What Dressage Saddle Would You Recommend?

Native Pony

Native Pony

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If someone was starting out in dressage, what saddle would you suggest they try?

We are about to get a saddle fitter to our 17 hand warmblood x draft. He is 5 and feels more like a TB when ridden. Your experiences and opinions would be welcome so I can have a better idea myself when the fitter visits.
 
Thats a difficult one as it is more about what make of saddle suits your horse. I had a KN Allegro for my last horse and I loved it. So comfy and nice wide panels for my 'sports cob'. Unfortunately too wide for my new horse and am not struggling to find a saddle to suit her. Have tried a range of secondhand for a few different saddle fitters, currently trialling an Albion Platinum but its not fitting well so will be giving it back. I tried a Semiflex GP the other day and my mare relaxed and went lovely in it but it didnt suit me so have arranged for the Semiflex rep to come with a range as that one was just one a saddle fitter happened to have to sell.
 
I think it's important too to fit the rider, correct seat size and depth, probably a saddle that is a little forgiving and not too straight cut. Thigh and knee block sizes usually come down to personal preference, I don't like massive knee blocks but I do like deep seats.

Might be a case of trying a few out OP
 
my first dressage saddle was an albion legend, It was all i could afford for my youngster at the time, but i had also ridden her in a passier which i didn't like because it had no knee rolls and had a flat hard seat, a jaguar which was lovely but panels too small for title cob, an Albion Ultima and K2 which i really liked but rolled around a bit, and an Amerigo Vega which was absolutely the nicest saddle i have sat in, unfortunately WAAYY out of my price range. i have since had a Harry Dabbs which was lovely and fitted her beautifully but just doesn't fit me so that has got to be sold and i've now got and Ideal Susannah which fits us both to a T!

I guess what i am trying to say is, there are a million different saddles all do the same job but all are slightly different and you won't know what one suits you both the best until you road test a few!
 
I have just had a WOW fitted to my mare and she loves it! I had a basic dressage saddle before, which fitted fine, but I needed more support now. My friends horses is out of action for a few months so she offered me to borrow her WOW to see how I felt and I love it! My mare does too. Her canter transition has always been our big sticking point and within a handful of schooling sessions it completely resolved! So now I need to find a saddle with Size 1 panel (tab and stitch linen) and seat (deep or extra deep) with dressage blocks for sale. Finding it VERY difficult to find one 2nd hand....
 
I have a 17h Hannovarian x shire who is 10. He has a flat back and a big shoulder and the best I found for him and me is an Amerigo Cervia. Your problem will be that at 5 your horse is bound to change shape so whatever you have needs to be adjustable or go cheapish for now and be prepared replace it later.
 
I'd also be careful about spending a lot on a saddle which may not fit in a year or so. My saddler has a good range of secondhand saddles and with a youngster I'd probably go that route first. Also, I think it's also really important that the saddle fits you as well and the length you like to ride. Personally I hate big knee blocks, you need to ride in a saddle to decide if it fits you.
Dreckly said:
I have a 17h Hannovarian x shire who is 10. He has a flat back and a big shoulder and the best I found for him and me is an Amerigo Cervia. Your problem will be that at 5 your horse is bound to change shape so whatever you have needs to be adjustable or go cheapish for now and be prepared replace it later.
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The only dressage saddle I've ever ridden in is the one I own, so possibly not much of a comparison, but I have a Thorowgood hi wither one.

I've ridden in certain types of GP saddle I don't like, and I think the TG is rather good! Especially when it was £200 from preloved!
 
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