Seperate dressage/jump saddles - do you bother? And from what age?

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ecrozier

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As the title really! I have a dressage saddle and a gp/jump for my older boy which I went to when he started eventing at 90cm - had a lesson with Dickie waygood and he said my old gp wasn't really up to the fences we were doing as had almost no knee roll! We do dressage at nov/elem.
But so far I just have one saddle for the 4 year old, a second hand gp, and wasn't planning to go down the route of two saddles til he was at least 6 or comptantly competing at novice dressage..... But more and more people seem to have dressage and jump saddles even at prelim/2'3 level?
What's you guys' take on that? Is it just fashion these days? I have been offered a very bargainous dressage saddle that would almost certainly fit my 4 year old (same brand/size/width as his gp) but is it just a waste of even that small amount of money?!
 
Lucky technically has one of each,but her dr saddle is up for sale as i cant justify having 2 saddles for her at the mo! Shes got a jump saddle as I hate gp saddles!
 
I really dislike GPs, they don't do either job adequately for me so a complete no no. I originally bought a jump saddle for my girl with the intent of getting a dressage saddle at a very future date but was left a sum of money by my Grandma so invested in a dressage saddle pretty damn quick.

If a GP suits your needs then why worry? I think it depends on your build as to how unsuitable they are, I found that with long legs/thighs they were really awkward for me and haven't ridden in one for some years.
 
ecrozier said:
But more and more people seem to have dressage and jump saddles even at prelim/2'3 level?
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I guess if you can afford it then why not! I know someone who has two saddles for her horse (one GP, one DR), she's never competed, never will (has no desire to) and doesn't jump over about 70cm tops but bought herself a dressage saddle recently to help her leg position and is over the moon with it. Unnecessary a lot of people would say but if you afford it then why ever not.
 
i don't compete anyway near the level you guys do :o but i do have a jump and dressage - i lvoe them both and both help me out a lot :)
ETA - jsut read above post - yeah i got jump first then wanted to do more schooling and found it pretty useless for flat work - dressage has really helped that - suppose i really just bought it cos i coudl afford it - yup prob unnecessary in many peeps eyes...... but pretty sure the flat work in the dressage at home helped us go supreme show champion in my jumping saddle (i was in WH) recently ;)
 
I decide to stick with my GP which i feel really happy in and spend my spare cash on registering with BE and doing a half season. A dressage saddle definitely helps my position though but I am quite small so I find I can ride short enough in my GP to jump. Depends on the individual I think.
 
I can't really afford more than one saddle so I do everything in a GP saddle. I think it is a bit of a fashion personally in the lower levels as I manage fine with what I have (though we only compete at BE90/100 at mo).

I think that having a dressage saddle over a GP isn't entirely necessary unless that is all you do or you are very competitive in the dressage area or at higher levels of eventing where everything you can do to get an advantage is necessary; but I can see the safety aspect of having a proper jump saddle that holds you in place.

I think it basically boils down to money. There are those that genuinely need these things and so find the money to get them, those - like me - who don't genuinely need them and don't have the money so don't get them; and those that are "all the gear, no idea"!!!! (For example my horse came with a highly expensive albion jump saddle, clueless owner with oodles of cash got it for him as it was a "name" brand etc but it was used for GP and was actually crippling him as it was never re-fitted in the space of 8 years; the bonus of my GP is it has changeable gullet so when the boy changes shape I can immediately change gullet as he is incredibly sensitive on his back thanks to the expensive jump saddle!).
 
Interesting to hear views about height and GP, I have a 34in leg and am fine in a GP!

P.s. just re-read my first post and hope the "all the gear, no idea" doesn't offend anyone. I was basically trying to agree with what others have said about if people can afford it why not! I would if I could even at my level!!!! ;@)
 
Hels_Bells said:
P.s. just re-read my first post and hope the "all the gear, no idea" doesn't offend anyone. I was basically trying to agree with what others have said about if people can afford it why not! I would if I could even at my level!!!! ;@)
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lol - i suppose i may fall into that 'all the gear...' with my saddles - although as i said i def think the flat work at home in the dressage saddle has really bought on our WH flat work/individ show etc....

