Your experiences of dressage saddles with narrow twist please.

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maresmaid

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I am currently considering purchasing a new dressage saddle, and as i HATE selling saddles I am hoping to get it right once and for all! Last time my saddler came out he bought a couple for me to try, I sat on one with a narrow twist, and for the few minutes I rode I really liked it. This saddle was much more expensive than any other saddle I have ever bought, but I decided to save a bit longer and increase my budget, and perhaps sit on a few other saddles in the meantime before I make a final choice.

Having followed the excellent "Daisy" thread and done some further research I am now wondering about the narrow twist possibly being a problem - in so much as I keep hearing that they are not always suited to a female pelvis. The last thing I want to do is splash out a big wad of my hard earned cash on a saddle that turns out to be a "Daisy Bruiser" when its ridden on day in and day out for more than 15 minutes at a time.

So ladies please tell me if you have a saddle with a narrow twist, and if it's "Daisy friendly" - or should i steer well clear. (The only time I have had anything like a "Damaged Daisy" has been if I have been on very long funrides and not been accustomed to so many hours in the saddle).
 
I bought an Ideal Roella and its just lush. I always liked the Suzannah having sat in my friends previoulsy but after the Roella which has a narrow twist it felt like sitting on a shelf....have no 'daisy issues' hahahaha
 
Everyone's different, plus twist is experienced very subjectively. My own dressage saddle has a medium twist and flat seat and that is what I generally prefer, but the main dressage model that I sell has a narrowish twist and a deep seat and I actually like it. I think the best thing you can do is to try several, and you shouldn't have to spend a fortune (so much choice up to about £1500!), and to make sure that whatever you get is on a 7 day trial.
 
Sbloom thank you for that advice. Trial is a good idea as my main concern is that it might feel really nice for a short try out but a different story when used daily for an hour at a time.
 
I love a narrow twist, I don't particularly like overly padded saddles and i like a flat seat, I think it is because I have my own padding in the thigh area! I can imagine if you're a bony person that would be uncomfortable and cause 'daisy' issues but mine is just fine and I absolutely hate a wide twist.
 
I've got an equipe emporio. Love it! It's uncomfortable in any respect. Sister has same saddle and is of a similar build and has experienced some discomfort though. I guess it depends just how much you like a narrow twist. I'm 5ft 8 and and size 4 with arthritic issues, so the less strain on my hips/pelvis the better. The equipe retails around £1.9k, but there's a flux of second hand models about now and I imagine you get a token discount from saddler.
 
The one i tried was a spalding, i liked it because i could get a much better leg position than i could in my ideal Jessica which always made me feel my leg was too far forward, and i often struggled to open my knee and thigh and relax my leg down unless i took away the stirrups. I felt really nicely balanced in the spalding, and when i Sat on the next saddle which didn't have the narrow twist i felt all over the place. I am not in a hurry to buy so will look for an opportunity to try some of the saddles mentioned.
 
Personally, I like a narrow twist in any saddle, dressage, GP or CC as I find a wide twist hurts my hip and back and feels like someone is literally punching me in my daisy!! I find I have a better leg position in saddles with narrow twists too, I can sit deeper and not be perched on top (I am 5'9", size 14/16 and have a 36" inseam). when I go look at a saddle, I always take a measuring tape with me too to make sure it has a twist of 2" or under, My Stubben only measures about 1"!
 
You can't really measure the twist - the space between the welts on the seat doesn't really equate to the twist, and even then you have to decide how far back or forwards to measure. The twist is formed by two "slats" of wood and it is not only how far apart they are, but also the angle they form, how upright they are, which helps shape the twist. Then you have webbing and foams added, and only then the welts/seaming, so you can see how the two don't really match up.
 
True, but I find measuring what you see on the outside of the saddle on the seat helps me weed out the saddles that will be unsuitable. I tried my friend's Ideal and that measured about 2 1/2"- nearly 3" across the narrowest part of the seat and it was horrible for me to ride in. It used to b*gger her hip too. Whereas my Stubben only measures 1" on the narrowest part of the seat and does not give me any hip problems.
 
I bought my Spalding because of the narrow twist - My horse is very round and i'm short. Having the narrow twist meant It was easier for me to sit round him and actually have my lower leg make contact with his sides. It also makes me sit in a far better way.

I wouldn't say it was the most comfortable saddle in the world but I don't have to hack in it for hours (use comfy jump saddle for that!). I would suggest you ride in it for a good 1/2 hour before you decide on it though.
 
I bought a Roella, only because I was in desperate need of a saddle and couldn't find a Suzannah in a wide fitting at the time. I was a bit nervous as I am not short or petite (5/6 and about 9 stone, with quite wide hips). But actually it is very comfortable, the seat in general feels a little smaller than a Suzannah and the saddle overall is smaller and less bulky, but I do like it.

I have now found a Suzannah in the right size though... pm me if you need a Roella in wide!

x
 
sbloom describes it here.

"The twist is formed by two "slats" of wood and it is not only how far apart they are, but also the angle they form, how upright they are, which helps shape the twist. Then you have webbing and foams added, and only then the welts/seaming"

Basically the twist is the width of the narrowest bit of the seat of the saddle, so a wide saddle tree can still have a narrow twist so won't stretch the rider's pelvis.
 
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Its really helpful to read all your replies, there's so much to choose from i plan to research this very thoroughly before i make my mind up.
 
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