Hello All: I am the 66 year old moving from a classical dressage background of the past 55 years to western. My intention with my new little horse is to ride western dressage, ranch versatility and trail riding. He is not AQHA so I will be competing open. I am looking, after suggestions here from a member, at TW saddles. My question for now is this: If I get a western dressage saddle with English rigging, is that legal in ranch versatility classes? would a western dressage saddle work for ranch versatility? Or is it better to get the ranch saddle and make it work for western dressage. I am a better dressage rider than straight up western rider. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
The TW western dressage does not have english rigging, and would be legal for ranch/ranch versatility.
Ranch classes can be run under the rules of several different associations, but I haven’t seen any that had any real specific requirements for saddles just that they should be western, with a horn, and minimal silver preferred. Especially if you are just looking to have fun and compete locally you really don’t need to over think tack or attire (just make sure your bit and reins are legal!)
Open classes means any rider of any ability, age or profession can compete. You can compete in open classes but that is where you’ll find the pros riding. You can also ride in Amateur where only ammies ride.
Quarter Horses are just a fraction of the breeds who do WD. There are horses of all types from Haflibgers to TBs to dradts/draft Xs, to Arabs to Gaited horses.
Come to the WDAA website where you can learn more. https://www.westerndressageassociation.org/member-landing-page
As for saddles find a western saddle that fits you and your horse perfectly, and aligns you similar to a dressage saddle.
Because I’m not small and my horse is a 1600 lb Draft X I had to go custom. I went with Mike Corcoran Western saddles. Wait time is almost a year though.
Some opt for a DP saddles. Others use what they have in the tack room. I might consider a barrel saddle IF it aligned you right, meaning legs under you, not forward the way a roping saddle might be.
FB has several WD pages. There are tons of resources there. There are few resources here. I don’t know about ranch riding. My friend does it in her WD gear.
If you have any other questions, just ask.
Enjoy your journey!
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Double check the rules of the association you plan to show in, but I have not seen any rules regarding the RIGGING on a saddle. Basically, they just want the saddle to be plain with little to no silver.
I wasn’t familiar with the TW western dressage saddles but I googled them quickly and I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t use that for ranch horse.
Heck, I show ranch horse in my barrel racing saddles …
