I have been looking for a dressage saddle for over a year and a half and have not found one. Here is what I have been searching for - used, reasonably priced (under 3K), black, 18", medium tree, narrow twist and a fairly shallow seat. I tried a Tad Coffin, and loved it, but cannot find one (used pads and it worked). Also tried a Grand Gilbert med. tree. It fit him fine in the front, but didn’t even touch his back. I couldn’t get out of it to post, and the twist physically hurt. Also tried a Nicole, and that was not good either.
I’m not well versed in dressage saddles, so this search has been very confusing. Pictures taken at different angles make the same saddle appear different. I would like to minimize $ spent on trying saddles that are really totally unsuitable. I know the COTH dressage ‘wealth of knowledge’ will help me find the perfect saddle - so please chime in!!
contact Trumble Mountain - they have a knowledgeable saddle person who will be able to help you.
Trumball Mountain is a great resource.
In the meantime, ride in as many saddles as you can find. Borrow them from friends, go to consignment shops and try them. You will begin to get a sense for the shape of the panels & tree size that work for your horse and the type of seat/flap that works for you. Do you want a deeper seat? A flatter seat? Do you have a long or short hip-to-knee measurement?
I’ve had great luck with my Roosli Pilatus fitting many horses with only minor adjustments, but saddle fit is a very personal thing. I probably sat in close to 15 saddles before I tried my trainer’s Roosli and then I knew it was “the one.”
Try a Neidersuiss - the old style (Symphoni or Olympik) - flatter seat, minimal knee roll, and the medium tree seems to fit just about everything. It comes in a 17 3/4 seat, which also seems to fit many different rider types.
Sorry you’re having difficulty. There seem to be a great many used saddles for sale right now, so I hope you can find something. For a little over your budget, you could get a new Verhan, made to measure, custom fitted. That’s one option. What brand/model of dressage saddle have you had before that you liked? Opinions run so strongly on saddles - everyone has a different opinion about what’s good. My taste tends toward very traditional saddles like Nidersus and Passier. They just seem to fit a lot of horses and riders well.
When a saddle ‘fits well at the shoulders’ and ‘doesn’t touch the back’, the tree is either too narrow, it’s placed too far forward on the back, some other possibilities too, but those are common.
Unfortunately, I don’t think you can escape the hell that is finding a great used saddle for you and your horse. Used saddle shopping is hell, in my opinion!
The Grand Gilbert comes in gussetted and not gusseted. If you rode in the non-gusseted model and it didn’t touch your horse’s back (whick is most likely the case), that narrows things down. You can see the difference by looking at the Passier saddle models in Dressage Extension catalog. You are likely looking for something that fits a more flat-backed horse. Other Passiers, such as the Lisa Wilcox model, has a more open seat and larger gussets to fit flat-backed horses. But you just have to ride in them to see what fits you and your horse.
What I dislike about the Passier GG is not the narrow twist (which I like) but the very hard seat. It hurts my boney seatbones. If you can’t post without “hurting yourself” (i.e. mashing your crotch) you might be riding in a saddle that is too small for your build.
Can you post a picture of your horse’s topline - standing on even pavement and stood up pretty well? That would help alot!!
J.
Definately call Trumbull Mt. . . you can talk to someone there who may be able to start you off in the right direction. If they don’t have a saddle to fit the bill for you, they won’t try to sell you just anything just to sell a saddle. Very very heplful and honest.
If you like the Tad, try some of the other dressage saddles made by traditionally ‘jumping’ manufacturers. I’ve found that a few have similar characteristics. Antares makes a lovely one, and there is a Beval Butet dressage saddle. Both can be purchased as a mono flap also.
You could also try a Pariani and a Prestige (older ones, before the deep seat).
Check out Devoucoux either a Makila or Mendia both are monoflap.
The Passier GG is not for everyone. I think a wider tree in it would have fit my horse really well (I tried a MW and it was pinching his shoulders somewhat) and the seat balance front to back was beautiful (allowed me to sit nice and tall without fighting), but the flaps came down too straight and my knees kept going out over the front edges. Plus they were a bit too long for my short legs, the flaps on them tend to run on the very long side (17.5-19").
I agree with everyone, find a tack store in your area that has used saddles you can take home and try out. Sometimes you may take an 18" in one saddle, but a 17.5" may be just fine in another, so keep an open mind. The deeper the seat, the longer seat size you will probably need. The Passier I tried was a 17.5" and I had ample room, whereas most of the time I really need an 18". I also found in my saddle search that I like a narrower twist, so as I go along I am seeking out the right types of saddles and getting closer! I’m on my 4th saddle trial and still nothing has worked, either for me, or my horse, or both! It’s frustrating, but I know the right saddle will come along.
