Dressage Saddle Buying - Recommendations

[bringing_up_baby]

I have been riding 4th Level/PSG on and off for the past seven months…had to stop when sale horse I was riding got sold. Am looking for a dressage saddle for a jumper to cross-train or to potentially lease aforementioned former sales horse.

Having ridden H/J for a long time, I know the best brands and what fits for me. However, I thought I’d get some input here on what are the best dressage saddles.

(I’m not concerned about custom fit for the horse as I can always fix that with a half pad as I will be riding different horses.)

I have sat in a County Perfection and loved the long, external knee blocks. I was going to buy one, but I wanted to know the dressage queen’s opinions!!! Has anyone ever ridden in a CWD or Devoucoux? I know nothing about Albion or Schleese except that they are very expensive.

I want long, external knee rolls only to help lock my leg in a bit during big sitting extended trots.

Are there any comparable saddles to the County Perfection that I should look in to?

[sheltona01]

Are you looking to buy new or used? If you like the Perfection but do not want to spend the money, I find the Adam Ellis Advanti very similar to me and also the eden tree in Black Country. Typically the people who like County do not care for Albions or Custom Saddlery. Not always true, but for the most part. I do not like Schleese.

[joiedevie99]

Dressage saddle fit is so much harder than jumping saddle fit. Personally, I’m happy in anything except the Wolfgang line of Custom Saddlery products, Trilogy, and Black Country. After some horse fitting challenges with Custom, my horses’s each have their own Black Country Vinici (different flocking, tree sizes, and options).

I cannot ride in anything Stubben, or Schleese. I’ve never had a horse that had the back shape to wear one of the French saddles, so I don’t know about those. Sorry! And good luck!

[no.stirrups]

I don’t think there is a “best.” There are a lot of high quality saddles, and some will be more comfortable for you than others. What you like won’t be the same as what I like, most likely. Nearly every maker has a model with big external blocks now. Call a rep who will bring a bunch to your farm for you to try.

[IndyEquestrian]

If you like the Perfection, look at the Bliss of London Liberty Dressage as well as their Loxley line. Also look at the Black Country Saddles! Do you have someone that can bring you several demos to test out?

[jaybird660]

It’s so relative to your horse’s shape and your shape. It’s hard to suggest saddles without that info as it won’t feel good if not balanced properly on your horse.