I dunno man. I maintain that this sport is difficult enough already; we don’t need to introduce purity tests like “sufficiently flat saddle” or “reins of silk” to qualify horse/rider pairs.
As an aside, I see as a rule more amateurs erring on the side of reins-too-long/inconsistent-or-no-contact than on reins-too-short or waterskiing-on-the-bit. I also think the water-skiers would likely still be waterskiing in flat saddles, too, but potentially with less ear/hip/heel alignment.
I was thinking of the super bubbly horse shampoo!
Me too. An unskilled rider is just an unskilled rider, no matter the saddle.
Seat depth is so personal. I like one depth be it a jump saddle or dressage saddle. People think my jump saddle is deep. It is compared to other models. I’m constantly asked if the cantle hits my bum. It does not. If the horse I’m riding cracks their back enough for that chances are I am a bit higher in my irons. Right or wrong it works for me.
On the flip side, my dressage saddle is considered a more open seat. Again I get questions about it and how it might make it harder for me.
I like the seat that I like. The seat isn’t what makes the saddle work as a jump saddle or dressage saddle for me.
So my advice OP is ride in a saddle that is comfortable to you. That could be a more open seat or a deeper seat. Just like horses, our conformation is different as well.
The only sure thing is the deeper seat can make the available seat area smaller. If you can size up to a seat that fits you, that problem is solved
Oh Lord, do I remember bleeding from poorly fitted Stubbens and Passiers in the '80s. Flat, yes, but also, ow ow ow. Get whatever style you want but make sure it fits!
There is no way that saddle would ever fit any of my horses. There are plenty of options for more open saddles that actually have panels that would fit real horses.
Worth repeating!
Judged? so, are you speaking of the guy who wrote the piece or OP? Cause if OP, well Heaven forbid anything on this BB be judgey!
but all snide-aside, i actually do feel that i probably ride much differently than most of you guys. I will never be as quiet as a mannequin up there. For sure for me, the ability to move a little or a lot when training works for me. I’m just familiar with full body access…and close contact (literally). Subtly of cues, that refinement so necessary for the sport of dressage, well, that just isn’t where i’m at with any of my horses. May never be actually. I do want them to move toward an ideal movement, of course, not saying i don’t want that. But i’ll never be anything resembling a top-quality dressage rider who appears to be giving guidance through mindmeld alone. If i want to torque my body to the inside and move a horse with my legs split (outside leg at shoulder, inside leg at back of belly) i can do that more readily on a flat saddle. All of my horses are greenies, and i ride them pretty loudly. (incl lots of verbal and pets, scratches, treats etc)
And balance has not been an issue for me yet.
Yes. And in addition, the article refers specifically to the effects of vibration when sitting upright. If you have ever been in the cab of a semi truck going down the road, you know what they are referring to. Those things vibrate a LOT! Not so, horses. Yes, horses move, yes we have to move with them or bounce trying. But there is no vibration when riding a horse. Also, who is in the saddle for hours and hours at a time? Nobody (well, maybe endurance riders, but they aren’t in a deep seat dressage saddle). Jean Luc is a clown. This study is in no way analagous to riding a horse. 
Then why are you posting on a dressage forum? If you ride so differently that you disagree with all of the advice here then why not post somewhere else? I don’t even understand how you are describing your riding style.
If you like the person selling the saddle and the saddle, then buy the saddle. I commented that based on how flat the panels are it won’t fit a single horse I’ve ever owned. Maybe your horse is different.
Nobody cares how deep or shallow your saddle is.
My answer: Because i am training dressage, saw the article, enjoyed reading it and thought maybe other folks here might find it interesting too.
lol. and i don’t care that they don’t care.
There probably is some low-frequency vibration when riding a horse, but nothing like the vibrations in a truck at highway speeds, whose wheels are turning at about 1000rpm over imperfectly flat surfaces, many of whom have developed secondary harmonics. Also there’s the suspension of the vehicle and of the seat at play, too, neither of which are likely to be synced to minimize wear on the driver.
Your horse’s footfalls, at about 90-160 bpm depending on the gait, clock in at about 10% the speed of the vibrations hitting a trucker’s spine.
Anyway, all that is to say, pseudoscientific fooferal is my least favorite variety of guff.
I still wonder why you need to move so much? In the video I posted Jeremy is riding a four year old. I double he would be moving around any more if he were in a more minimal saddle. Watch Ingrid Klimke ride young horses - she uses a more minimal dressage saddle (and of course jumping saddles), and she is not doing anything that would be restricted by a deeper saddle.
With that said, you might look at the old Lauriche saddles, maybe a dressage type endurance saddle. The old Wintec Pro is pretty flat and there is a leather Bates version too.
Take a look at a Tad Coffin dressage saddle. I don’t think anything else is as open and flat as those.
When on earth would you need to contort your body in such a manner? There is no style of riding where that is normal.
It’s just my way.
i actually do ride and train in flat dressage saddles. (they’re synthetic)
Anyway, i saw this article. I really thought other people might be interested so…there it is.
When it comes to saddles, one size does not fit all. So it’s a good thing there are so many makes and models from which to choose.
Finding the right saddle is like finding the right mattress…everyone is different regarding what is comfortable for them.
I can’t do memory foam at all but my best friend loves it so I gave her our Temperpedic and we bought an Intellibed (hyper elastic polymer grid similar to Purple)
Now I’m curious. Who makes a flat synthetic dressage saddle?
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