Which Dressage saddle?

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milladymum

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Big decision this, help needed! I am trying to fit two different horses with dressage saddles that are both comfortable for me and for them. I am 5' 4", size 10 and quite short from knee to ankle, with a dodgy hip and lower back (not got a lot going for me I know!!
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) 1st horse is quite wide and currently ridden in a Bates, seems to like the cair but the knee rolls hurt me, and he does change shape quite a lot. 2nd horse just a baby, normal amount of wither, med wide fitting, 16.2hh and growing. She has big shoulder and hind movement, currently in an Albion SLK which I like but it blocks her shoulder and moves about all over the place! Thinking about Sue Carson, WoW or Fhoenix??????? Ideas please!!!!
 
Impossible to recommend anything really as you need to try as many as possible, you will know when you get the right one. Do you have a good local saddler who can bring you out a range of different brands?
 
No we are a bit short on saddle fitters round here, hence the problem really. I like the idea of being able to change the Wow to fit BUT someone did tell me I would find it very heavy and wide to ride in whereas Sue Carsons are a narrower twist? Just wondered if anyone out there had ridden in any or hopefully all the ones I'm considering!!
 
i would have a very good look at the Ideal Roella, which is specifically made for petite riders, with a narrow twist. it's a lovely saddle, and they will make it up exactly to your specs, taking into account any uneveness you might have from your dodgy hip etc.
i have heard good and bad about the Sue Carson saddles, but really really don't like the Cair at all. WOW are an acquired taste, some horses and riders love them, some don't. i loved mine, my mare most emphatically did not... not sure about Phoenix, but if you are petite then the width of a treeless might not be the best thing for you...
 
I have a WOW so can comment on that only. I love it, and don't find it very heavy at all.
The twist is quite narrow, and my mare is wide.
However, from what I can gather - they are not that easy to change about - an electric screwdriver seems to be needed... at least that's what they use in the video's
 
I hate the Sue Carsens with a passion. I find them terribly uncomfortable for both the horse and the rider.

The wows i love and im on my second. The adjustability of them appealed to me and i find mine very comfortable. It did wonders for my horse but be aware, theyre only as good as the fitter.

Phoenix i never tried because theyre part tree'd and i dont like the concept generally.

The wows are very good for allowing freedom of shoulder due to the lateral tree. As the horse strides, the tree gives way to ensure the movement cant be blocked.

GL with the search
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The Sue Carson saddles have just brought out a new one designed by heidi and Ian Woodhead with different knee blocks and narrow twist. The event rider who rides my horse (and is a devoucoux fan) likes it. She tried her horse in one and it won on a 21 dressage showing a remarkable improvement.
 
I have a WOW and use it on my loan horse who's 17.3hh ID and he goes very nicely in it but my baby horse really wasn't a happy bunny in it so I've had to go back to a flocked saddle for him and as yet havn't got a dressage saddle. I think it really depends on the type of horse, shape etc but the WOW is the only saddle that I've used which hasn't given me back ache as I have a bad back.
 
Thank you all for your help and points of view. I'll definitely have a look at the Ideal and see if I can try the Sue Carsons and WoW before I shell out!!! We have looked at her today with a saddle on and it either seems to sit too far on her shoulder, blocking it, but the girth is then in the correct place or sits lovely but the girth straps fall round her belly??? And I have to say she is constructed beautifully..so I'm puzzled..if anyone else has had this problem I'd be grateful for any help!
 
She sounds as though she has a forward girth groove - I have the same issue with one of mine, so I just had the factory adjust the girth straps to compensate.

I have a Saddle Company dressage which I also fit, so there were lots of little things that I had adjusted on mine to suit me and my horse.
 
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