luckily i'm anti any tack that is not really necessary so i do all my competing at low levels in just a snaffle cavesson and *shock horror* no 5 point breastplate or indeed any breastplate ;) so i hope that moves me back out of that group :p ;)
 
Interesting replies thanks all! I had a close contact Frank Baines on the 4 yr old to start with as it fitted and was cheap and I knew he was going to grow out of it pdq! Which he did. Saddler came a few weeks ago and found a few that fitted, one was my mare's Lovett and Ricketts VSD, another was a wintec, there were a couple of others and the one I went for was a Lovett and Ricketts GP with seems to fit me and him quite nicely. I'm fairly short too as it happens! And so far managed to get stirrups where I need them for jumping etc.
Been offered a lovett and ricketts dressage saddle for a very cheap price, its a medium and both the other L&R saddles the saddler liked on him were mediums so pretty good odds it would fit. And at the price its offered at I would be very likely to make some money on it when he outgrows it - the frank baines I bought for £100 its on sale at saddlers for £450....!
So bearing in mind the cost is fairly minimal I might just go for it - its his birthday tomorrow maybe he can have a dressage saddle as a birthday present!

ETA I do have a 5 point for my youngster - *hangs head in shame* - maybe I am guilty of 'all the gear and no idea'! But he does look very smart in it and it provides a good handle to grab when he starts leaping around!
 
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posie_honey said:
i know = my poor horse can hardly hold her head up at RC comps as she's totally under dressed :o poor girly
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Hee!! I know how you feel. My poor boy doesn't even have matching travel bandages, blanket, headcollar, lead rope, tailguard and saddlecloth - he gets so embarrassed but I keep telling him "we're british; it's the taking part that counts"!!
 
ecrozier - just to say good post and sorry for hijacking it with our silly banter - promise we will stop now. ;@) xx

Also in all seriousness, I would really recommend saddles with changeable gullets esp if you thing your youngster is going to change shape quite a lot.
 
Hels_Bells said:
Hee!! I know how you feel. My poor boy doesn't even have matching travel bandages, blanket, headcollar, lead rope, tailguard and saddlecloth - he gets so embarrassed but I keep telling him "we're british; it's the taking part that counts"!!
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oh dear... dare i admit it that i have black everything... (apart frmo tack of course ;)) just simply becuase i have to wash it less often and then it goes with any horse i have/ride etc?!

sorry - last silly banter post i promise :o

i'll add one more useful thing - i have quite bad back and hips and a big moving horse - a bone shaking trot as i've been told by many a ride judge! the difference to me with a jump and dressage saddle is huge - both really help my position and back for my various things - whereas i hated my old jeffries VSD and find GP's a bit of a jack of all trades... master of none - but using specific saddles designed for specific things has really helped my back/hips/position so that's worth considering too :)
 
Lol no worries at all guys it made me giggle imagining you telling him to be brave about the lack of matching outfit!
 
posie_honey said:
oh dear... dare i admit it that i have black everything... (apart frmo tack of course ;)) just simply becuase i have to wash it less often and then it goes with any horse i have/ride etc?!
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Surely if everything is all one colour then you're incredible stylish and fashionable?! Lol, I've done the same and even have black saddlecloths for everyday! Although the all black travel gear was by chance and what was cheapest at the time from various suppliers!
 
I only have a jump saddle as that is what i plan to do with him, as he is young i got one with a changeable gullet. I have now come to the conclusion that i will have to get a dressage saddle. As a comfirmed non dressager its quite a shock for me!
My reason being i am finding it very hard to get his canter under control (very long striding). The jump saddle is fine but because im slightly rubbish i am finding it hard to get my leg back and round him as well sit up while he is pulling me forward, not to mention the fact i have a habbit of tipping.:o
So really i am hoping it will help with both our flatwork, i dont expect a miracle but i really feel it will help in the long run. I dont plan on ever being seen in public on it thou! :D
And as for 'all the gear, no idea' i am a firm member of the club! I have a brown bridle and black saddle, i've lasted 3 months but i have finally caved in to getting a black bridle as i cant stand it not matching. :D
 
