Saddle Girth
Shoud I Use a Dressage Saddle?
Whether you are a novice or experienced horse rider, the large amount of horse riding equipment on the market can be confusing at the best of times! With saddles in particular, there are so many types available it can be be a headache trying to choose the right one. The most commonly used horse back riding saddles are general purpose saddles. As the name implies, these are used for all ages and abilities of horse and rider and are suitable for many different equatrian activities.
So if the general purpose saddle is good for everything, then why is there a need for specialist saddles? Well the answer to this is in the question! Specialist horse back riding saddles are exactly what the description states – specialist. They are designed to suit a particular discipline and a particular style of riding with properties that better enable horse and rider to perform. The general purpose saddle is a compromise between many different specialist horse back riding saddles but in the process this means that at advanced levels of riding and competition the general purpose saddle ceases to fulfil all of the requirements of horse and rider. Take for example the dressage saddle. It is a specific style of horse back riding saddle used, as the name suggests, for riding horses on the flat and in particular for riding dressage movements. It has a number of features that make it distinguishable but also a number of properties that make it completely unsuitable for other disciplines, for example, show jumping. However, if you are a serious dressage rider then a dressage saddle can be of great benefit.
The style of the dressage saddle encourages the rider to sit deeper and longer. This position of the rider in turn helps the horse to balance and carry himself correctly. There is a deeper seat than a general purpose saddle, with a higher pommel and cantle and usually wider panels to the underside of the saddle with less padding. This not only encourages a deeper seat from the rider but also enables closer contact and a more even weight distribution, therefore allowing the rider to offer more precise aids.
The position of the rider in dressage requires a longer leg that hangs directly underneath the hips of the rider. To facilitate this, dressage saddles have long, straight cut saddle flaps and stirrup bars positioned slightly further back to encourage the rider to keep the knee down and the thigh back. The straight cut design also allows the horse plenty of freedom around the shoulders.
A further feature of horse back riding saddles for dressage are long billet straps and shorter girths which buckle at the elbow, this keeps the buckles out of the way of the rider’s leg allowing for the rider to keep a close contact with the horse and give effective leg aids.
Although useful, a dressage saddle is not a necessity for many riders who happily ride and compete in dressage for all of their life in a general purpose saddle. Generally speaking, a dressage saddle is only necessary for those riders where dressage is their main discipline and are riding at more advanced levels. If you often ride and compete in other equestrian disciplines such as show jumping or hunting then it may not be worth investing in a dressage saddle. Consider the fact that you may then end up with two or three different saddles for your horse which also means two or three times more tack to clean! This being said, if you are serious about concentrating solely on improving your dressage and moving on to more advanced competition, then then the purchase of a quality dressage saddle may be a worthwhile investment.
About the Author
The Equine Store is packed full of great products for horse and rider, including quality
English leather dressage saddles
in standard sizes or made to measure. Please visit the shop at
http://www.equine-store.com/
and quote customer code ‘cust01′ for 10% off your first purchase.
How to Tack Up a Horse : How to Clean a Saddle & the Girth
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L@@K Original Cinch Hook Easy Saddle Cinch Em Up Girth $35.00 |
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Trail Horse Saddle Natural Bucking Back Cinch Girth $35.00 |
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Used Tack Lot, Spurs, Circle Y Back Girth, Australian Saddle Stirrup Leathers NR $12.50 |
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Nice WEAVER Leather 32″ Western Saddle Cinch Girth Wide Roper Style -NO RESERVE! $22.50 |
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15″ New Pink Deluxe Cordura Saddle Bridle,Breastcollor,Girth& Reins Pkg!! $129.00 |
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MULE SADDLE LIBERTY BRAND 15 INCH DBL GIRTH RIGGING MADE IN USA $500.00 |
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ECONOMY LEATHER TIE GIRTH CINCH STRAP SADDLE RANCH $10.95 |
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15″ BLACK LEATHER WESTERN SILVER SHOW SADDLE W/BRIDLE,B/COLLOR & GIRTH PKG $76.00 |
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Latigo Leather Pony Saddle Girth Strap Horse Tack $3.50 |
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Saddle girth $15.00 |
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28″ Neoprene Girth Western Riding Horse Saddle Cinch FREE SHIPPING Full Wrapped $19.99 |
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Treeless Saddle Red 17″ +Girth+iron stirrup+rope halter $94.00 |
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Treeless Saddle Blue 17″+Girth+iron stirrup+rope halter $94.00 |
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GIRTH CINCH WESTERN SADDLE HORSE TACK 32 34 36 LOT $39.95 |
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30″ Heavy Duty English Trail Saddle Leather String Girth Horse Tack $19.99 |
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Vintage Western Ranch Roping Saddle Colorado Saddlery w Billy Cook Girth $399.99 |
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Leather without Tree English Dressage Saddle+Spad+girth $195.00 |
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Leather Treeless All Purpose Jumping Saddle+S.pad+girth $195.00 |
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Leather Treeless All Purpose Jumping Saddle+S.pad+girth $195.00 |
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BLACK LATIGO LEATHER OFF SIDE SADDLE GIRTH CINCH BILLET RANCH HORSE TACK COWBOY $13.95 |
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BLACK Mustang Washable Western Saddle Girth 32″ Tearapr $24.48 |
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BLACK Mustang Washable Western Saddle Girth 36″ Tearapt $24.48 |
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Abetta Air Grip Neoprene Saddle Girth Lime Green 32 $34.99 |
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GIRTH CINCH WESTERN SADDLE HORSE TACK 32 34 36 LOT $39.95 |
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NEW Showman Super Cinch, Fleece Saddle Girth Strap $24.99 |
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NP Hardware Neoprene Cinch Saddle Straight Girth Peel Off and Clean SZ 34 ” New $25.00 |
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Genuine Leather English Jumping Saddle 16.5″+Spad+girth $217.00 |
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Genuine Leather English Jumping Saddle 17.5″+Spad+girth $217.00 |
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Leather Treeless All Purpose Spanish Saddle+S.pad+girth $195.00 |
