I'm looking for a needle-in-a-haystack dressage saddle...

[Foxtail]

For myself, not a horse!

Thanks to a slight congenital defect of my hips and legs, and also thanks to joint hypermobility syndrome, I’ve been finding it more and more difficult to find saddles that don’t cause me pain. Are there any companies that make saddles that have relatively flat seats, and minimal to no thigh blocks or knee rolls? Or at least easily removable ones?

If there are older models of saddles that would fit the bill, I’m fine with buying used. Also, the best luck I’ve had was with an Ansur Classic. As much as I love Ansurs, treeless isn’t for every horse and I’d like backup options.

Thanks for the help all!

[Unfforgettable]

Butet is pretty darned flat and no big rolls.

[sheltona01]

You might get away with a Thorowgood depending on why the saddle bother you. It does have a pretty shallow seat and the block are removable.

[Inclined]

A lot of older saddles had flatter seats and little or no blocks. Saddles like the Stubben Tristan or Courbette Charles de Kunffy come to mind. The shape of this Stubben Lohengrin from Rick’s is the shape I’m thinking of: http://www.saddlesource.com/stubben-lohengrin-191.html. The Courbettes of the same vintage tend to have a little softer seat than the Stubbens, and the double leather Stubbens like the Romanus and Parzivals are comfier than the plain Tristans. The de Kunffy’s were unique (http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Courbette-Charles-De-Kunffy-Dressage-Saddle-2-Toned-Brown-/291847794874?hash=item43f37bf0ba:g:1NEAAOSwLVZVow-5), but comfortable IMO. (I believe that’s buffalo leather.) If you don’t want to go quite that old school, you might consider a good all purpose saddle that has the seat depth, etc… that works for you. Some saddlers are moving away from the straight flap dressage saddles, especially for women, these days. I hope you find something that works well for you!

[Trumpet_Peformance_H]

As Inclined said, older saddles may be the way to go, but some modern show saddles have some of your requirements I believe.

[jaybird660]

What’s your price range? There are a fair amount of seats that are open with a large area for the seat and lower cantle. However, it is dependent on what your horse needs in terms of lateral and longitudinal fit so the following photos:
Conformation shots, one from the side of the entire horse, square, head up
One from the back, behind the tail on a mounting block looking down on the back, head straight

[Foxtail]

jaybird, right now I’m just canvassing to see what my options are. I’m currently horseless, looking to buy in the next year or two, so I want to see as many options as possible.

[2miniB]

Between hyper mobility and fracturing my L5, there’s only a couple saddles I was comfortable in. I was very happy with my Fhoenix Vogue. Knee blocks are completely removable, and the seat was also comfortable.

It got to a point where I had to stop taking lessons, since I’d be in tremendous pain if I rode in a different saddle. Obviously, I couldn’t expect a school horse to wear a saddle that wasn’t fitted to that horse.

[Pocket_Pony]

I have a Heather Moffett Vogue that I found really comfortable for my back problems and could sit in it for hours (and it is currently for sale because of an injury I’m getting over;)).

I also have a Frank Baines Capriole that I love for dressage work, but if I trail ride in it my butt starts to hurt after an hour or so. The Baines has removable thigh blocks (at least I ordered it that way, don’t know if that’s standard) and a flatter, more open seat.

[Halt_Near_X]

I have an older Clinton Northrup that has a relatively open seat (not flat, but not nearly as deep as other saddles I’ve had) and no blocks whatsoever. It does have a wider twist, if that’s an issue for you.

They can be hard to find used, but since they are a little-known brand and not trendy, they tend to be very affordable (a few hundred). Nice English-made saddle, though.

[csaper58]

Many saddles made in the mid 1990 had small, pencil knee rolls, you might consider an older Passier, Kieffer, Whippy, Barnsby, Crosby Collegate.

Would you consider a Lane Fox saddle? Or a close contact hunt saddle?

not sure what your budget is but this Stubben has very little knee roll

www.pelham-saddlery.com/dressage175/stubben19436used.html

click on video tab to see the saddle from all angles.

Here is a Kieffer with minimal knee rolls

www.pelham-saddlery.com/dressage175/kieffer19820used.html

[StormyDay]

I have an older collegate that is so flat I could jump in it :lol: No knee blocks either. I got it at maryland saddlery, they tend to have a good selection of older saddles.

[brody]

Stubborn Tristan
Love mine but it sure feels odd after the more blocky saddles

[Foxtail]

[QUOTE=csaper58;8804919]
Many saddles made in the mid 1990 had small, pencil knee rolls, you might consider an older Passier, Kieffer, Whippy, Barnsby, Crosby Collegate.

Would you consider a Lane Fox saddle? Or a close contact hunt saddle?

not sure what your budget is but this Stubben has very little knee roll

www.pelham-saddlery.com/dressage175/stubben19436used.html

click on video tab to see the saddle from all angles.

Here is a Kieffer with minimal knee rolls

www.pelham-saddlery.com/dressage175/kieffer19820used.html[/QUOTE]

I’ve actually done a lot of my dressage training in close contact saddles. I found that the seats were wonderful for my back, but the cut of the flaps and the positioning of the stirrups can kill my knee unless I have the stirrup leathers hiked up to where I’m riding in a chair seat.

[no.stirrups]

Many brands have models with flat seats, and requesting velcro blocks is something I always recommend to my clients. What you need may not be the easiest to find off the shelf, but as far as customizations, it’s easy. If you like how the seat of your jump saddle feels, we could order that type of seat/tree with a long flap and re-positioned stirrup bar, or even an adjustable stirrup bar. And I would bet the saddle makers I work with are not unique in being ready and willing to handle such requests.

[RockstarPony]

Just some off-the-top-of-my-head ideas that should be easy to find used –

The JES I used to ride in had the flattest, widest seat I’ve ever seen. If your issue is with your hip joints getting pulled apart, they’re probably too wide, but it might be worth a try if you just want flat-flat-flat. I’ve seen a few used ones that have removable velcro blocks.

Some of the older Passiers came with almost zero knee roll; I can’t remember having any strong feelings about the seat one way or another, but they could be worth a try. They’re usually easy to find in good condition.

My last thought is the Niedersuss Symphonie. It’s a bit of an off-the-wall suggestion, since they have more of a knee block than the old Passiers, and they’re not as flat as the JES I rode in. The only reason I bring them up is because I have hypermobility syndrome and some moderate hip issues and this is my absolute favorite saddle to sit in, hands down. I don’t know what it is, but the one I used to ride in just fit like a glove. I wouldn’t tell you to risk the cash to buy a used one, but if you can find one on trial or borrow one from a friend, they really might be worth looking into.

[eternalbeginner]

Maybe you should look for vsd saddles (general purpose but oriented to dressage). They have much flatter seats and no knee rolls. Most european brands have vsd and vss (gp-jumping) saddles in their ranges.

[frankiec]

Do you have working hunter saddles over there? They are pretty much what you are looking for. If not it might be worth looking in the UK for one and shipping it over. From what I’ve seen saddles seem to be much cheaper in the UK so would offset any shipping

[Stacie]

The Black Country Celeste has a minimal thigh block and flat seat. Doesn’t lock you in like a dressage saddle but has dressage balance. Very open and comfortable.

[Coreene]

[QUOTE=brody;8804960]
Stubborn Tristan
Love mine but it sure feels odd after the more blocky saddles[/QUOTE]

I loved mine