Anyone ride in a bates dressage saddle?

[EventerOP]

I am starting to look for a new dressage saddle for my event mare. I have a bates jump saddle and LOVE it! So I was thinking about maybe getting a bates dressage saddle.

I am only 5’1 so I have a short leg so I have a hard time finding a dressage saddle that fits. . . what do you think?

What kind of bates dressage saddle do you have? Do you like it?

Thanks!

[Couture_TB]

I’m 5’3 and I ride in either my friends bates isabell or my kiefer. On certain horses I LOVE the isabel. On others I HATE it. It all depends on the build of the horse. It does help me sit a bit better on the horses with a larger trot then my keifer does, but that is because of the very deep seat. Though before I got ill and couldn’t ride much for the last 4 years I had no problem sitting any type of trot in my kiefer. So I would say the deep seat and knee blocks are a sort of crutch. That said, I have not found a single horse I didn’t like the way I was able to ride them in my Kiefer. From QHs to WBs.

[kip]

I used to own the Bates Caprilli Dressage Saddle and hated it. After I sold that saddle I never wanted another Bates Saddle again until I sat in the Bates Isabell. I ended up sitting in one by chance and fell in love with it immediately and purchased it for my horse. I have since had it for about a half a year and still love it.

[saultgirl]

I’m 5’ tall and ride in a bates innova. I love it.

[EventerOP]

Thanks everyone!

[JB]

Which Bates cc saddle do you have? If it’s the Caprilli, that has a curvier tree than most (all?) of the Bates Dressage saddles, so those are unlikely to fit the same horse.

But if you have an Elevation, which appears to have a flatter tree, then you’re probably in business.

[EventerOP]

I have the bates elevation jumping saddle and it fits her perfect and my friend has ridden her in the bates caprilli and that has also fit her

[EventerOP]

Bump

[rabicon]

I tried the bates Innova with the big blocks and hated it. It put me in the wrong position and the blocks were just way to big.

[Cincinnati]

I would like to hear input too, especially with the Bates Isabell and how similar is it to it’s sister saddle, the Wintec Isabell?

[EventerOP]

Thanks rabicon, good to know. Ill be curious to see how I feel in it!

[saultgirl]

[QUOTE=rabicon;4305942]
I tried the bates Innova with the big blocks and hated it. It put me in the wrong position and the blocks were just way to big.[/QUOTE]

Mine are the “standard blocks” not the extended, it comes in both.

[EventerOP]

Do most people like the standard blocks, or the extended?

[saultgirl]

I never actually rode in the extended bloc saddle, but I think its kind of funny looking. I bought the saddle because I rode in it when I was trying out my horse; it fit him and me and I was thinking about getting a dressage saddle anyways… It seems to have a fairly short flap.

[_downpour]

Yes, and I love the Bates saddles. I have a wintec Isabell, a leather Isabell, a caprilli & one of the older maestros… I prefer the wintec isabell and the maestro. Although the wintec isabells get a bit more wear & tear than the leather ones, they’re so much more comfortable. I do love the leather maestro though. The caprilli I could pass on because it has such a shallow seat, but it works for the pony.

[EventerOP]

Thanks!

[neVar]

Have the innova love it.

my shorty best friend has an innova as well and loves it too

[EventerOP]

Thanks! I sat in the innova today and love it! I have it on trial this week:)

[KBEquine]

Enjoy - I’ve got a couple older Bates - Haute Ecoles. They are funny-looking, but comfortable. But I’m about 5’7" so I can’t say how they’d be for someone shorter.

[schimmel]

EventerOP-Just FYI, the Wintec Pro with contour blocks is very much like the Bates Innova, except synthetic and about 1/3 the price. I am just under 5’4" and it fits me very well-one of my favorite saddles ever.