Yes me again, still saddle hunting. I have been looking at the “new” style dressage saddles, really deep seat,high cantles, narrow twist and thigh blocks.
does anyone ride trail or competitive trail in a dressage saddle. There is a hot thread on the dressage forum someone posted about these saddles being for people who couldn’t ride well(me). Ouch you can imagine the replies.
These new saddles (photos) look pretty secure and I do ride gaited hence straight leg. I can’t find a english billet NT trail saddle thats not just a regular english saddle. Do not want treeless.
Just wondered if dressage saddle be comfortable for long rides or hold up well.I have weak legs so need to feel secure , my horse is very well trained but you never know…
Anyone use one?
I have a wintec (isabell) with the cair panels. It is synthetic. While I normally ride dressage in it, I have found it comfortable on long trail rides as well.
The only problem with trail riding in a dressage saddle is it’s hard to get off your horse’s back. As a foxhunter, I can tell you we have a few people who ride in dressage saddles but not many people find them comfortable enough to hunt in.
So much of saddle fit is personal preference. I can’t think of anything worse than riding over varied terrain and up and down hills in a deep seated dressage saddle, but it depends on what’s comfortable for you and your horse.
For me, a secure saddle is a balanced saddle – one where the saddle naturally puts my leg in the right place. Because I’m tall, I look for saddles where the stirrup bars are set far enough back. I also prefer a flatter seat so I can move in the saddle.
Have you looked at all purpose saddles?
You get comfortable with whatever. I used to be a trail ride guide and take out the 5 hour fast trail ride in a dressage saddle.
The A/P suggestion is a good one. IME, if you’re already a dressage rider and are comfortable in the position, you’re probably going to be happy with trail riding in your saddle, too. But in general, I think more people are comfortable in an A/P, where your hip is not so open.
I foxhunt with a farmers pack. We don’t jump much but are frequently out for a few hours. One of the members rides in a dressage saddle and is pretty secure in it.
I personally prefer more of a jump saddle.
a boarder at the barn jusr bought a new endurance style saddle but it is more a modified western. She also likes a really deep seat. She is happy with her saddle so far. Hers is by Specialized Saddles. I think it is a Trail Lite. She got it without the horn. http://specializedsaddles.com/trail-light/
[QUOTE=walkers;8089243]
I can’t find a english billet NT trail saddle thats not just a regular english saddle. Do not want treeless./QUOTE]
OK my mind is blanking on what “NT” means but if you want a saddle with English rigging that is “not just a regular English saddle,” you might want to look at the Tucker Equitation Endurance. It’s designed for trail and is kind of a hybrid between a Western tree and English rigging; no horn but the typical higher endurance pommel and cantle. Look on tuckersaddles.com I prefer the Equitation Endurance Classic over the Equitation Endurance Gen II.
I’ve been riding in them for more than 12 years now and really like them. Very comfortable and mine have held up well over regular trail riding, competitive trail and LD endurance; I’ve had 2 for two different horses (past and present) but each has been my “only” saddle for a period of years.
If you’re at all interested you should try to find a Tucker dealer you can get to so you can sit in them and try other Tucker models, like the Plantation.
WHOOPS, important: I wanted to check the Tucker website just to be sure I was sending you to the right place and it turns out they’re updating it and having some problem getting all their products on. I’m told it should be fully operational by Wednesday.
I’ve been trail riding in an older County Competitor for a couple of years now, and love it. My former instructor also trail rides in hers.
I do modest rides in my Niedersuss but as others have mentioned it’s hard to get out of it/up off his back in scrambly country- so I interfere more than I’d like. Also, the more trappy (big thigh blocks. high cantle.deep seat) the more likely you’ll get stiff and crampy- b/c you can’t wiggle enough.
I love love love my dressage saddle but for long rides? I want my western with a nearly hard seat and plenty of room.
Wow thanks for all the responses.
I ride a short backed but big striding gaited horse and ride with a long stirrup . since I have very weak legs I need a more secure seat than the AP saddles. I was concerned about getting locked into one position in a dressage saddle but the new deep seats looked interesting., you are correct thats a bad idea for a long ride.
NT is shorthand for narrow twist.
I was feeling pretty secure on my new horse till Sunday when some deer jumped up right under us. The horse did a mild spook which threw me back against the high cantle , i was very glad for that high cantle. Unfortunately this saddle bridges on him, just a little narrow.I tried to get new one made but they coldn’t come up with a tree that fit him.
Western fenders kills my knees/hips.
nothing as comfy as a english rigged saddle. I know theres lot of folks making “new” saddles but none near me and can’t imagine ordering a saddle I haven’t seen .
we have an Eli Miller Old Timer that is very secure for trail riding, but with free swinging leathers that won’t hurt your knees.
