Horseback riders in the English tradition define dressage as the art of training the horse to perform specific movements on the ground rather than over jumps. The longer, straighter flaps of the dressage saddle allow the rider to carry the legs closer to the horse's body and in a longer position than a jump saddle, write Judith Draper and colleagues in "The Ultimate Book of the Horse and Rider." Because finding the right size dressage saddle means trying various saddles and brands, many tack shops allow you to take saddles home for a limited trial period to fit both you and your mount.
Fitting The Horse
Step 1
Position the saddle on the bare back of your horse about 2 inches behind the shoulder blade. The long flaps of the dressage saddle should not touch the horse's shoulders but rest directly behind them, writes veterinarian Joyce Harman in "The Horse's Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book."
Step 2
Check the fit of the saddle tree, the solid framework under the saddle, along the horse's back. It should span the length of the rib cage without poking into the muscles just in front of the horse's rump.
Step 3
Measure tree fit across the horse's withers by running your hand under the dressage saddle's front panels, over the withers and down both the horse's sides. Your hand should slip easily under the saddle over the withers without feeling pinched or tight against the horse's sides. The saddle's back panels under the cantle need to fit snugly without any gaps or air.
Step 4
Place your hand in the gullet at the front of the saddle. You should be able to fit three or four fingers inside the gullet on top of the withers for good saddle fit.
Step 5
Stand at the back of your horse and look through the gullet all the way down the horse's back. In a properly fitted saddle, you will see space along the horse's spine from the gullet to the cantle.
Fitting the Rider
Step 1
Sit in the prospective dressage saddle, either on your horse or on a saddle stand.
Step 2
Measure the amount of free space between you and the pommel and you and the cantle. In a correctly fitted dressage saddle, you will need 2 to 4 inches on both sides of your body for comfort, says Dr. Harman.
Step 3
Test the length and the width of your upper thigh against the saddle flap. Your knee should reach the center of the knee roll and your thigh should rest easily between the thigh block and the thigh roll underneath the flap. The end of the long dressage flap needs to hit the middle of your calf.
Tips and Warnings
- To keep a new saddle from getting dirty when trying it on your horse, place a thin sheet or piece of material between the back of the horse and the saddle. Ride your horse in the saddle in all three gaits to determine if the saddle is comfortable for both you and your mount.
- A saddle that is too small can be hazardous to the health of both rider and mount, advises Susan E. Harris in "The U.S. Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship." A too-small saddle causes sores and irritation for the horse; a rider in an ill-fitting seat will pitch forward over the pommel andbe unable to sit upright. A rider in a saddle that is too large may be forced to lean too far back and become unbalanced. The saddle that is too large for the horse becomes jammed against the animal's withers and spine, restricting movement and causing soreness.
References
- "The Ultimate Book of the Horse and Rider"; Judith Draper, Debby Sly, Sarah Muir; 2003
- "The Horse's Pain-Free Back and Saddle-Fit Book"; Joyce Harman, DVM; 2001
- "The U.S. Pony Club Manual of Horsemanship"; Susan E. Harris; 1997
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