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Dressage saddle shopping advice for a former hunter rider

Dressage
#1

I am starting my search for a dressage saddle and my problem is 2-fold. 1. My hunter saddle is a Tad Coffin which I love, so I’m a minimalist, but it does not fit him. I don’t think I will like a lot of knee roll and a high cantle. 2. I have a coming 4 year old GRP that is oversized (so no more hunter showing). He has a short back and a large shoulder with set back withers. This causes my girth to be set further back from the girth line. So far, I have handled this by using a Shoulder Relief Girth. He is hard to fit. It seems most saddles that I have put on him and tried, pinch his shoulders and he doesn’t want to stride out. I am now having to ride him in a western saddle designed for gaited horses with a flared tree and he is very comfortable and happy.

i realize that I need to get a saddle fitter to fit my pony and for me to ride in it to see if it is comfortable for me. And I would really like soft leather like calfskin. I live in Florida so I’m accessible to a large dressage community. Any advice on a manufacturer and model to start with? The selection is overwhelming! Thank you!

#2

I am a hunter rider who may be switching to dressage due to neck problems from radiation treatments. I ride in a Butet. Butet makes both a flat and a deep seat dressage saddle. I think I will start w the flat seat as I move forward w this. Hope this helps.

#3

NaturallyHappy - I saw a beautiful Butet dressage saddle on FB for sale but they didn’t offer a return policy. I need to try it a saddle before I purchase. Tad Coffin also has a dressage saddle, but I’m worried if it’s the same tree as mine, then it won’t fit. I have a message in for Tad to discuss his saddle.

#4

I use a shorter block (hate any pressure on my knee), forward flap (but my thigh is long—my jump saddle is not forward), and I found a more open seat to be comfortable even though deeper with the high cantle—there’s enough flat space in there that I don’t notice the pommel or cantle really. If you can customize the blocks and find a more open seat in a model that fits your horse, you should be able to be comfortable.

#5

Welcome to dressage land! I switched over from hunters a number of years ago and remember how hard it was to find a saddle. The rider balance is pretty different and even “good” saddles just felt … wrong !

That said, I have shared my saddle fitting challenges with my horse here over the last four years or so and the two things that worked best were an older Hennig classic (quite minimalist) and the new Antares that has quite a different design with more wither/shoulder relief that has been fantastic (but may be too much saddle for your preference.)

My horse does not have a high / prominent wither but he does have a lot of muscle around that area and big shoulders. For that reason, he always preferred a saddle that was wider than he measured. In the Antares, the tree stops further back and there is a rather different panel design that keeps the saddle from getting in his way there. Might be worth a try. If you order one, be aware that they do take forever to ship…

Best of luck - saddle fitting is such a pain!!

#6

I’ve had really good luck buying used saddles from Highline Tack. Susy’s customer service is second to none and she really knows her Butet’s. She might be worth a call-that is where I will start. I never had luck w Tad Coffin saddles.

#7

I don’t know most of the answers you’re asking for, but strongly agree with a shorter and angled block. I also strongly prefer a saddle with a good flat spot.

For a first dressage saddle, I strongly recommend going used as well. There are changes you’re working on in your position, and while a new saddle you pick which fits you well will almost guaranteed be more comfortable and make things easier for you at first, over time you will learn that you have more adjustment in your position with which the saddle is hindering you. My first saddle for my oldest was great at first, and about 3 years later I had improved as much as I could and it was in my way, so I got a different saddle. This seems to be pretty common for those of us switching from hunters or other disciplines.

#8

With a 4 year old horse, and you new to dressage, I would really recommend shopping for a good used saddle, as both you and your horse may find what works now won’t be optimal a few years down the road. Alternatively, you could try to find something that will be easy to adjust later, but there are limits to what adjustments can be made, and tend to be more cost effective to make adjustments on the horse’s side of the saddle.

#9

If the Tad Coffin fits, why not wait to buy a dressage saddle? You can lesson and show in the jump saddle, even if you do rated shows.

Dressage saddles (straight flaps) aren’t required equipment until a certain level, which I believe is FEI.

If you do want to buy a dressage saddle to help with leg position, etc. I really like my Smith Worthington. I bought it based on a COTH recommendation and the tree is adjustable at the factory so you have flexibility as your horses grows and changes.

#10

Look for a used Passier - they are designed for horses with big withers and shoulders. They have a model called the Compact, that I don’t have any personal experience with, but sounds like it is meant for a short backed horse: https://www.passier.com/en/saddles/dressage-saddles/compact/

#11

GreyDes - unfortunately my beloved Tad Coffin does not fit my hony.

I have contacted the Custom Saddlery fitter and a large high end dressage saddle consignment store (online) in my area. And thank you everyone, for the advice to buy used until my horse ages more!

1 Like
#12

Just as a warning, if you are fairly new to dressage be prepared to go through several saddles as your body acclimates to dressage. What is comfortable and supportive now might not be in a year or two when your dressage seat has developed more.

I’d give stubben a try, their tree is designed for accommodate withers and they do upswept panels for the short backed horse (pony?).

#13

I’m a former hunter rider (my preferred saddle is the Hermès Steinkraus) and I have a Connemara dressage pony. I found a Hastilow pony dressage saddle for her (apparently the same model used by the British junior dressage team). It has a narrow twist and is very nice. I don’t care for heavily padded, deep dressage saddles, personally,

#14

I ride dressage ponies and recommend working directly with a saddle fitter. Ponies are not the easiest to fit and it would be beneficial to sit in a variety of saddles to figure out what works for you. Just picking up some used saddles randomly honestly would probably be a waste of time (and money if you are paying shipping). Been there, done that!

edit to add that Custom would be a good choice to start with as they have good pony options and different styles you can try to see what YOU like. I use Hulsebos on my ponies so that’s another to look into. Good luck!

1 Like
#15

Definitely agree with those who say buy used for now and be prepared to find that your tastes/needs change as you and your horse adapt to dressage. I bought/sold several saddles as I initially liked a deeper, more supportive seat, then moved to one that was more open and minimalistic. Definitely ride in the models before you buy. I probably rode in 10 saddles before settling on the one I bought.

There are some really fantastic brands that are not very popular here in the US that you might want to try as they give you a better bang for your buck, especially used – look at Kieffer and Roosli. The Kieffer saddles have the added advantage that the newer ones are built on a resin tree that can be adjusted as your horse grows and muscles up.

#16

Your pony sounds like my mare, but she’s tall. I currently have her in a passier, and I use a fairfax girth (shaped, like total saddle fit, but no elastic). Passiers and Stubbens are pretty minimalistic versus some of the other brands. Passier also has a nice pony saddle. If custom can’t help you, you might want to try an independent saddle fitter. They tend to have more access to various brands and are less focused on selling the saddle versus fitting the horse and rider. Good luck!

#17

You might like an Albion SL. It’s a more minimal dressage saddle, and albions have a flatter tree for your horses type. I had one for my Irish Draught mare. You might need more upswept panels with a GRP’s smaller size. Idk if they come that way. You’ll certainly have no trouble finding one to try in FL.

#18

Albions also come with a high head or low head option and are able to have the trees adjusted. They last forever and are great “bang for the buck”!

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