Showing people, saddle help required....!!

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Maydressage

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To all you showing people! I have an advanced dressage horse that really should do a bit of showing, he did some when he was younger and qualified for RIHS but was too hot to realistically take at that point. His XW (not great for dressage I know!) and has a very big moving trot. What saddle would you recommend for him? I have had terrible trouble in the past as fitters just dont believe how wide he is from just looking at him. I'd like the judge to feel stable as he can catapult you a little especially in the trot. I dont really want to buy anything brand new as he will only really be ridden in it at competitions, but for the level he will be competing at I need something half decent. Also can I get away with a 17inch? I know a lot of people tend to go slightly larger to accommodate the judges. Opinions would be much appreciated. Thanks
 
The comfort saddle company do a couple of showing saddles. I sat in their Mathew Lawrence saddle and Blair and it felt very secure. So maybe an option there.

I know a couple of people who show in the ideal Jessica saddle, which is fairly secure but looks really nice in brown. Tbh, if his trot is that big, an old fashioned dressage saddle with the straps shortened might be a better option.
 
Thanks MissSBird, I will have a look at those saddles. I have previously shown him in a brown dressage saddle but I think at the level he will be competing it just wont look right. I'd find it more comfortable tho!
 
Certainly, for the ideal Jessica, my saddler once told me he sold more of them for showing than dressage as judges found them more comfortable. One lady I know also took hers to the RHS quite happily, so they have made appearances at fairly high levels :)
 
I really don't like dressage saddles for showing, I find them too bulky, You will find alot of judges hate them too

The Ideal Ramsey is an extremely popular show saddle is is very very comfortably- judges really love them too as is popular over a wide range of breeds and types

http://www.idealsaddle.com/catalogue/saddle/25

I show in a Cardanel show saddle which is really lovely it's very simple and judges really love it (can't find it online to show you though)

There are also the fylde saddles which are extreme popular in the showing world and do a massive range of show saddles!!!

If it was me personally I would stay away from dressage saddles, I know alot of judges and I'm currently doing my judges training and no one I know like them they are just too bulky to show in, you just can't 'fee' the horse correctly like you can in a show saddle and especially if there is a big class and all others are wearing a showing saddle and the judge gets into a deep dressage saddle it's just not the same

I have ridden in the ideal jessica and really love it as a dressage saddle but I would personally never show in it!!! I also find dressage saddles put you into a position, and showing you don't want your stirrups as long as you do in a dressage saddle and if you get a tall judge or a man for instants it much harder for them to find a comfortable position because of the knee rolls ect

on the sizing front I show a 16hh/16.1hh arab and his saddle is 17 1/2 inch and I have had no problems fitting judges in it

size depends on the size of your horse really and what class for instance if you are going into hunter classes where you are expecting alot of bigger judges as in tall men ect then I think you will need a 17 1/2 /18 although speak to a decent saddler and they will talk you through it

If you don't want to go for a dead straight showing saddle look at working hunter saddles, you could get away with on of those unless it was hack classes or intermediates as they will give you that extra bit of knee roll

I hope this helps you :)

xxxx
 
When I used to show my connie and my welsh d they were both a wide fit and the Ideal Ramsey was the best saddle we found. It was so comfortable and didnt roll around on their backs. It was also very comfy for the rider and had enough knee roll to be useful but not so much it looked like a dressage saddle.

If your used to riding in a dressage saddle with a big knee roll (as i was) you will dislike the older showing saddles as they have no knee roll whatsoever and you feel a bit lost without it!

http://www.teamramsay.co.uk/saddle.html

We also tried the Fylde saddles which fitted wide horses nicely but just wasnt as comfortable for the rider as the Ideal :)
 
I have a comfort Matt Lawerence saddle - love it! Has more knee roll than a normal show saddle, so you feel more secure in it.
 
I had an Ideal Ramsey and hated it on my very wide Arab, although it fit him beautifully! I now have an Ideal Josephine (which is an Ideal Jessica with showing flaps)... tis beautiful!!! Used it at the RIHS last year and the ride judge commented that he now uses this saddle at home :) Didn't help me though as Shesky was having a bad day and didn't go well for him :mad:
 
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Pasha I have also ridden in an ideal josephine and really liked it and it was very comfortable!!!

Although the seat was a bit too deep for me, although I am SO used to my showing saddle now which is very traditional with no knee rolls and a very flat seat!!!

If i was going to buy another saddle I would defo go for an ideal ramsey i LOVE THEMMM <3

xxxx
 
Thanks very much you've all been really helpful, I was looking at the Ideal Ramsey so think I might have to begin my hunt for a second hand one! I do like the idea of the Josephine too for a deeper seat but I think the Ramsay often comes with removable blocks too which would be useful for his more bouncy days! Thanks again
 
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