Dressage Saddle

[halfpass]

Just to get things started in this section, would it be OK to use a dressage saddle in a ROR class.

[dancer]

Would love to know the answer to this we sold a stunning pony last year because he wouldn't tolerate a treed saddle & all the decent treeless ones are dressage style - I wasn't keen on showing him in a dressage saddle so now he has gone to a wonderful home where it isn't an issue.
My personal worry was that the judge would take one look when he entered the ring & dismiss him because of the saddle - does the judge have to ride in ROR classes as this may be more of a problem if they do rather than how it looks?

[aphrodite]

I have shown my veteran in an Ideal Jessica. It is chocolate brown so doesnt look as 'dressagey'.

I have always done very well with her in the show ring.

The judge doesnt ride in the veteran classes.

Hope these pics help you make your decision

She is retired from competition now, I must get my backside into gear and sell her competition saddle.

[inkjet]

i used to show KC in a dressage saddle. I ha a few comments from judges about it as they are used to much flatter seats. Their bottoms certainly have to fit into a dressage saddle too. We were advised to change to a wh/showing saddle

[dawnie]

As I had a dressage saddle that fitted well and I also found comfortable I spent a season checking out everyones saddles out of interest and I noticed there are a lot of people using dressage saddles to show in but some have had the straps shortened to take a full girth. As for judges bottys fitting in the seat ... doubt you will find a ride judge with one bigger than mine so no problem there then lol. The feed back has been "what a comfortable saddle"

[dancer]

I think if you can have the girth straps shortened then it won't be too much of a problem (& for some judges it won't be a problem anyway) but for us it wasn't an option because for some reason the treeless ssaddle makers won't do them with normal length girth straps.

[aphrodite]

Dawnie your horse is beautiful in your pic.

To add - I have normal length dressage girth straps and a very plain brown leather girth. She was very successful so I cant think that made any difference. I never had any judge comment but no ride judges in veteran classes.

[dawnie]

many thanks for you kind comment aphrodite

Dancer, I never had my straps shortened, the saddle is lovely soft leather and I like the fact I am sitting on buckles.

Edited to add

Trends is saddles change and think there is a trend towards dressage saddles, just like at one time it was uncommon to see a working hunter saddle used for showing in and now it seems quite the norm. When I was a teenager show saddles were flat as pancake, no comfy knee rolls and very straight cut. Nor did you use anything under your saddle then either, that would have been a big no no to have anything showing under saddle.

[tuppence]

The Ideal Jessica is quite a lot like a WH saddle anyway. I wouldn't try showing in one of the more expensive dressage saddles though, because their blocks are too big and I don't think the ride jugdes would appreciate it.

[dancer]

Dawnie - I don't think having dressage girth straps is a problem but we were contending with using a treeless saddle aswell & a lot of the societies couldn't guarantee we wouldn't be marked down for that, so a treeless dressage saddle was definitely not in our favour!