One size fits all dressage saddle?

[Allusion]

@eightpondfarm

oh, only 500? That’s not too bad. I could get two and pad for a basic comfortable fit. I can ride in any saddle, so it’s more about what is right for them. and, It’s just for an hour once a week…

While you might technically be “able” to ride in any saddle, the right saddle that fits you and doesn’t make you fight for your position is invaluable.

This is coming from someone who spent $6k on a semi-custom Antares which technically fit me and the horse, but was ultimately detrimental to my riding and position because it had too wide of a twist and was too deep seated for what I really needed. Once I switched to a relatively “off the rack” Butet, my position and mobility was immediately improved and I was able to do the things my coach was asking of me.

I sat in a multitude of different dressage saddles while shopping earlier this year, and while each “technically” fit both me and my horse, there was an enormous variance in how each felt and rode, and there was a clear winner.

So - yes, you may be able to “get away with” riding in “anything” - but it won’t be aiding your learning journey.

I really - REALLY - wish that there was a saddle company that made a truly completely adjustable saddle that could be adjusted to any horse - I would seriously spend $15k on a saddle if they could custom make it to what I need for myself and could be completely and totally adjusted to any horse I may own in the future. (Not on a daily basis, mind you.)

[eightpondfarm]

Here is Pegasus’ list of representatives, which one should i go-to? (i’m in missouri so no one is close)
https://pegasusbutterflysaddles.com/pages/local-saddle-representatives

[Jackie_Cochran]

When I bought my Pegasus Butterfly Claudia jumping saddle there was no one near me back then, in 2016.

When I first heard about these saddles I called Ron Friedson up, I talked with him about my handicaps, about my riding history, about what riding system I ride, and what my favorite old saddle was that fit me. It was a good talk, he’s been around a while so he knew what I was saying about the Forward Seat and some of my old favorite fittings. I warned him it might be a few years before I would have the money.

A few years later I got the money, I called Ron Friedson up again, and he actually remembered talking with me! (Of course how many MS patients ride Forward Seat, I think that is rare.) We talked some more, he sent me my saddle, and then I had to work on how to ride it (I do not have good side-to-side balance.)

I tried using the 8 pocket shimmable pad that came with the saddle, but I ride older horses with dips in their backs and his pad just did not work at all for me. Then I switched to a 6 pocket shimmable pad which worked very well with the saddle, a little later I switched to riding in silicon full seat tights, and most of my problems with riding in this saddle went away.

I had gotten a treeless saddle before (EZ-Fit) and I had some of the same problems, only worse from my bad side-to-side balance. I NEED the stability of the tree.

Once I figured out how to stay relatively stable in the Pegasus Butterfly saddle (problems from my MS) I have been pretty content with it. I do not have to go through all my saddles trying to guess which one would fit better (none fit perfectly of course) when the horse I ride gets switched, I just make sure I have my shims in my grooming bag and I can “fit” the saddle to the horse.

I no longer worry about the points of a regular saddle tree limiting the movement of the horses’ shoulders, which makes it so much easier to get the horses to extend their stride. If I feel like the horse’s back is not working properly I can scoot my seat WAY forward and get my weight to where it does not bother the horse as much.

It is not a “perfect” saddle, but for my needs it has worked very well.

[Jackie_Cochran]

When trying to find a Fager bit fitter I ran into one selling Dynamic saddles (http://www.dynamicsaddles.com). These saddles look interesting for us with horses who have problems with saddle fit, but I could not find a price. I suspect they are too expensive for me especially since I already have a saddle that works for my purposes.

I have never seen one, I have never ridden in one, it just looked like these saddles MIGHT be another solution for us who have to use a saddle on many different horses.

[blob99]

@Jackie Cochran

When trying to find a Fager bit fitter I ran into one selling Dynamic saddles (http://www.dynamicsaddles.com). These saddles look interesting for us with horses who have problems with saddle fit, but I could not find a price. I suspect they are too expensive for me especially since I already have a saddle that works for my purposes.

I have never seen one, I have never ridden in one, it just looked like these saddles MIGHT be another solution for us who have to use a saddle on many different horses.

i bought a Dynamic Saddle earlier this year. It’s been great for my two–including one that is so sensitive that his previous saddle need to be adjusted in micro ways constantly. They are not cheap saddles, but they are designed to be your ‘forever’ saddle and come with a 10 year warranty. So, I was able to justify the cost and I was also able to downsize.

The tree flexes with body weight and adjusts to the horse you’re riding. In one of my horses i can feel the tree change during the first 5 minutes. In the other I don’t feel the tree flex/change. Both my horses showed a very noticeable top-line change in just 6 weeks. Prior to getting the dynamic saddle, one was in a saddle that was custom made for her and the other was in a used saddle that had been adjusted for him. Both horses had regular saddle checks/adjustments but this saddle has made a huge difference–it meets them where they are and moves with them.

[Jackie_Cochran]

Gee, another great saddle I probably will never be able to afford.

Yes, I dream of winning the lottery because right now that looks like the only way to get a truly great saddle.

That being said I am still very glad I got my Pegasus Butterfly Claudia jumping saddle!

[eightpondfarm]

Dynamic huh… they’re interesting. They seem to have fewer models from which to choose. I’ve sent them a question to help me see if they can make the type of seat i’m looking for (old-school, low pommel and low cantle. NOT a deep seat. a flat-ish seat). Haven’t heard back yet. Love the looks of their brown leather jump saddle…oh my! that’s a gorgeous thing

[blob99]

@eightpondfarm

Dynamic huh… they’re interesting. They seem to have fewer models from which to choose. I’ve sent them a question to help me see if they can make the type of seat i’m looking for (old-school, low pommel and low cantle. NOT a deep seat. a flat-ish seat). Haven’t heard back yet. Love the looks of their brown leather jump saddle…oh my! that’s a gorgeous thing

They only have one model for dressage and one model for jumping. But there are some customizations you can make within the model (at least for dressage, have no idea about their jumping saddle, which I agree is beautiful!).

The seat does not feel very deep to me, it’s certainly not as deep as the last two saddles I was in (a Frank Baines and an old Hennig from the 70s) and has a very narrow twist. I’m not sure if they can make seat adjustments, but I know they can make some changes to the thighblock. For trial, they sent me a new saddle with three options: 1. send it back; 2. keep it as is; 3. send it back and order one with specifications/customizations. I kept it as is. If you’re interested, I can send you the contact info for the rep I worked with. She’s great–very responsive, answered all my questions big and small, and was quite generous with my trial time.