I am in the market for a new jump saddle, my current one is a 16.5 inch. However my new dressage saddle is a 17 inch, as suggested by my saddle fitter . I am wondering if typically you go down a half a size in a jump saddle? I have not asked a saddle fitter about this, and I should have, but I know you guys will have answers!!
Mine are the same size
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It depends on the depth of the seats of the saddles. 1/2" down on jump is typical.
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And it’s like anything fitted, jeans or breeches or boots or sneakers.
Between different designs by the same brand, or between brands, you might need a different size.
Typically you get out of the tack more in a jumping saddle. Posting, two point, forward seat canter. You sit everything in dressage. If the saddle has big thigh rolls or a deep seat you lose more room.
My dressage and jump saddles are both 18. I can ride in 17.5. But 17 in dressage quickly gave me lower back pain as my pelvis couldn’t follow at canter. On the other hand, I can cope with a 17 jump saddle even if it’s obviously too small for me. I have a generous though not weirdly long femur and a bit of a butt.
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After sitting in over 50 Dressage saddles from 13 different brands while shopping for one last year, I can definitively say I have even less of an idea what seat size I am now than before I started shopping, lol. I’m a 16.5" in a jump saddle, but I felt good in everything from a 17" to an 18" Dressage saddle depending on whether it was a forward or straight flap, where the stirrup bar was placed and what the block shape and position was like. A block that’s up in my business can make a saddle that’s otherwise the right seat size feel way too small because there’s not enough room for my knees so my femur/pelvis gets shoved back in the seat. The one thing I’m sure of after that experience is that a 16.5" Dressage saddle IS too small, so I do prefer a slightly larger seat in a Dressage saddle.
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A lot of dressage saddles tend to have deeper seats than most cc saddles. What I understand is that, if the seat is deep, you’ll probably have to go up at least a half inch in seat size. So if your cc saddle has a seat that is more open and it’s a 16.5", then a 17" dressage saddle (which probably has a deeper seat) makes sense.
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My Prestige Passion D Jump is a 17" (they do not do half sizes)
My Prestige Venus K Dressage is an 18"
I could’ve gone 18 on my jump, but I like feeling held in a little more with the CC saddles, so I opted for a more forward flap to give my leg room with the shorter seat. My horse is quite short backed as well, so the shorter the saddle the better for him.
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I’m short (5’2" ish) & petite build with what I affectionately call freakishly long femurs. I might be able to get away with a 16.5 jumping saddle in one of the custom brands with numerous flap lengths/angles available. I easily need an 18 in a dressage saddle & have not been uncomfortable riding in an 18.5.
The whole hip/SI area is so complex with so many variations on normal that I have to think it isn’t just leg length to consider, though.
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My jump saddle is an 18" and my dressage saddle is 17.5", so the opposite of most here, but they are different brands from each other so that may explain it.
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I agree with @wanderinglemon ; my dressage is 17" and my jump is 18". I can easily ride in anything from a 17-19" jumping saddle just fine, whereas for dressage I feel the seat size matters more. keep in mind the measurement is the tree length though, so my 17" dressage is the tree: it was made for me, so the seat is “tighter” than your typical 17" as I am thin/tall, but we wanted to maximize surface to fit my horse ideally.
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Thank you everyone for your responses! I guess I just need to start shopping!!
