Saddle help please

[Equibeau]

Would appreciate any input on this. Basically, my question is this: should a horse move more freely in a GP saddle or a dressage saddle, if both fit correctly? I've got myself in a tizz about this, just bought a bargain GP saddle off Ebay and my mare was moving much better when i rode her in it than she does in her expensive dressage saddle. (her shoulders seem free-er) I will be getting the saddlefitter out but would appreciate any comments.

 

[palomino_pony]

Should move the same if it fits correctly?

 

[Tinker_Belle]

I'd say her dressage saddle needs checking.

 

[kerrylou123]

Ive got this too. My mare is much better in GP than dressage

 

[Equibeau]

Do you think that the design of a dressage saddle is more restrictive than that of a GP when the shoulder comes back? I am going around in circles here!! Thanks for the replies.

 

[EllieK]

I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be able to help a bit more but I've always been told that a dressage saddle is slightly more restrictive then a gp, so if the fit is a bit wrong a dressage saddle will restrict the movement more then a gp

hope that helps x

 

[the watcher]

If both fit properly then the dressage saddle should not limit movement more than a GP, the whole point of them surely is to allow the horse to move more freely on the flat, as well as placing the rider in a better central position. So form this I would conclude that your dressage saddle does not fit correctly.

However - different makes have different effects - having recently moved over to Saddle Company saddles I am impressed with how much more freely the horse moves - and there was very little wrong with the fit of the saddles i was using before

 

[Equibeau]

I agree with you, my saddlefitter is coming out next week. Think she has muscled up a lot in the last 3 months!(my mare, not the fitter!). I daren't start looking at other saddles, my Bates didnt fit her to begin with so I bought the Albion....hopefully it can be adjusted. Thanks!

 

[Donkeymad]

If they both fit properly there should be no difference really. A dressage saddle, being straight-cut should allow more freedom of movement of the shoulder in theory.

 

[air78]

Is the dressage saddle an albion? Alot of horses don't go well in them....... it's horses for courses as they say

 

[CBAnglo]

The straighter cut of the dressage saddle means that horses with big shoulders move more freely - but the knee rolls on the GP is flexible so in theory shouldnt restrict the horse. Depends on the horse's conformation really.

As an aside - generally I dont like what Albions do to horse's backs but again it really depends on the horse (but I am not surprised that your horse works better in the other saddle).

 

[Diggerdog]

It sounds like your horse has already told you which one fits better! Hopefully your saddler can help to make her more comfortable in the dressage saddle.

 

[Equibeau]

Hi, yes it's an Albion Ultima Platinum so I think it can be adjusted. Saddlefitter coming next week, will see what she says. Thanks! Love that puppy, diggerdog!

 

[SpottedCat]

The other thing to consider is that if you only school in the dressage one, your horse may be thinking more backwards in it, particularly if they like hacking and jumping. I have just be told by a trainer to do everything except jump in my dressage saddle as my horse doesn't think forwards enough in it because basically he goes 'oh sod this, boring circles'. I did fast work in it (he novice events) on Saturday - sunday's schooling session he was correspondingly more forwards in it. Worth a thought.

 

[Equibeau]

Thanks SC - to be honest, I have only had the dressage saddle up till now, and go to the gallops, hack etc in it. Have just bought the GP to do a bit of jumping and noticed the difference. Good point though.