Saddles for youngsters

Ample Prosecco

Ample Prosecco

Still wittering on
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13 October 2017
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Lottie’s dressage saddle is going with her, so I’m short of a saddle for Myka. I popped Lottie’s on her today just so we can do a saddle fitting safely but she needs her own.

I don’t want to spend a lot as she’s going to change so quickly. Lottie has a jump saddle I could adjust but I’d rather use a dressage saddle for hacking/schooling. I won’t be jumping for ages.

What saddle do people use as a first saddle?
 
I used a wool flocked Bates Innova. It worked alright for us. After 2-3 months under saddle I then splurged for something else.

I considered Fairfax, Kent & Masters, and Bliss/Loxley/Cavaletti due to adjustable options, but didn't have access to any I could try.
 
Ideal would be a other good one. I tried to try some, but couldn't get that fitter out my way.

I had a hunch that the Bates would suit mine, and I was right. My fitter approved of it too, as a starting point. I'm not married to any brand, really. I'm more about having a good fitter. I bought a lovely new saddle from my fitter a few months ago. I paid a stupid amount for a saddle that's for a 3 year old 🤣 but we both like it.
 
I've got a Tekna adjustable saddle on Robin which I had a saddler put some extra flocking in to get it sitting right.

I've managed to get a Griffin fitting 'OK' on Reggie with the fish inserts. Its a saddle that seems to fit everything. It's been between me and my friend a few times now.

As you say they are going to change shape an awful lot so try and keep costs lower to begin with.
 
Unless there is a reason it would not suit the horse but I also feel there is more communication possible in a dressage saddle compared to my jump saddle
 
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Eh, I hack and ride my 3 year old in a dressage saddle and it's fine. Years ago I wouldn't have felt this way, but I'm more comfortable in dressage saddles now.

The first week/when he was first backed he was in a western saddle, but as I wasn't a fan long term, I switched right over to the dressage saddle.
 
I wouldn’t care to start a youngster in a dressage saddle, I’d prefer something where you could ride shorter and be better able to sit the unexpected.

I did find Lottie’s dressage saddle, is it a Wintec? to be really nice and secure to hack in though, whereas I wouldn’t normally hack in a dressage saddle 🙂.
 
I used an ideal working hunter then I had a fieldhouse dressage for Arabi.

I feel more secure in a dressage saddle never really bought Gp saddles or jump, only had show or dressage but I sold the show saddles abd do everything in the dressage and love them.

Neither of mine have huge blocks in front so you can ride a bit shorter and they are fine.
 
For what it's worth, some dressage saddles allow you to ride a bit shorter. You don't have to ride so long, but your leg will of course be a bit different than it would be in a jump saddle. I ride on the shorter side in my dressage saddle.

The thing is, it you're comfortable in a dressage saddle then go with that. If you're comfortable in a jump saddle, then do that. Go with what YOU feel comfortable in.
 
Tiddlypom said:
I wouldn’t care to start a youngster in a dressage saddle, I’d prefer something where you could ride shorter and be better able to sit the unexpected.

I did find Lottie’s dressage saddle, is it a Wintec? to be really nice and secure to hack in though, whereas I wouldn’t normally hack in a dressage saddle 🙂.
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Yes it’s the Isabel Werth Wintec. I’ve always really liked it
 
You could go for the halfway option of a VSD. After my lovely event saddle was stolen it was hard to find something I could afford that fitted her and became ended up with a VSD and found it nice to ride in both hacking and schooling, I could have jumped in it but didnt need to..
 
My 4 year old is in a used Kent and Masters (dressage) - totally adjustable, really light and feels secure. Has been fitted by a saddle fitter, who was very pleased with it.
 
My first youngster was started in a K&M with regular saddle fit checks and gullet changes but at age 14 neither him nor me like it anymore so just had a Harry Dabbs fitted and supplied which sits very still on his back, we both like it.

My second youngster was also started in a K&M with regular saddle fit checks and gullet changes but at age 5.5 it didn't sit still on him so had a used Ideal Impala fitted and supplied which sits still and is very very secure for me.
 
