Saddle for someone playing around in dressage

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Keep in mind that any English saddle is acceptable at shows until FEI levels, where a Dressage saddle is required. So if her Antares is not specifically impeding her right now, she doesn’t necessarily need to rush out and buy a Dressage saddle to ride/learn Dressage. I’ve actually gotten better rider scores (admittedly at schooling shows) in my H/J saddle than I have in a previous Dressage saddle, so it’s just something to think about.

But if it is impeding her, I’d really make sure that you have the ability to try the saddles out under your trainer’s eye before committing to buy one. With neither you nor your daughter knowing much about Dressage, it would be really easy for you to think that because the saddle feels different to her it must be right, when it might be just as wrong a balance point as the Antares is.

FWIW, as a H/J rider who switched to Dressage for a while before starting to drift away again, I really like Passiers. The GG is good, but if that tips her forward, see if you can find a used Optimum II to try. I’m also a fan of Wintecs, although as others have noted, some horses hate the CAIR panels. My trainer jumps my guy in an Antares and he did well with the Passiers, so it might be worth starting there.

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Wow! Great advice you guys! I really appreciate it.

[Scribbler]

I have a Passier Optimum with from 2000, bought as new shop worn for a good price 5 years ago, and I love it. Passier calls it a flat seat, and the knee rolls are small by today’s standards (much smaller than a current Optimum), but not pancake flat like a Passier GG saddle from 1975 :). Passier saddles have serial numbers stamped on the inner flaps, and if they aren’t totally worn off (as they can be with saddles from 1975), you can email the number to Passier and they will tell you all the details on the saddle, like date, gullet width, options, etc., as it was manufactured. Very useful.

I have been alternating between the Passier and an older County Profit jump saddle, also low profile. My horse has comfortable gaits and we are schooling bits and pieces of the lower levels. I have to say, I don’t find a real difference in the balance point between the two saddles, and I expect that left to my own devices, my stirrup length is not that different between the two of them for flatwork. It’s easier to two-point in the jump saddle, and I wouldn’t try to jump seriously in the dressage saddle.

But I haven’t found this jump saddle to get in the way of any lower dressage work. In my jump saddle I can sit up, sit deep, and drop my stirrups even if I need to have clearer leg for a lateral movement.

On the other hand it is a very minimalist jump saddle, and some of the more modern engineered jump saddles might put the rider permanently in a more forward seat. I haven’t ever ridden in a new state of the art jump saddle like an Antares, CWD, Voltaire, etc. so I can’t say for sure.

[CatPS]

Keep in mind that dressage saddles are often much harder to fit to both horse and rider than most jump saddles. Finding a shape that works for both your daughter and her pony is VERY important! I agree with all the other posters who have encouraged you to look for a high quality used saddle. If you can, try to work with an independent saddle fitter. Even if you’re only spending $800-1000 on a saddle and a fitter costs $100-200, it is SO worth it to find something that is right.

As far as brands to look at, it’s going to depend entirely on your daughter’s and her pony’s needs. Most brands do certain things well and others not so well, and tend to have their own little quirks in tree shape. Don’t get caught up in cosmetics: one of the best saddles I ever had was a used Prestige that had a lot of years on it and was faded on the cantle from the sun, but I got it for $800, it fit like a dream, I showed in it, and sold it a couple of years later for the same price I paid.