Hello everyone,
I am doing some research for an article I’ll be writing on Dressage saddles.
I am looking for opinions on what you would consider the best high end and medium grade saddles and why you would choose them.
I understand there are many variables when choosing and fitting a saddle to the horse and rider but in general what do you consider as the best and medium grade saddles?
Thanks so much for your help.
The best saddle is the one that fits both you and your horse. The quality of the sales rep and customer support is important when buying a new saddle. I always buy second hand and get it fitted by an independent saddle fitter.
Passier saddles work well for me and the horses I ride and are excellent quality and workmanship.
But I think if you can get the right fit for rider and horse, you will not go wrong with any of the top brands. Off the top of my head, County, Stubben, Schleese, Black Country, Custom. I’m sure there are more. Typically dressage saddles are still wool.flocked, and mostly come from the British or German companies. The French foam saddles are more a trend in jumping.
As for medium priced saddles I have no idea. I buy top brands second hand. I don’t see much point in buying a second or third tier saddle new.
Others may have ideas about cheaper saddles that worked well for them.
My favorite saddle of all time is my Collegiate Convertible Diploma (jump saddle). I believe Collegiate are considered mid-range. However, I like it a billion times more than any Devoucoux, Antares, or Butet I’ve sat in. I did like the Black Country a friend had, but still like my Collegiate more.
I hate Pessoas.
Dressage saddles I haven’t tried many brands. My Bates was decent but it was their lowest end and the leather was slippery. I now have a Zaldi that I really really like.
There are TONS of brands and brands each have higher-end and lower-end models often times. Different brands and shapes fit each horse and rider differently, so it’s about impossible to say there are “best” brands. You might get more responses if you provide more detail on the focus of your article, as just saying it’s about dressage saddles is really, really broad.
I don’t know how much you’re getting paid or how much actual research you can afford to do. But I have always wanted to read an article that says definitively what kind of horse and rider each brand/ model best suits.
I know that my big Paint just won’t fit in any of the French foam jump saddles but does well in Passier and County. I know I like an open seat and smaller knee rolls in a dressage saddle. I know some brands have cob and pony trees. I also know that no single brand can be made to fit every horse, and also that riders tend to prefer either a wide or narrow twist.
It would be fantastic to know that “Brand x is really good for the Thoroughbred type back and can accomodate a longer femur in the rider” or "Brand Y is great for stock type horses, " etc. Fitting is so important. More important than brand. Possibly more important than actual quality too.
Thank you.
Thank you. Yes, there are many brands and I am trying to figure out the best way to approach the article.
Thanks, that’s very helpful information. It’s important to know what a reader want to know. I am not sure if it will fit into the parameters of this specific article but would certainly work well for follow-ups to narrow down that type of information. I have read many other articles and honestly have not found much in the way of depth.
I agree it is way too big of a topic. You ask 10 people and you are going to get 10 opions. Also what constitutes a mid price brand? Some people think 1500 is mid price for a saddle and others think 4k is mid price.
As far as what fits what, that is also really hard because even saddle fitters can not agree among themselves. You can’t even say xyz saddle fits Tbs anymore because they are now all different. I have seen Tbs that need a narrow to one that was xxw. Flat, curvy, angular, wide spinal processes ect.
If you need someone to ask questions to about the topic, feel free to pm.
Thank you Shelton, I will keep your generous offer in mind and may be calling upon you for this or future articles. I appreciate your input.
One bit of info for your article; price does not equal quality.
I’d also say that because rider and horse fit are so important in dressage, and no saddle fits everyone, you are less likely to see one or two brands dominate the market as in jumping.
When I returned to riding almost 15 years ago, County (British wool) was the preferred jump saddle. Now everyone seems to either want or aspire to a CWD or Voltaire (French foam) for jumping.
No single dressage brand has captured the market in this way. Also it’s a smaller market overall.
Each brand has many models… so not sure a simple guide is possible! As for me, over the last 7 or 8 years, I have moved from a Lemke to a Schleese Obrigado, to a Custom Wolfgang, and now back to a Schleese but now the Pro model.
To the OP: I was very impressed by the methodology of the Schleese saddle fitters - their method is partially documented in videos on their website. They asked what I struggled with as a rider. THey measured me (various measurements), they took multiple measurements of my horse, including weight bearing area, shoulder development, shape of back and barrel… then recommended knee roll, panel length, etc. So far so good.
That all said, when I got my Wolfgang, the agent/fitter watched me ride, looked at the horse,a nd put exactly the right saddle on his back… I knew it was the right one within 30 seconds.
WHy do I have a different saddle now? My horse has developed. I have changed as a rider. And I needed a saddle with the stirrup bars farther back.
SO the sort answer is - the best saddle is the one that fits your horse and you, where you are in you riding and where your horse is in his training, today.
Not in every circumstance for sure
I’m laughing at the last line in your reply. I was planning on using that same sentence. “the sort answer is - the best saddle is the one that fits your horse and you” Thanks for the reply
Thank you to everyone who participated in this thread. I am close to being done with the article. I appreciate you all.
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