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peg
Silver Member
United Kingdom
349 Posts |
 Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 3:05:17 PM
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Following on from a thread about wow saddles in the show section I would like to be able to continue that discussion here if that's ok . The lady who started that thread queried whether it would be acceptable to show her horse in a non-conventional saddle (which fitted her horse - hurrah!!) rather than going for a traditional showing saddle. She had many mixed replies and I will post mine below to start it off - I really would value people's opinions as it has been MONUMENTALLY frutrating getting my mare fitted with something suitable...
Great topic. I have spent the last three years now trying to get a suitable saddle for Kid. Now FINALLY after having had four saddlers unsuccesfully supply me with 4 different saddles (two of which I sadly still own) I have finally (2 weeks ago - hurrah!!!!!!!!!) found one that fits her and STAYS IN PLACE, i.e. does not climb up the neck. It also happens to be a dressage cut and is the most comfortable saddle I have ever had the pleasure of sitting in. As a result I am able to ride her much more positively, my position has already improved and I am able to sit stiller and the mare is going like a dream. The saddle is not significantly bigger than your average show saddle either in my opinion and shows off her shoulder beautifully - especially since it doesn't creep up her neck like show saddles did. I have lessons with an ex-arabian judge who is advising me to show her in this saddle. Her experience was that many horses in the ring would be 'correctly' turned out with show saddles that more often than not ended up creeping up their withers, and so her ride on them was compromised. In her opinion she would rather ride a horse in an unconventional (read - not showing) saddle and get a fabulous ride than feel the saddle was moving etc.
Would be fantastic to get some judge comments on this.........
P
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Edited by - peg on 24 Nov 2008 5:10:02 PM
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 3:17:46 PM
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| It might help if you sau what saddle it is? |
    
Hampshire |
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NatH
Platinum Member
England
2695 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 3:19:31 PM
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I am not a Judge but would still like to post .... hope that's OK
I am quite a traditionalist and like conventional saddles ALWAYS.
BUT my understanding is that you can ride in non-conventional saddles but the Judges are not obliged to ride your horse if they prefer not to.
I feel that even given my 'traditional' ways, the horse's comfort is paramount so if you cannot get a conventional saddle to fit properly you should go for 'comfort'.
Bite the bullet & see how it goes
All the best |
Natalie
Chapel Lane Arabians
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emma
Gold Member
816 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 3:23:50 PM
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Im assuming yours is a conventional treed dressage saddle? If it is then yes completely agree with your instructor, as its dressage cut the panel shape doesnt differ too greatly than a show saddle but the seat would normally be deeper than a fletter show saddle, in some cases a judge may appreciate a slightly more secure deeper seated saddle to some of the flatter ones. (just to add im not a judge just a competitor). If you look round the ring most have show saddles but some other styles do creep in and are accepted, ok if it were a jumping saddle with forward cut panels it may look rather out of place!
A saddle you ride best in and is comfortable for your horse will give you a better chance than putting something on that you are not riding well in and perhaps is uncomfortable for the horse. |
Emma
Fulmer House Arabians
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peg
Silver Member
United Kingdom
349 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 4:26:27 PM
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| It's an ideal 'buffalo' dressage saddle (beautiful in brown!). |
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joanna_piana
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3935 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 5:02:49 PM
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| Interesting thread, i'm going to want to do some showing with Ishara and some dressage but don't particularly want to get more than one saddle so a dressage one that i could show in would be fab. Definatley be interested in some judges comments. |
      
Harthall Rashida RIP, Binley Ishara, Bouchan
Chorleywood, Hertfordshire |
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Vera
Membership Moderator
United Kingdom
8652 Posts |
Posted - 24 Nov 2008 : 5:13:05 PM
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| Peg - IMHO that will be just fine!!! |
Hampshire |
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emma
Gold Member
816 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 10:59:48 AM
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Yes agree with Vera tht would be fine.
