"Close Contact" Dressage Saddles

[Pico_Banana]

I’m on the hunt for a new saddle as my mare has decided that she no longer likes her Hennig – I think the tree has gotten a bit too snug as she has gotten stronger (she just turned 7) and my saddle fitter tells me that while the Hennig can be adjusted, it will then be too low on her withers.

I’ve been able to try a couple of other saddles at my barn on her – at least to put on her back if not ride. I have ridden her in an older County Competitor, which she prefers to her own saddle, I think because it gives her more shoulder room even though it’s a horrible fit everywhere else (tends to slip, a bit bouncy on her back). I’ve also ridden her in a Tad Coffin jump saddle, which she also seems to prefer to her own saddle. I’m also wondering whether she prefers upswept panels rather than gusseted ones, even though her back really is table-like and I tend to think of upswept panels more for horses with scoopy backs.

I’ve discovered I like the closer feel of these saddles and my mare seems to agree. So am looking for a dressage saddle suitable for the “modern sporthorse” type – longish medium withers, flat back, lots of shoulder movement – that gives me a closer fit to my horse. I am wary of the French saddles given the inability to adjust flocking, but have not absolutely ruled them out. But am looking at Amerigo and Equipe as options (although $$$$!!!). I know Amerigo is wool flocked and I think Equipe uses wool. My fitter also suggests looking at a Trilogy – I think the Verago.

Any suggestions on what else I should look at?

[MysticOakRanch]

@Pico Banana

even though her back really is table-like and I tend to think of upswept panels more for horses with scoopy backs.

Upswept panels are also for short backed horses, even if they have really strong, straight backs. So if your horse is fairly short coupled (especially if you combine that with a long wither and laid back shoulder), she may like the panels for that reason. Gussetted panels are great for longer backs, as they distribute the weight of saddle and rider over more of the horse’s back - but… You don’t want your weight too far back for horse’s comfort.

I don’t think of Trilogy saddles as “close contact” - they tend to have very deep seats and lots of thigh block. But if you can at least try one out, you can get an idea if it works for you.

Bummer on the Hennig - I would start with some adjustment there to see if it might work (not a huge $ outlay).

[joiedevie99]

She may also prefer anything that is radically different if she currently has back soreness from her old saddle - regardless of how well it will actually do on her over time.

If you like close contact, check out the Black Country Vinici. I’ve really enjoyed mine.

[JLR1]

I have an Equipe and it fits your criteria…but they are memory foam and therefore unable to be reflocked. If the horse changes shape the only solution is shims. Amerigos are made in the same factory in Italy as Equipe and have a similar tree and panel shape and I believe they are wool flocked.

[CanteringCarrot]

If you’d like to stay with wool flocking, consider a monoflap. The Black Country Vinici is nice. I recently bought a Fairfax Gareth and love it. The panels aren’t upswept, but the gullet is adjustable, the flocking is wool, and it has a lot of room for the shoulder. This saddle is on a horse with a long wither and shoulder. He’s been much more forward than he was in his Prestige. It gives me a great feel for the horse. My first choice was the Black Country but I couldn’t find anyone that sold them around here.

​​​​​​Foam panel saddles will feel a little more close contact perhaps because generally the panels are “slimmer” than wool flocked. However, if you have to adjust with pads/shims than that kind of takes away from it. If you can find a well fitting foam saddle and doubt your horse will change shape, that’s not a bad option.

I prefer wool, and would consider a monoflap with a medium seat to keep close contact feel as much as possible.

[Pico_Banana]

@MysticOakRanch

Upswept panels are also for short backed horses, even if they have really strong, straight backs. So if your horse is fairly short coupled (especially if you combine that with a long wither and laid back shoulder), she may like the panels for that reason. Gussetted panels are great for longer backs, as they distribute the weight of saddle and rider over more of the horse’s back - but… You don’t want your weight too far back for horse’s comfort.

Thanks for that explanation— I never thought of her as short backed but when I consider her shoulder there’s not actually a ton of room.

[Pico_Banana]

@joiedevie99

She may also prefer anything that is radically different if she currently has back soreness from her old saddle - regardless of how well it will actually do on her over time.

If you like close contact, check out the Black Country Vinici. I’ve really enjoyed mine.

What’s the twist like on the Vinici? I have ridden in a couple of Black Country saddles before and found them comfy, but it’s been a while and I’ve never ridden in a Vinici. I love the idea of the serge panels.

[lorilu]

I have a Custom Saddlery Wolfgang Solo II for my short backed Lusitano. It has flocked panels and a type of monoflap - only the panel and the flap, no second layer of leather. Narrow twist cured my worst position problem. Trees are adjustable by a saddle rep. Love it, and so does my horse.

[joiedevie99]

@Pico Banana

What’s the twist like on the Vinici? I have ridden in a couple of Black Country saddles before and found them comfy, but it’s been a while and I’ve never ridden in a Vinici. I love the idea of the serge panels.

I’d say it’s fairly narrow.

[MysticOakRanch]

@Pico Banana

What’s the twist like on the Vinici? I have ridden in a couple of Black Country saddles before and found them comfy, but it’s been a while and I’ve never ridden in a Vinici. I love the idea of the serge panels.

I rode in one about 10 years ago - I would describe it as medium to medium narrow - it is a really nice saddle! Very close contact, which made the seat and twist feel narrower then I think it actually is. The one I tried just didn’t fit my horse right, but I really liked the saddle.

[Pico_Banana]

@JLR1

I have an Equipe and it fits your criteria…but they are memory foam and therefore unable to be reflocked. If the horse changes shape the only solution is shims. Amerigos are made in the same factory in Italy as Equipe and have a similar tree and panel shape and I believe they are wool flocked.

Thanks for that info on the memory foam. I had looked on their website but couldn’t seem to see anything about wool vs. foam.

[Pico_Banana]

@CanteringCarrot

If you’d like to stay with wool flocking, consider a monoflap. The Black Country Vinici is nice. I recently bought a Fairfax Gareth and love it. The panels aren’t upswept, but the gullet is adjustable, the flocking is wool, and it has a lot of room for the shoulder. This saddle is on a horse with a long wither and shoulder. He’s been much more forward than he was in his Prestige. It gives me a great feel for the horse. My first choice was the Black Country but I couldn’t find anyone that sold them around here.

​​​​​​Foam panel saddles will feel a little more close contact perhaps because generally the panels are “slimmer” than wool flocked. However, if you have to adjust with pads/shims than that kind of takes away from it. If you can find a well fitting foam saddle and doubt your horse will change shape, that’s not a bad option.

I prefer wool, and would consider a monoflap with a medium seat to keep close contact feel as much as possible.

Thanks for the suggestion on the Fairfax! My current saddle is a monoflap but it doesn’t feel as close contact as the County I’ve ridden her in, which is not a monoflap. I wish saddle shopping were easier!