I tried the two from Middleburg Tack and liked them both which makes me feel like going for it and just getting a new one that I know fits me and my horse. Not the response I was expecting to have!
Laurierace, I’m very much in the same boat. I hope you don’t mind the tangent, and I’m not trying to hijack your thread, but if anyone would like to PM recommendations for independent saddle fitters around Chicago, it would be greatly appreciated 
I am even more confused than ever. The more that I look at saddles, the less sense it makes. I am not even going to look anymore until the saddle fitter comes out and does a tracing. I found a couple of Voltaires that might fit the bill.
You have a saddle you like that fits your horse and you. It works for SC and SJ, so use it for dressage too. You’re not doing Rolex or Badminton!
You’re more comfortable, and confident, in a saddle that you know fits you both, and that makes you a more effective rider. You don’t need a saddle that holds you in place over XC fences, so you sure don’t need one that holds you in place while you WTC on the flat in the dressage arena.
I have never known any horse people who obsess over saddle fitting the way dressage people do. Don’t lose your head over it. Ride the saddle you have, and enjoy!
You’re not a dummy. (Unless you let OCDressage people rob you of your joy.)
I wouldn’t worry at all to get a dressage saddle… I ride in the jumping saddle of my husband, I just ride with longer stirrups. For me it doesn’t make any difference…
If you and your horse have a saddle you both like, use that one…
[QUOTE=Manni01;8963515]
I wouldn’t worry at all to get a dressage saddle… I ride in the jumping saddle of my husband, I just ride with longer stirrups. For me it doesn’t make any difference…
If you and your horse have a saddle you both like, use that one…[/QUOTE]
I have been doing that for over a decade, I would like to refine my dressage skills with a dressage saddle when I can find something suitable for both of us. I have a fitter coming on the 16th that will hopefully help me figure it out.
[QUOTE=Manni01;8963515]
I wouldn’t worry at all to get a dressage saddle… I ride in the jumping saddle of my husband, I just ride with longer stirrups. For me it doesn’t make any difference…
If you and your horse have a saddle you both like, use that one…[/QUOTE]
It might work in the short run but overtime, the right saddle for the right job will be better.
Jumping saddles and dressage saddles usually don’t have the same balance point and the flaps aren’t positioned the same for both discipline.
I do ride dressage in my jumping saddle with longer stirrups but nothing beats the feeling of riding in my dressage saddle. Likewise, I could jump in my dressage saddle but… it’s far from ideal!
Problem may be solved! I found a used Voltaire online that appears to be very similar to my trainer’s that I covet. Working on getting it shipped here in time for the saddle fitter to take a look at it.
The Voltaire came today so I went and tried it. Nobody was around so I couldn’t ask how it looked. It seemed level front to back with no bridging so I got on. At the walk it was amazing, same at the canter. At the rising trot I felt my pelvic bone brushing the pommel. That got a little better when I put my stirrups up a hole but not 100%. I assume that means it is too small for me but am hopeful it wasn’t as level as I thought and maybe the fitter can remedy that. My trainer’s Voltaire rep has one for me to try if this one doesn’t work but it is 1k more so I hope I don’t have to go that route.
Voltaire is going back (sob!) It was a great saddle at a great price but it just didn’t fit me right.
I bought a saddle today. Thank goodness that is over!
So what did you get?
I got a different Voltaire. The rep measured my horse and I and this one matched what he would make if I ordered a custom so I got lucky there. Essentially a custom for the price of a used saddle. It just came back from being reconditioned so has new billets and the like. Full Buffalo too which I didn’t really want but mainly because I didn’t want to pay the extra money.
Congrats!
I am super sick with a sinus infection and bronchitis but it was now or never so I sucked it up and went to the barn to meet the rep and do the fitting. Even feeling like death I sat the trot like I never even dreamed possible and my mare loved it. I am excited to see how it feels when I am back in the land of the living!
Wootwoot! Congrats 
It’s awesome when it all works out like that!
Just a plug for Voltaire, I was still sick so didn’t even look at the saddle let alone ride in it yet. My daughter came home from college so I took the cover off and looked at it and found a couple of things that concerned me. I emailed a pic to Voltaire and they sent me a shipping label and will be making the repairs for me right away. I was very happy to hear they were willing to make it perfect for me rather than saying buyer beware or the like. So my used saddle will soon truly be better than new as it will be broken in yet in perfect condition.
[QUOTE=no.stirrups;8950117]
Likely the County was not sitting level on the horse to have put you in a chair seat, so do make sure you have them sitting straight to give a fair trial.[/QUOTE]
After being a “Trainer” with County and having all of my students in them, level is not the problem. That’s the first go-to with their fitters. All of my students were fighting the blocks, I was fighting the blocks, and more than half of them were losing their stirrups as a result. The chair seat does not go away with raising or lowering the front or back. The stirrup bars are simply too far forward, so much so that if you let the stirrup leather hang, it has to be pulled back a bit to be behind the block. They are too close together. But, when I mentioned that to the fitter, she claimed I’m the first and only person to point it out and complain about it. Not so.
Just sent an email to see how my saddle repairs were going and they said they sent it to France to have completely new flaps put on because they couldn’t fix them. It really will be good as new when I finally get it back!
I hope your saddle comes back soon, and you both love it!
I couple weeks ago I finally figured out my saddle was not fitting my mare… The signs were there for months, but I wasn’t tuned in enough to realize it. I feel like such an idiot! Saddle shopping sucks even though I am super fortunate several friends let me try their saddles to see what might work. Really nice Stubben? Fit her just fine but put me in a chair seat… Collegiate? Nope, weird rub mark on her… Wintec Isabell? OMG! I thought her usual flat canter was a training problem… Nope! My saddle was bothering her back!!! 
It is not the most comfortable saddle I have ever sat in, but it puts me in the correct position.
I ended up going with a demo saddle Wintec Isabell… I hope it shows up soon and fits! I really don’t want to have to keep looking, and my pony has definitely told me she is sick of everyone looking at assorted saddles on her bare back. She is so opinionated. :lol: I miss my Neidersuss… That is the most comfortable saddle I have ever sat in!
