Just read an article n Horse & Hound wherein Christoph Hess advocates holding the saddle to aid in balance in one of his exercises to improve your dressage. I don’t know how to link it or I would.
Whole lots of folks have grab straps. Including Olympians, as noted above. I started using one years ago to help sit the transition from extended/medium trot to collected trot. Even my coach said my horse popped you out of the saddle in the transition. I use one now to help remember to use more outside rein and give on inside rein. And to give me a hold when dismounting as I have a shoulder replacement on the right and severe arthritis in my right hand and wrist.
I am kind of surprised at the attitude of superiority expressed here. Y’all give it a try before judge.
I have grab straps on both my dressage and jumping saddles. Even though I have been riding for many decades, and have a pretty good seat, I have come off more times than I like to count when my horse shied while walking on a loose rein. Now, when I am walking “on the buckle”, I keep my other hand on the grab strap, and it has saved me quite a few times.
(About general use of grab straps, not their use in the middle of a test.)
I do this with breastplate bridges. And ditto to having my ass saved.
I made that mistake after teaching my horse skijoring. The moment she felt the breastplate snug up on her chest she went into overdrive, “I don’t see the skier behind us but clearly I HAVE A JOB TO DO!” and off she tanked until I had the presence of mind to let go of the bridge and use my words to ask her to settle the hell down. 
Here’s the link, point 5 on the article.
I don’t know. I’ve come off a horse I can’t count how many times in how many circumstances and never thought of grabbing the pommel. I doubt its looked on favorably in a dressage test. do it, by all means, to stay on the horse, but, like any other deviation from the test, you will get marked down from it, I would guess.
It would appear that is not the case though, just based on this thread.
Maybe it differs among judges. Some might care while others might not.
Interesting. I asked to show in my neck strap and was denied. It was just there “incase” my young horse bucked, which she loved to do when tense haha
Wonder if they would be allowed now.
My national federation (NZ) allows neck straps in dressage up to US first level equivalent. Competitors rarely use them, but it is a nice option to have on a green horse.
Monkey straps are allowed at all levels here. Neck straps and monkey straps have different functions.
That’s usually the only way I ever come off too! lt’s the worst!
Neck Strap and a Grab Strap are two different things, also see rules about how when you can use a Neck Strap it has to be attached to the saddle (in certain areas) prompting a flury of people buying new neck straps.
Yes I know they are lol
They arent legal in Canada sadly.
I have 3 saddle and they all have Hail Mary straps, have had them for years. I have one horse that is very green and another that has a very large and bouncy trot. I find just thinking about using it helps me balance when I need to. I’ve shown through PSG with them for years. I can’t recall actually engaging one in the competition ring but I know I’ve used it in the warm up. Never had a TD comment on it.