Trumball Mtn. has a used Verhan in there - I love that saddle, and have found that it tends to fit quite a few horses AND fits me very well. And it is quite adjustable, as well. It’s an 18" MW, but perhaps the tree can be adjusted? You can send them a wither tracing, anyway, and see what they have. The seat may be too deep for you, but I love the twist on mine.
The best fitting saddle for a variety of horses from high withered to fairly wide wbs that I’ve ever had was a Luc Childeric dressage saddle. It is built on a jumper style tree, but is balanced for dressage. The twist is medium, but NOT wide, it allows for free shoulder movement and has a lot of wither clearance. Very correct and confortable for the rider. Hard to find used but worth a try! That’d be my recommendation!
Jot down notes about each saddle you sit in…that may help you articulate what you’re looking for. A saddle fitter might be the way to go (one that stocks more than one brand)! Or try friend’s/trainer’s saddles as much as you can!
Gaelic
I have an Albion SLK and love it. It’s got a secure seat that is not restrictive and has a narrow twist which I find it very comfortable. I have the high head model for a high withered Thoroughbred but it also comes in a low head model. These saddles sell new for around $3,000 +, but I bought mine used for $1,400 from Rick’s Heritage Saddlery. They have all their used saddles on their website. These saddles usually sell used for around $1,700 - $1,900. I got a very good deal on mine. It was a consignment saddle and the owner was willing to take a lower offer. Good luck. Jan
I also ride in an SLK and I love it.
So does everyone else who’s ever sat in it.
They do make the high head for a higher withered horse, but if person finds the higher head uncomfortable it is also possible for them to tweak the low head to suit as well.
If you put a flexi curve on your horse and measure it according to instructions Kate Wilson at www.dutchessbridlesaddle.com may be able to find something for you, OR recommend an Albion fitter (who may represent other brands as well for more options for you) that is in your area.
A less expensive leather option (although depending on what leather you get you can get a spankin’ new SLK in your budget) is the Fairfax. That is a $1,700ish saddle that comes in three tree shapes (normal, cob, high wither) and many widths, and the website has fitting templates where you can put a flexicurve on your horse and send them in and the company will help you. (Kate also sells those so you could ask her for help too.)
One dressage saddle I find massively uncomfortable is the Stuebben. Good LORD is that a slab of concrete! I mean, twist shape shmist shape there is just no need to sit directly on the wood -is one little eighth of an inch of latex too much to ask?! My trainer rides in one and I hopped on a horse so he could see it go after he was done and I was just like, :eek::eek::eek:.
He prefers my SLK too, having sat in it, haha, so the SLK is on offer for borrowing anytime.
One worth trying is the L’Apogee dressage saddle. It is french made and has a super wide channel and short points. I rode in a clinic in MD and Kitty(owner of L’Apogee) loaned me a saddle, leathers and some very comfortable Royal Rider stirrups. Kitty used to be a rep for Passier. She is located in VA. Her website is lasaddles.com
The saddle was super supportive and comfortable. It was brand new, but still very soft buffalo.
ANKY
The ANKY saddle has a very accomodating fit and it is not so deep so that it allows the rider to control the ride not the saddle.
I ride in a Tad Coffin hunt saddle so the transition to my Vinici dressage saddle was easy. My Black Country Vinici is a mono flap saddle and the seat is between a flat open type and a deep.
Try Trumbull Mtn. They helped me and I ended up with the right saddle for both my sensitive mare and myself. It was the easiest saddle/fitting buying I have ever experienced. True pro’s up there!
best advice…sit in it.
I just bought an Icon Flight, LOVE IT!!! I sat in a gazillion different saddles, and even among name brands, some saddles were different. Put your butt in it and if it smiles…buy it!!!
I am thrilled by this thread
My mother was trying to tell me I must be exceptionally difficult. She felt there was no way other riders went through all of these saddle fitting issues. I am going to have to show her this thread!!! I am normal 
Invite - buying a saddle I think for most folks (at least on this board) is a very personal experience. You not only have to find the right one for you, but also your horse. There are so many variables involved between you and your horse there are probably hundreds of possible saddle configurations. On top of that, within each discipline there are differences so what you need may be different when going from jumping to dressage and vice versa. It can be very frustrating and any help to point you in the right direction is a great time (and sometimes money) saver!
