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Re: [RC] [RC] Dressage Saddles and Endurance - Desiree Simons

Reading the last emails, I have a short feeling also about it all, I have been riding drassage for many years, and trail riding in spare leisure time, and this year got into endurance, I did my first ride in a western saddle, and all though my horse did very well , he came up with a sore back, so I now have a Boz or 2 is more like it, and down hill, up hill, long rides are not only soft backed for the horse, but soft seated for me, being all sheepskin, mostly, I love my dressage saddle, but would never ride more then 2hours in it for comfort for myself, and comfort for me is transfered into my horses back also. my stiffness is directly his. So all saddles have there right place, horse , rider and purpose is the ingredients. desiree

>From: RISTREE@xxxxxxx
>To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [RC] Dressage Saddles and Endurance
>Date: Fri, 3 Jan 2003 12:03:21 EST
>
>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. :-)

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