What's easier, dressage in a jumping saddle or jumping in a dressage saddle?

[icyfreya]

I'm thinking about getting a new saddle, and I don't know whether to get a GP, a jumping saddle, dressage saddle, VSD or what! But I wanted to know how easy it is to do different disciplines in different saddles - I assume it's easier to do flatwork and dressage in a showjumping saddle than it is to showjump in a dressage saddle...but is it?

 

[wilsha]

i would imagine its easier to do dressage in a gp or jumping as many people do as they cant afford 2 saddles and also i guess that it would be harder jumping in a dressage cos you wouldnt have as much suppourt around your knees and you probs couldnt put your stirrups the right lengh for jumping cos the knee roll things arent as wide hope this helps x

 

[Nags07]

I used to do loads of show jumping in a dressage saddle with no worries at all.... not sure if that will help??

 

[baymareb]

I suppose a lot would depend on how much and at what level you'd be doing either. I've never done a lot of jumping in a dressage saddle but I would think that at a certain height, it would become a real disadvantage. Then again, at a certain level of dressage, it seems that an A/P would be a disadvantage as well.

But for low-level of either, I would probably go for an A/P (or GP or whatever you call them ).

 

[Honey08]

If you're planning on doing both, then defintely a GP - I event in mine... If you'd rather just do dressage or jumping, then obviously go for the saddle for the sport...x

 

[kerilli]

dressage in a jump saddle is easy, but jumping in a true dressage or GP/VSD is difficult, especially if you are long from knee to hip - you just can't get your stirrups up short enough without knees going over the front of the flaps.
if you ask in Comp Riders, I bet most of the people in there will agree!
if you are going to be jumping fences of any decent size (3' +) and/or doing xc, you need a proper jump saddle imho. Dr saddle can come later.

 

[Holly Hocks]

I used to do loads of show jumping in a dressage saddle with no worries at all.... not sure if that will help??

Thanks Nags....I think you've just answered a question for me - I am currently trying to decide between VSD and dressage for mine....I have a dressage on my other one and jump him sometimes - just small jumps and don't find a problem. I think I just needed to hear that someone else is the same - in fact I think it sometimes holds you in a better position - you don't feel the need to "throw" yourself forward quite as much! Wouldn't like to do much over 80cm in it though...

 

[illy89]

Dressage in a jump saddle much easier than jumping in a dressage saddle!!

 

[icyfreya]

Thankyou everyone! Well I wouldn't be doing very very high level, mostly ponyclub, but also some bsja (or bs as it's now called?), but only british novice/disc., and unaff eventing, and soon i'd like to start hunting, but i also love pure dressage! And a bit of showing. It's hard to know really, atm it's a GP/AP, but not great, so new one would be good, and it's really hard to know what to go for. I love riding in a dressage saddle, I found it helped my position enormously! ahhh it's so hard. Also I read recently that general purpose saddles are always a compromise, because they're too forward cut for proper dressage, but too straight cut for jumping.

 

[JessandCharlie]

Dr saddle can come later.

Oh dear. I though you meant Doctor Saddle. I though to myself "wow, there's a Doctor Saddle! Cool!"

It's been a long day, can you tell?

But IMO dressage in a jumping saddle is far easier.

 

[Honey08]

You'd be better telling all that to a good saddler, who would come out and let you try a selection in your school - on the flat and over jumps - til you decide what you want...