Which saddle for showing?

[PipsqueakXy22]

Hi is it best to use a dressage or a jump saddle for showing class (just normal ridden hunter and veterans )

I don’t own a showing/ GP saddle nor can I afford another one right now, but have heard mixed opinions on whether to use my dressage or jump saddle

 

[twobearsarthur]

Pros and cons to both. The dressage will be more straight cut but will have the long billets and possibly large knee blocks. Where the jump saddle will be more forward cut but have the more traditional seat and girth. I’d probably go with the jump saddle as it’s likely to be less intrusive and more traditional looking especially if doing ridden hunter. I’d take a photo of both while riding and whichever is the least instructive.

 

[little_critter]

I know nothing about showing but thought brown tack was preferred. Are either of them brown?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I did ROR, hunter/ riding horse in a black event saddle. Won the ridden championship so it was obviously OK!!

 

[Kaylum]

I would go for the jump saddle. Does the judge need to ride the horse as well?

 

[blitznbobs]

Which do you ride best in? Which does the horse go best in On the flat? Choose that saddle

 

[sbloom]

Which do you ride best in? Which does the horse go best in On the flat? Choose that saddle

This. And a well fitting saddle, in most cases, should be fitted to sit well behind the shoulder anyway so the flap shouldn't cover much up.

Colour should be the last consideration as judge should not mark black tack down, and I speak as a brown tack lover! They do seem more twitchy about the visuals of short girths, and if there's a judge ride then a dressage saddle can be more problematic.

 

[conniegirl]

The girthing arrangements are irrelevant.
I’d lean towards the dressage. .

Does your dressage saddle have enormous elephant ear knees blocks or smaller ones?
The dressage saddle will show off the horse’s shoulder better but huge Knee blocks are off putting

I know quite a few people at top level showing who use the ideal jessica but have had the girth billets changed. But the Jessica doesn’t have huge knee blocks