This message is from: [EMAIL PROTECTED] As a rider who's focus is on dressage, I hope I can give you a few tips on saddles. For years I competed warmbloods until recently where I have been competing on a Fjord.
Both types of horses needed the proper fit and width to make them comfortable and allow free shoulder movement. However, sometimes fitting your horse with the correct width can present problems for the rider as the tree can become so wide, or the so called "twist" of the saddle that it becomes uncomfortable for the rider. Most good dressage saddles put you in position similar to you standing on the floor, they don't lean you forward nor put you in a chair position. Good saddles are going to cost from $1,200-up unless you can find a used one, but they don't depreciate in value much. There are many popular brands like Passier, Nedersuiess(sp?), County, etc., and it becomes a matter of personal choice. I heard Wintec makes a good synthetic dressage saddle. Some of these saddles put your legs in slightly different positions. But your own body conformation, the length of your leg, the size of your hips, your upper body. etc. all are factors when picking a saddle. The only way to know is to try several different ones for a test ride. Many tack stores will let you try out the saddle for a week. Dressage Extensions store where you can order saddles from a catalog has the same policy. Riding in the saddle is the ONLY way to see if it will work. I tried out 4 different ones before I ended up with a custom made Passier that fits both my very wide horse and me. If you have difficulty finding a tack store that does this, you could contact me and I can give you the name of one that ships anywhere and allows a 30 day try out.