MegaBeast said:
Surely if everything is all one colour then you're incredible stylish and fashionable?! Lol, I've done the same and even have black saddlecloths for everyday! Although the all black travel gear was by chance and what was cheapest at the time from various suppliers!
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oooh - moi - fashionable :cool: now that's a novel concept to me :D
mines the same - every thing black, cheap and reduced from equestrian clearance or 2nd hand from ebay - genious!!
i even got my xc colours from the reduced rail at tkmaxx - now that is thrifty - and they rock :D :D (ok ok i admit it - i did get the hat silk to match after i found the top for £6 lol!)
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OH POOOP - don't look too closely - you'll see brown saddle and black OLD bridle!!! darn it
*hangs head in shame*

EAT- keeping this on topic you can prob now see why i needed a dressage for flat - my jumping saddle is v forward cut and is def made for jumping length stirrups ;)
 
keeping it on topic again = dressage saddle - really helps my flatwork!!
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yes yes - using dresasge saddle for showing - but i couldn't afford 3 saddles ;) :p
 
so the moral of my posts are - buy both if you can afford it :D if not dno't bother :D

lol

*rns off to hide for too many random posts and taking it all horribly off topic*
 
Lol - lovely ponies by the way!
I do like things to match - and my horses do have a LOT of stuff, but almost none of it is ever new, I love ebay!
Yes i think a dressage saddle would help me get my leg back more on him - it certainly has on older boy. Altho he does have a big old buck on him so kneerolls quite useful then!
 
ecrozier said:
Lol - lovely ponies by the way!
I do like things to match - and my horses do have a LOT of stuff, but almost none of it is ever new, I love ebay!
Yes i think a dressage saddle would help me get my leg back more on him - it certainly has on older boy. Altho he does have a big old buck on him so kneerolls quite useful then!
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pony belive it or not that was my mare 6 weeks apart from me doing xc then someone there saying i should try showing having never done it!! i also got the stressage saddle around the same time as the first pic - and it has really bought us on leaps and bounds :D
sooo - go for it :D it'll def help :)
 
Hels_Bells said:
Interesting to hear views about height and GP, I have a 34in leg and am fine in a GP!

P.s. just re-read my first post and hope the "all the gear, no idea" doesn't offend anyone. I was basically trying to agree with what others have said about if people can afford it why not! I would if I could even at my level!!!! ;@)
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I can't really "afford" 2 saddles, but I scrimped and saved for a dressage and jump. I have long legs, they are not stupidly long, but my hip to knee length is considerably longer than average and I have a teeny bony derriere which means I do struggle with GPs - if the flaps are right then the seat is too big and vice versa.

I see it as a need, not a fashion.
 
I have both and find it had made a huuuge difference to my position in both dressage and Jumping. I just have a synthetic dressage though as I couldn't afford two nice leather ones :rolleyes::eek:
 
RomanyMayday said:
I have both and find it had made a huuuge difference to my position in both dressage and Jumping. I just have a synthetic dressage though as I couldn't afford two nice leather ones :rolleyes::eek:
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I'm exactly the same! "Suffered" for my first year of competing in a GP, but then traded that in for a jump saddle at the end of last year which has made an amazing difference to my jumping position and feels so much better than the GP did.

I then "suffered" dressage in my jump saddle through the first half of this year (theory being I'd rather be secure when jumping than not!) until deciding enough was enough and convincing Mr FigJam to treat me to an early Christmas present of a dressage saddle! ;)

Have gone for a Thorowgood T4 which is a synthetic dressage version of my leather Kent & Master jump saddle, so both have changable gullets and adjustable girth systems etc, therefore should be good for a long time. :) Sadly won't get my Christmas pressie for another week or two, but hopefully worth the wait.

I reckon, as others have said, if you can afford it, why not? It does make life easier, no matter what level your are at. :)
 
lizziebell said:
I can't really "afford" 2 saddles, but I scrimped and saved for a dressage and jump. I have long legs, they are not stupidly long, but my hip to knee length is considerably longer than average and I have a teeny bony derriere which means I do struggle with GPs
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Hmmmm, I think you may actually be my absolute polar opposite in the universe :D

OH got penalised in a dressage test for using his jumping saddle, it was an eventing test and not at a particularly high level - is this not normal?

Personally, I prefer the dressage saddle for everything except jumping because it's comfy and fits my big ass better. OH prefers the jumping saddle though Jack Sprat and his wife eh? ;)
 
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