Posted: 13th May 2021 | Back to news feed
Question
I am looking at moving from unaffiliated Eventing to affiliated level. I currently compete in all phases in a General Purpose saddle, would specific saddles for each phase improve my performance?
Answer
If you are moving up to affiliated eventing it would certainly help your performance if you could buy more specialised saddles, and this needn’t cost you a fortune. I think that a dressage and a jumping saddle will suffice for now – specialist cross country saddles are needed for more advanced levels but to begin with these will serve your purpose.
A well-designed dressage saddle will position you in a way that makes your riding more effective in this section as well as giving a more pleasing picture to the judge. A jumping saddle will enable you to ride with a shorter stirrup which will help you to stay in position over a fence whilst being a bit safer as, should the horse catch a leg on a fence going cross country, you are more likely to be pinged clear of the falling horse.
Whilst your budget will dictate what type of saddles you can buy, you do not have to spend a King’s ransom to get both. There are some excellent well-designed synthetic saddles on the market as well as various price points as you go into leather saddles.
A Society of Master Saddlers’ Qualified or Master saddle fitter (one local to you can be found on the SMS website where they are listed by county) will be able to guide and advise you within your budget, knowing what might suit your horse and you, and what will not.
Not all saddles fit horses or their riders well and you really don’t want to make a mistake with this so please take their advice, as they want a satisfied client who will return to them year after year. They won’t be retained by one manufacturer so will have an open mind as to what will work for you and will also be there to care for your saddles as you progress.
Good luck with your eventing adventure!
For more information visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk or contact The Society of Master Saddlers on 01449 711642.
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