English Saddle Highlight: The Dressage Saddle
The Dressage Saddle is an English saddle specifically designed for the dressage rider and horse.
The front flap of a Dressage Saddle is fairly straight and long, providing room for the long leg required of the dressage rider.
The seat of the Dressage Saddle is deep and comfortable and allows the rider to sit straight and tall in the saddle, with shoulders in line with the hips. The deeper seat of the dressage saddle is created by a higher pommel and cantle.
The Dressage Saddles of today are a mix of tradition and innovation. Features such as the inner thigh block and shaped thigh block have gained in popularity. Thigh blocks on the Dressage Saddle help riders maintain their leg position and can be quite comfortable.
Another kind of block popular on today’s dressage saddles are the external blocks. These often-large blocks sit on the outside of the saddle and provide the dressage rider a more secure feel in the saddle.
It is often heard, a correctly positioned dressage rider, with the horse and saddle, magically removed, would stand up balanced, with their knees slightly bent. In order to achieve this position, dressage saddles are often built with extended stirrup bars so that they can be placed farther back and under the rider’s thigh when compared to a jumping saddle.
Traditionally dressage saddle panels have been flocked with wool. Today dressage riders have a choice of panel material including wool, latex, foam, memory foam and even air. The advantage of synthetic "flocking" is its longevity over time versus wool flocking that can become dense and lumpy, requiring the saddle to be flocked.
The tree of the Dressage Saddle historically has been made out of laminated wood with metal bars. Although many dressage saddles are still built on a wooden tree, the dressage riders of today have more choices. Synthetic trees can be lighter, have a more refined shape and some even have the ability to be adjusted. Adjustable trees help dressage riders ride and fit many different horses with the same saddle.
Leather, commonly black leather, has been the traditional material of the dressage saddle. Now dressage riders have the choice of a leather saddle or a synthetic saddle. Although it is still preferred to ride in a leather dressage saddle, synthetic dressage saddles are easy to maintain, clean and can be economically advantageous.