I think you might like the Tucker River Plantation, too.
I frequently ride in my Thorowgood T6 Dressage. I’ve had several other dressage saddles, some didn’t fit my horse, some didn’t fit me, many were out of my price range to even try. The Wintec Isabel was one that didn’t fit my TWH because of the point billets, and it felt like too much of a trap to me with the super deep seat and knee blocks. The Wintec 500 for my horse good, but there wasn’t enough security for me if Mr Silly was to spook. I am now recovering from Chemo and have permanent vertigo due to nerve damage in my ear, so I am weak & unbalanced! I found the TG T6 to be the perfect fit for me and my horse: secure & balanced, plus it has no care needed since it is synthetic.
I do still love my AMT endurance saddle and use it for longer rides when I need pommel and cantle bags. But for shorter trail rides and all my schooling, I use the Thorowgood.
Good morning
I ride in a dressage saddle all the time. I am always doing some type of flatwork when riding out, circles, leg yield, serpentines etc so it is good for that. Mine is a Bates Isabell and it has held up well. I also carry a dressage whip and I just tuck it under the gullet area when not needed or if I am in woods. I get out of saddle for uphill or taking small logs, this is easy to do, you don’t need a jumping or CC saddle to take small logs. Honestly I would not ride in anything else as I am used to this saddle and the position it puts me in. And, the deeper seat does give more security. I have a leather “bucking strap” on mine in case of emergency. It may look funny to someone else to have the bucking strap attached but I don’t care how it looks. Go for it! You have to do what works for you without regard for anyone else’s opinion.
Before I switched to western I trail rode in a dressage saddle. I ride in some very rugged country with big hills and always felt secure in the dressage saddle.
Security in the saddle comes from the rider’s seat, not the saddle shape or type. If the rider has a good seat then they can be secure bareback emulating the Man From Snowy River.
That said, most of us don’t have that secure a seat. Most of us require some security from the saddle we use. Just how much is necessary will vary from person to person.
“Dressage” saddles, like most types, vary widely from maker to maker. Even within a maker’s line there can be differences. A Stubben Tristan, an older Dressage saddle type, is does not have all that much support and permits lots of rider movement. In contrast a Stubben Maestro puts the rider in one position and permits almost no movement. Both are “Dressage” saddles. Go figure! 
A saddle is a tool, like a ball peen hammer. If you need to pound out a dent you can do a good job with a ball peen hammer. If you need to pound in a nail it will do. If you need to pull a nail you have a problem. If you need to tighten a screw you have an even bigger problem. So pick the tool you need to do the job you have to do and pick the saddle you need to do the job you have to do.
Simple, yes?!?!?!?!
G.
I used to ride in a Tucker trail saddle but it does not let you sit in a secure seat. I now ride in a Wintec Isabell dressage saddle with the CAIR system and feel much more balanced.
oh, the awful saddle hunt, I’m sorry! I always thought I wanted an endurance style saddle. I had an independent saddle fitter come out, we tried probably 25 saddles that day. When she suggested a dressage model, I thought she was crazy. Until I realized how secure I felt. It wasn’t the style of saddle, it was that one saddle fit me and the horse so well.
I sill do most of my riding in that saddle, an Arabian Saddle Company Solstice. Dressage leg, not as deep seat as some. But we go over hill and dale in that, I do some endurance, go horse camping, up steep switchbacks, across creeks, love it. A sheepskin seat saver made it even more secure, but I didn’t like the feel.
Wish you had a saddle fitter like that near you! Until then, I think a dressage saddle is great, you just have to find the type to fit you and your horse, and there are so many varieties. Good luck!
The shape of the saddle certainly does assist or hinder the rider in keeping a secure seat, especially if you have a medical condition that affects your strength or balance. In a perfect world……
Please don’t judge or be condescending to people with disabilities who are making the most of a bad situation to pursue their dreams.
[QUOTE=PNW AMTS Dealer;8092995]
The shape of the saddle certainly does assist or hinder the rider in keeping a secure seat, especially if you have a medical condition that affects your strength or balance. In a perfect world……
Please don’t judge or be condescending to people with disabilities who are making the most of a bad situation to pursue their dreams.[/QUOTE]
where on earth are you seeing condescension? everyone’s being quite helpful 
I had a loaner Wintec Isabel that I hated- the blocks were a hindrance. Yet many love them- what suits you depends on …you.
[QUOTE=PeanutButterPony;8093055]
where on earth are you seeing condescension? everyone’s being quite helpful
.[/QUOTE]
Don’t take it personal, and yes this has been a good/helpful thread. There is just one who has a history of being a Know it All @ss, gladly he ended his post well.