Trusted saddle fitter first, their recommendation will be far more relevant than anything we can recommend. A lot of the press against dressage saddles for youngsters is, in my opinion, exactly the same as why modern "lock you in" dressage saddles shouldn't be used full stop.

Then something second hand, adjustable or even treeless as appropriate. Even highly adjustable saddles, if expensive, are a big financial risk and generally just not worth it as there no guarantee they can be adjusted enough, no matter what the marketing says.
 
I cannot imagine anything worse than riding young horses in a dressage saddle. Having spent a lot of years doing youngsters and them being super sharp in a cold wind with things flapping however well you do the basics. I don’t think mine even wear a dr saddle until they go eventing. It’s things like doing pole work, starting them jumping, being out of the saddle hacking and doing basic canter work. Sure you can do that in the dr saddle but it’s not designed for that job. I always have my balance forwards with a light seat. I would struggle with that in a dr saddle.
Dr saddles are also heavier. I would just try a load of jump saddles on and get one which does a decent enough job for £500 or less.
 
LEC said:
I cannot imagine anything worse than riding young horses in a dressage saddle. Having spent a lot of years doing youngsters and them being super sharp in a cold wind with things flapping however well you do the basics. I don’t think mine even wear a dr saddle until they go eventing. It’s things like doing pole work, starting them jumping, being out of the saddle hacking and doing basic canter work. Sure you can do that in the dr saddle but it’s not designed for that job. I always have my balance forwards with a light seat. I would struggle with that in a dr saddle.
Dr saddles are also heavier. I would just try a load of jump saddles on and get one which does a decent enough job for £500 or less.
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I suppose that's a good theory if you like riding in jumping saddles I hate them and I don't ever jump so you would then use something you are comfortable in.
 
I've backed in whatever happened to fit at the time, luckily I've managed to have an existing selection of saddles to start them off (and yes I have started in a dressage saddle, easy enough to do poles and hack, plus definitely saved my bacon in any exciting moments...). The only thing with a deep seated saddle is not as easy for the very initial backing with leaning over and maybe needing a swift slip off to deescalate a potential issue. If you don't have a hoarding problem like me and have lots of saddle to try, I'd get a trusted saddle fitter in who have a good selection and go from there.

I've also found that if the tree truly fits, having something with an adjustable head plate is less important than you'd think. Skylla had her dressage saddle made to measure (she is a very odd shape, we padded initially then I bought a Kent and Masters but it still wasn't 100%) at age 5 and has only needed flocking adjustments in all the time since.
 
Especially for a young horse but in any case my favourite is the Podhajski training saddle.
idealsaddle.com

Podhajsky Dressage - idealsaddle

This saddle was designed and built with Colonel Alois Podhajsky, then Director of the Spanish Riding School, to address the need for a sound, comfortable saddle which facilitates a deep seat without a restricted 'locked seat'. RRP: from £P.O.A Available from leading retailers nationwide.
idealsaddle.com idealsaddle.com

I tightened the girth on this from the saddle shortly after leaving the yard.

I would buy the same one for my present share but am told by her yard that her other sharers need the security of a shaped GP saddle.
 
Perhaps not useful but the last thing I would put on a youngster is a dressage saddle.
For some reason, most youngsters are much freer and more forwards in a GP or jump saddle.
And I hate big blocky saddles so it isn't because of that!

Mine tend to not wear a dressage saddle until they're around 6yrs old.

Depending on your girl's shape, I tend to like Ideal, Pessoa or Black Country saddles.
Definitely something with a wooden tree and wool flocked though and he fully prepared to chop and change saddles every 4-6 months.
Keep a stock of prolites and wool pads with riser pockets to help you through

Most adjustable saddles are not good enough or adjustable enough sadly.
 
millitiger said:
For some reason, most youngsters are much freer and more forwards in a GP or jump saddle.
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FWIW, I've experienced the opposite with one of mine. And yes, the jump saddle fit. I do know you said most youngsters though.

My last one didn't wear a jump saddle until 9 and was started and ridden in dressage saddles from age 4.

I just don't know why some are making dressage saddles out to be the devil when it comes to backing youngsters. It's by far not the LAST thing I'd put on a youngster.
 
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