to pay at least £1400 for a good quality leather saddle fitted to my horse. I have spent up to £3200.

 

[welshpony216]

I currently ride in a borrowed dressage saddle, but I want to do jumping shows, and cant ride bareback like I usually do!

 

[welshpony216]

That isn't really a option, because here in the US, most people ride western, so there are only handful of English saddle saddle fitters. But the closest one to us is a state away. Most people just pay a fee to take a saddle to the barn and try it out and see if it fits your horse, and return it if it doesn't fit. If it fits, you keep it. I am trying to find a saddle fitter that will come to us though.

 

[ycbm]

That isn't really a option, because here in the US, most people ride western, so there are only handful of English saddle saddle fitters. But the closest one to us is a state away. Most people just pay a fee to take a saddle to the barn and try it out and see if it fits your horse, and return it if it doesn't fit. If it fits, you keep it. I am trying to find a saddle fitter that will come to us though.

Well that's a pain, possibly literally!
.

 

[welshpony216]

It really is!

 

[j1ffy]

I feel your pain - I lived in Hong Kong for a while and the only fitters there were brand reps for very high-end brands (who would sell you the saddle regardless of whether it actually fit or not!). I borrowed a few saddles from other people to see which fit best, then ordered the same brand and model from the UK.

What brand is the dressage saddle that you're borrowing? You could probably look for a second hand version in the same brand, and people here might be able to give a steer on how much they usually cost.

 

[Jenni_]

Where about in America are you? A saddlery company near me do regular trips to America (Texas) to fit English saddles for clients.

 

[welshpony216]

New England

 

[sbloom]

New England

Contact Panther Run Saddlery, Kitt is hugely experienced, is in Vermont, but can do remote fittings and advise on a wide range of brands. There are more English fitters in the US than you'd realise, I've met a couple at training in the UK but have known Kitt for years and years (would love to meet her!).

 

[charterline]

I’d imagine if you have a really good western saddler near you, that actually fits western saddles (like we’d expect a saddler to operate in the U.K.), they’d be able to offer advice if an English saddle fits or not.

whilst I’m aware there is a huge amount of differences between the two types of saddle, I’d think an very good western saddler would be better than no opinion at allz