ridecamp@endurance.net: Dressage saddles

Dressage saddles

Ann Hatfield (keithr@nocdc.bc.ca)
Mon, 22 Sep 1997 22:33:00 -0700

Hi, All:

I, too, participated in the Great Saddle Hunt with some success. The
little guy, Riff, doesn't try to dump me off as I put my foot in the
stirrup any more so he is obviously somewhat more comfortable. Still has
some dryness under forward part of bars. I won't get the saddle restuffed
yet as the fit changes considerably as he becomes more muscular in the back
with work-could see it this spring within one month and next year, by god,
he and I will be fit and ready to go whether we have 3 to 4 feet of snow or
not!

The saddle I found is made by County Lane and is called a Mirage. It comes
in several tree-widths-I think-at least the flaps over the billets have a
letter printed on them and I was told that is what it refers to. Mine is
second hand and some people tell me they are only available second hand and
some tell me they are still available new. What is so unique about this
saddle is that it has swivel flaps; pin in lowest position is the classic
straight-down-flap dressage, in the top position it is a fairly good
forward-seat jumping saddle. Centrally located it works very well for
riding two-point (oh, my aching thighs!) and gallumphing about up hill and
down dale. The flap is padded quite heavily on the outer 1/4 and so holds
your knee quite well, but it's no jumping roll. Don't think it would quite
make it for say three-day eventing style jumping speed and the seat is
quite deep, deeper by far than any modern hunter saddle and probably most
mid-jump-height jumper saddles. I like that deep seat! I like the padded
flaps. They help keep my
trying-to-remember-that-I-once-rode-dressage-knees in position.

I have been warned that some of these Mirages undo along the seat stitching
like perforations on a stamp. Mine looks a bit doubltful in that area but
it seems otherwise much better leather and stitching than many of the new
saddles I tried.

So Mirages may work well for some of you who like the balance of a dressage
saddle but would like a more forward flap for the exciting bits of trail.

Ann

Ask Kat about some saddle a friend of hers was looking at by some other
maker that used a similar swivel-flap system.

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