Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

I'm doing both dressage and endurance at the moment, and have just a couple of quick and random comments on this topic.  I think dressage is about the best type of cross-training you can do for our sport, tho I'm biased (since I've been riding dressage long before I got into distance riding), and as someone noted, I don't try to emulate some of the competitive dressage that is out there.

About the saddle issue.  This one is so tough, and I hear the same discussion amongst dressage riders.  "Oh that seat is PAINFUL!"  or "It will put you into a CHAIR SEAT!"  or "The twist is a killer!"  or "That gave my horse a sore back."  As so many have said before, we are all conformed differently, as our are horses.  There is no once size fits all saddle (that I've found anyway).

Woman or man, you'll have a twist size that you prefer.  (A wide twist, which some woman love, makes me want to get off and walk the distance.  My husband has no problem with it, same as some of my female friends who've ridden in his wide-twist saddle.  It takes riding in a twist you hate and a twist you love to really understand.)

Saddle fit is going to depend on the horse, as well.  However, I frequently see people ride with their dressage saddles placed too far forward, which DOES affect the mobility and freedom of the shoulders.  A dressage saddle should be placed with the forward most "point" of the tree about 2-3 fingers width behind the scapula (which can't often be seen, but can be felt).

I think that the more surface area on the panels (of a treed saddle) that bears weight, the better the saddle will do distributing it.  I think this is what the Wintec Endurance Pro is attempting to do.  Some dressage saddles have wider panels (surface area) and wider gullets (the channel over the spine) than others.  My Albions tend to have both wide panels and wide gullets.

How easily someone can post in a saddle depends on a myriad of things.  A.)  How they post (although I don't know how, I see plenty of people posting with their feet either ahead of their hips or behind them), and B.) how well the saddle aligns your head, hip and heels.  Dressage saddles are intended to align these vertically.  However, depending on your conformation, the seat size, and the way the saddle sits on the horse, a particular dressage saddle may not do that for you on your horse.

Unfortunately, I'm sure this post presents more questions than answers.  But as with most things horse-related, the answer is -- IT DEPENDS.

--Patti Stedman

P.S.  As far as definitions for good back conformation, I'd describe it as having defined withers (but not overprominent), well sloped shoulders that blend into a fairly level (but not barrel-like) back.  Must have some decent muscling/weight over the back to support the saddle tree and panels.  My guy has a pretty good back for saddle fitting, but a lousy loin for dressage.  But we're working on that.  :-)