Another thought is that the girth straps of dressage saddles can be shortened to make conventional girth straps if you would prefer that look as sometimes the dressage girths can make things look bulkier. |
Emma
Fulmer House Arabians
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fi
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
102 Posts |
Posted - 25 Nov 2008 : 11:48:02 AM
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Hello Peg,
I have never minded riding a horse fitted with a 'dressage type'saddle! Only problem can be for 'larger/taller' judges who may find the seat a little small esp. if the saddle has a high cantle and a narrower flap with very shaped leg rolls. The conventional show saddle tends to cater for different shapes of rider and different stirrup lengths.
Good idea to fit shorter girth straps and using a normal length girth.
Always better to ride a horse that is happy and comfortable!
Fi |
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peg
Silver Member
United Kingdom
349 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2008 : 10:24:15 AM
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Thanks all and especially Fi (being a judge) - that's really, really helpful. I read on the original thread about this that a competitor had been told that she would have bene placed higher had it not been for her saddle. I was really curious about this and wondered whether she could clarify - what type of saddle was it? (I won't ask for judges name )
Cheers,
Peg |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2008 : 11:59:40 AM
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I brought a show saddle as it was the only one that fitted my boy at the time, but found that I was competing against people in black tack, dressage saddles, and all manner of variations!! This is C Show and County level!! It did not appear to me that anyone was ever put down the line due to the tack they wore and neither should they be! If it fits the horse, is very smart and correctly turned out then surely there cannot be a problem?
I have recently had an Ideal Dressage Saddle made (in Brown) and if the boy gets better, will show him in that next year as we both love it much more than the showing one
Look in recent AHS News at Championship Pics - there were quite a few this year and the year before winning champs in Dressage Saddles with Dressage Girths!!!  |
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peg
Silver Member
United Kingdom
349 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2008 : 12:10:30 PM
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| Thanks SOOOOOOO much for that Pasha - that is really encouraging. Every day I ride her in this saddle we are (both)improving - I am sure those of you who have also struggled with saddles understand when I say that I could weep because it is such a relief to finally have something we are both so happy in. Can't wait till next year now! |
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Marieb
New Member
United Kingdom
15 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2008 : 12:47:22 PM
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Thanks peg for starting this thread to try and get judges comments, in the end after looking around and trying various saddles I did go for a WOW Saddle as my horse seemed to be a lot happier in it softer and more relaxed and I'd rather put her comfort first. I have gone for a slightly shorter dressage flap which looks better on my arab, the saddle looks very much like a show saddle except for having a deeper seet but it looks smart on her and shows her shoulder off.
I will give it a go next year in the show ring. |
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Louise Maryon
Silver Member
270 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2008 : 1:54:54 PM
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As a judge I must say there's nothing worse than sitting down on a bad saddle!.
I've ridden in some peoples saddle and thought 'How on earth do they ride in this all day'
I do comment to people if their saddle is uncomfortable! But that only means I dont like it. Someone else might love it.
As for different saddles, my show saddles are the only ones I use suede and leather are used daily. |
www.louisemaryon.co.uk |
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diane
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
177 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2008 : 9:58:35 PM
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| Yes I too ride in a dressage saddle, it is a ryder buffalo with a built in gel seat covered in suede. The most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden in. I am having another made for my endurance mare. Diane |
http://www.lapwortharabians.com |
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Holly
Gold Member
England
529 Posts |
Posted - 27 Nov 2008 : 10:46:30 PM
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You may have been refering to me when you said that someone got marked down for having the wrong saddle turnout. I took my mare to our first ever ridden arab class at a local show and rode her in her county event saddle as after trying hundreds of saddles over a few years it was the only one that didnt slip or ride up her neck. The judge told me that I should have had a show saddle or a saddle that showed off the shoulder and so she said she putme last on the account that all the other riders werecorrectly turned out.
At the end of the day i didnt really care as i didnt have a choice of saddles to use. I have in the last 2 weeks brought a lovely show saddle off ebay which was used on a flat backed arab and it fits my girl really well so bring on next season!!!!!I will be back with vengance!
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