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Circle Y Walnut Grove Trail Saddle – 15″ + Contour Pad/Blanket/Weaver Girth! $1,050.00 |
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WESTERN LEATHER HORSE SADDLE CINCH GIRTH TIE STRAP 5.5′ $19.99 |
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19″ Portuguese Spanish Saddle Horse Girth Crupper Irons $273.88 |
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Hilason New Quality Padded Leather Western Saddle Girth 27 GI110 $45.17 |
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Used SIMCO 12″ Kids Silver Dot Western Pony Parade Saddle, Pad & Girth $145.00 |
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SADDLE FRONT CINCH{GIRTH} FLEECE w/NYLON OVERLAY 30 IN. $20.00 |
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Showman String Saddle Girth Cinch $20.00 |
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BLACK Mustang Washable Western Saddle Girth 36″ Tearapt $24.48 |
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18″ Black Leather SPANISH SPECIAL Trooper Saddle FREE TACK STIRRUPS GIRTH $259.00 |
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18″ Brown Leather SPANISH SPECIAL Trooper Saddle FREE TACK STIRRUPS GIRTH $259.00 |
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15″ NEW BROWN WESTERN SADDLE WITH BRIDLE,B/COLLOR & GIRTH PKG $159.00 |
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‘Horsemen Saddle’ Brand Web Girth…Cream/Navy Blue…NEW!!!! $10.00 |
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Showman Roper Fleece Super Saddle Girth Cinch $28.00 |
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Showman Large Fleece Super Saddle Girth Cinch $26.00 |
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Showman Felt Roping Saddle Girth CinchNeoprene Center $34.00 |
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26″ Black Neoprene Nylon Western Saddle Cinch/Girth Small Horse or Pony No Resv $8.95 |
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Showman Roper Heavy String Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Roper String Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Roper Heavy String Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Felt and Neoprene Center Saddle Girth Cinch $32.00 |
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Showman Fully Wrapped Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $26.00 |
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Showman Waffle Weave Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Fleece Super Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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New 34″ Black Neoprene Western Saddle Pro Cinch/Girth $29.95 |
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New Latigo Leather Cinch Connector Saddle Cincha Girth $10.99 |
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Showman String Saddle Girth Cinch $18.00 |
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Showman Non-slip Waffle Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $34.00 |
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Showman Horse Size Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $28.00 |
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Showman Leather English Saddle Girth Cinch $30.00 |
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Showman Horse Size Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $28.00 |
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Showman Roper String Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Roper Heavy String Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Felt and Neoprene Center Saddle Girth Cinch $32.00 |
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Showman Leather English Saddle Girth Cinch $30.00 |
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Showman Non-slip Waffle Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $34.00 |
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Showman String Saddle Girth Cinch $20.00 |
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Showman Horse Draft Size Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $30.00 |
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Showman Pony Size Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Fleece Super Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman String Saddle Girth Cinch $18.00 |
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Showman Waffle Weave Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Showman Felt Roping Saddle Girth CinchNeoprene Center $34.00 |
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Showman Fully Wrapped Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $26.00 |
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Neoprene English Saddle Girth Cinch w Double SS Buckles $30.00 |
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Showman Roper Heavy String Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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Treeless Saddle beige16+Girth+iron stirrup+rope halter $94.00 |
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Showman Roper Fleece Super Saddle Girth Cinch $28.00 |
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Western Pony Saddle Black Leather Tack with BRIDLE GIRTH BREASTCOLLAR Complete $345.00 |
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18″ Brown Leather SPANISH ICELANDIC Trooper Saddle FREE TACK STIRRUPS GIRTH $325.00 |
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18″ Black Leather SPANISH ICELANDIC Trooper Saddle FREE TACK STIRRUPS GIRTH $325.00 |
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BLACK Mustang Washable Western Saddle Girth 34″ Tearapt $24.48 |
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Showman Large Fleece Super Saddle Girth Cinch $26.00 |
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Smart Cinch Weaver Mohair Western Roper Girth Tack 32″ Horse Western Saddle NEW $55.15 |
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Tough-1 Deluxe Western Saddle Carrier w-Girth-Tan-Brown $79.95 |
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Showman Horse Draft Size Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $30.00 |
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BLACK Mustang Washable Western Saddle Girth 36″ Tearapt $24.48 |
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Showman Pony Size Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch $24.00 |
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46″ Fleece DRAFT HORSE WESTERN SADDLE GIRTH with D Rings $24.95 |
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48″ Fleece DRAFT HORSE WESTERN SADDLE GIRTH with D Rings $24.95 |
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SYNTHETIC ENGLISH RACING SADDLE GIRTH $1.00 |
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18 Neoprene Western Saddle Cinch/Girth 1st Choice-Black $34.95 |
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18″ Soft Neoprene Western Saddle Pro Cinch Girth Mini Miniature Horse Shetland $29.95 |
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Black Leather Flank Strap Bucking Girth Western Saddle $24.99 |
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Latigo saddle tie for Cinch Girth 1 3/4″x6′ USA $27.00 |
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Latigo half breed off billet for saddle Cinch Girth $27.00 |
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Abetta Air Grip Neoprene Saddle Girth Cinch Hot Pink 28 $34.99 |