I’m doing a webisode on favorite dressage saddles. Please tell me what is your favorite dressage saddle and why!
Thanks for the feedback!
Angelea Kelly Walkup
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1st place- Lemke Buffalo Delux, 2nd place Isabelle, 3rd place Arthur Kottas- KL Select
AnD to give myself credibility I have ridden in Schleeses, Most Albion models, JRDs, Prestige, Hennigs, Stubbens, Keiffers, Courbettes, Passiers, Countys, Lasers, Lauriche, Schumacher… all I can think of right now…
Thanks Magik. Sounds like you’ve tried them all! Wow!
Tried at least a dozen…Stubben, Passier, Ridgemount, Amerigo, and Schleese.
Different models and styles in all. New and used.
Kept coming back to the Schleese JES Elite.
Pony loves it as much as I do.
I’ve had a Schleese, Sommer Savoy, Stubben, and Passier and none of them have ever compared to my Karl Niedersuss Symphonie - I love it!
I’ve had different trainers over the years who usually have their preference and I’m usually game to try them - but I always go back to my tried and true KN!
I like saddles with a moderate knee roll, but nothing to lock one is (ie- Prestige 2000d)
I like the Albions, Schleese JES and for starting a young horse where there is a more forward seat and lots and lots of posting… a Keiffer When or something of the like.
Albion Platinum and Trilogy Amadeo.
I’ve had a Albion Style, a Custom Advantage (the fully custom option), a Prestige 2000D, another 2000D, and a County WB for various horses (not necessarily in that order)… I’ve sat in others, including a Bates Isabell (?), Prestige Optimax, some other County, and others not memorable enough to remember!
But my most recent saddle is the nicest thing I have ever sat in, gives my big moving horse lots of shoulder room, sits exactly on the back where it is supposed to and never moves, and not only fits me great, but has a customizable thigh block under the flap so I can change it at my whim. And it’s made of the most yummy Italian leather EVAH…
Then new Prestige Academy. Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner…!
The Schleese JES Elite is my all time favorite saddle. The County Perfection would be my next choice.
County Connection. Fits me, fits my horse, and so comfortable to sit in.
relatively unknown still in the US. But i love my WOW, have had it about 4yrs now. Would be keeping it if it werent so expensive to get new panels put on it for my wide backed horse. I’ve never sat in anything like it, its given me years of the most comfortable rides ever with the most “feel” a treed saddle could possibly give. I’ve learned much in that saddle. I wish there were more in the US, they are next to impossible to find used… 
I love, love, love my Schleese CHB Supreme 
The Wolfgang Solo and Custom Advantage, both from Custom Saddlery, are my absolute favorites.
My hands-down, all-time FAVE dressage saddle is the Karl Niedersuss Symphony. I have tried Passier and Stubben: HATE the position they force you into! I cannot STAND Wintec, though I must say the Isabell is pretty nice. (To sit in; never rode in one) Albion seem like comfy saddles, and I’ve been thinking of trying an Anky Remy-Carriet (yeah, when I actually have a spare $2,500 just lying around =)
Your Favorite Dressage Saddle
I had a Lauriche Dressage made for one of my horses about 10 yrs. ago, and then had it adjusted and altered for 5 other horses until my new guy. I love this saddle, it’s comfy, allows me to feel the back and sit correctly and is a joy to ride in.
Sadly, while my Lauriche is all right on my Harry horse, it’s just not the right fit for him, and tends to restrict his shoulders. He’s perfectly happy to wear it but as he developed and improved he was less than thrilled about it for anything other than a happy ride around.
I’ve always wanted a saddle that would ‘grow’ with my horse, be adjustable in all ways, have the seat I want and help me with my asymmetry, as well as his, and after trying the demos and saving for what seemed like forever, was able to order a new saddle in July. It’s going to be here within a few weeks, and we are both thrilled.
The demo saddle was set up perfectly for the two of us, and he was such a different horse, free, through the back, having fun, and I was able to sit in a saddle that allowed me freedom and comfort.
WOW!! :D:D That’s the saddle - from First Thought Equine in the UK. Photos when it gets here-promise.
Well that is tough because different saddles fit short/tall folks…
For me personally as a tall person with a long leg…County Connection and Passier GT (older Passier) and Passier GG (newer Passier). On the whole I much prefer older saddles to newer ones as I like a more open seat and the new ones as a trend are deeper seats with more pads and blocks.
Hulsebos! They seem to sit well on all the horses even if it isn’t the perfect fit for them and they are so comfy for the rider.
I think a lot depends on how it fits the horse and rider as well. For instance my coach had a Passier Optimum for her horse and I absolutely hated it but when a different horse came into the barn with one I actually found it quite comfortable.
I had a Regal that was a different feel but very comfortable when I got used to it (super high in the front, one of the ladies in the barn calls then Un P_ _ _ y friendly)
However I haven’t had good luck fitting them to a horse.
I rode in a Bates Isabell for years and found it really hard on the back.
My Prestige 2000 D puts me in a good position and the blocks are really soft but the seat is hard as a rock but I don’t care because it fit my exceptionally hard to fit horse.
I’m long legged and from the i’ll take the long hard road because it has better results club. and my #1 saddle is a Passier Antares. I prefer minimal blockage and a shallower seat because I want to ride the horse, and not be locked into how the saddle thinks i should ride. I’m probably the exception to the group; i’ve only met a handful of others that prefer my style of saddle.
Prestige Optimax! It’s made for the high withered TB type horse, is somewhat adjustable (up/down 2cm from its original size), and is very comfortable- and I’m picky with that as most saddles hurt my seat bones. I have one and I might get another as new styles are coming out and I don’t know how long it will be around! 
Favorite would have to be the Stubben Excalibur. Monoflap, very little extra padding and blocks. The saddle really makes you ride correctly instead of holding you in place. I regularly get 9’s for position and sweep the dressage equitation classes; I think having to ride with a solid seat has some factor there…
And the darned thing wears like iron! Excellent leather and craftsmanship.
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