Ensuring both you and your horse are safe and comfortable on a ride should be high on your list of priorities each time you saddle up. It’s easy to make mistakes though. Sometimes a piece of equipment that feels right for you, could be causing your horse discomfort and hindering its performance. Other times, a specific saddle may look great on the horse but gives you a much more inconsistent ride. Especially if you plan to jump sometimes and stick to the flat on others.

In this blog, we look at the dressage saddle and how to fit it to ensure both horse and rider are set up perfectly for the ride ahead.

What is a dressage saddle?

If you are relatively new to riding or are keen to educate yourself a little more on the various tack you may need for your specific riding discipline, we thought it best to clarify the role of a dressage saddle before we show you how to fit it. We wouldn’t want you to acquire the saddle only to find it’s not going to provide you with what you need!

A dressage saddle is a type of English saddle that is made specifically for dressage. Crafted specifically for the dressage discipline, it gives the rider an enhanced position and helps the rider improve their communication with the horse. With deeper seats than other English saddles and long straight flaps, the dressage saddle gives the rider a secure and balanced position on the horse.

Thanks to the deep seat of a dressage saddle, the rider’s hips and pelvis align with the horse allowing for a much better connection with the equine. The motions of the horse are easily absorbed, allowing for a connection that helps the rider execute accurate movements.

The long and straight flaps provide the rider with the ideal leg position for the discipline and the large knee rolls add a degree of stability not always noticeable on other saddle types. Many dressage saddles feature a monoflap design. This makes them lighter to carry and brings you closer to the horse. With less leather between rider and horse, the rider has an extra feel for the horse’s movements and reactions.

The dressage saddle is all about balance and connection. The deep seat not only allows you to stay balanced on the horse, but it also helps bring you closer to the animal, helping you establish a more intimate connection with the horse, vital if competing in dressage events.

 Fitting a dressage saddle

To ensure your dressage saddle is the correct fit you’ll need to check a few things in advance of setting off.

The importance of dressage saddle size

When choosing your dressage saddle, you’ll of course want to make sure it fits the horse properly. If when applying the saddle to the horse, you notice it pinches the horse’s back or shoulders, it is too small. When a dressage saddle is too small, it won’t distribute the weight well enough which could lead to the horse suffering from a back injury.

Likewise, a saddle can be too big and cause trouble for both rider and horse. If you see that a dressage saddle is moving too much, it’s too big. This will cause rubbing on the horse which could lead to sores. This movement could also see the saddle slide to a low position on the horse’s back causing an uncomfortable ride as well as injury.

Withers clearance for a dressage saddle fitting

When riding using a dressage saddle, there should be approximately two fingers worth of clearance between the pommel and wither. Once dismounted, this gap may increase to approximately three fingers. If you notice the gap is larger than these numbers, the saddle is likely too narrow for the horse, if the gap is smaller, the saddle is too wide.

Where should a dressage saddle be placed for shoulder clearance?

For optimal movement, the dressage saddle should be placed behind the horse’s shoulders. Run your hands down the horse between the side of the saddle and the shoulders, if there is a tightness, the saddle doesn’t fit correctly. The saddle is positioned correctly if there are no signs of excess tightness.

How should a dressage saddle fit on the horse’s back?

Once your dressage saddle is in place, you should take a view from the front of the horse and one from behind. From the front, you should be able to see daylight all the way through the gullet. If you can’t, the saddle is positioned too low.

When behind your horse, look for the same daylight again. If you cannot see it, again, the saddle is too low.

How long should a dressage saddle be?

There should be approximately a one-hand span gap between the top of the flanks and the back of the panel. This will see that your dressage saddle doesn’t sit on unprotected loins. If the hand span is less than one, your saddle is too long for the horse, if the gap is more than one hand’s span, the saddle is too short.

Factoring in the tree size

Many saddles have adjustable trees making it easy for you to move from horse to horse, however many are made for one specific tree size. The panels of the saddle should sit flat against the horse’s back on both sides with no signs of unevenness or gaps. If you spot that the panels are arched or rise at the back of the saddle, the tree could be the incorrect size for your horse.

How should the girth buckles fit on a dressage saddle?

Dressage saddles are all about being close to the horse to help you communicate with it and feel its movements more accurately. However, some parts may be fitted too close and cause issues for the rider and horse. The girth buckles should be roughly one hand’s span above the point of the elbow, this will stop any interference between the girth buckles and the elbow as the horse moves.

Ensuring you have the correct saddle type and fit is essential to the wellbeing of your horse and the enjoyment of your ride. At TDS Saddlers, we use our substantial experience in saddlery to ensure you find the horse saddles that meet your riding needs. We’ve been saddlers for more than 80 years and pride ourselves on the family-run business and the personal touch it is known for. With dressage saddles from a host of the world’s most renowned brands available from our online store, shop today to find the ideal saddle for your ride. Should you have any questions, simply give us a call, our friendly team will be delighted to help.