So I took an intro to Dressage clinic this past weekend... Im HOOKED! Ahhh! This trail rider has found something that makes me and my 3 year old paint think. So, any books, or ideas on how to learn? I would like to continue the clinic series, but don't know if I will have the $.

 

Any places to find a resonable dressage saddle? I cant afford much more than a couple hundred dollars at this point, but would like to be in a saddle that puts me in the correct postion vs my western one.

Thanks!

 

 Affordable saddles -- watch eBay, but fit is very important.  You are asking your horse to lift and engage his back, so if fit is a little bit off, it will hurt him, so if you are not familiar with evaluating english saddle fit, employ a good fitter.  You can get a good used dressage saddle for around $400-500 if you are patient.  I'd check out the pre-2009 Wintecs (the new trees suck) for a good place to start, also older Steubbens, Passiers, Collegiates.

How to learn:  a local trainer would be cheaper than a clinic and is the best way to spend your money.  Books are great, but you can't really learn a discipline from a book, especially if it's new to you.  You don't have to lesson once a week  -- I usually do once a month as it takes me that long to work on my "homework."  

That said, one book I do REALLY like is 101 Arena Exercises -- dressage doesn't have to be fancy words or movements, it's simply bending and connection and increasing the responsiveness and suppleness of your horse.  This book gives you exercises to do in your ring so you don't get bored and they are well-explained, diagrammed, and even have pictures to show the shape of the horse.

Have fun, good luck!

 

 

 

 I agree w/ Solaris. Lessons, even just one/month (to give you homeowrk and a perspective from the ground) will be a great help, and probably more affordable than clinics.

Saddles - for lower level dressage any english saddle is acceptable, and I agree with the brands she mentioned. Wintecs are synthetic, so may be cheaper, but people who buy them tend to hang onto them, so may be hard to find, lol. I would add Thorogood to the list as well, especially for high withered horses.

Book-wise, I'd say Jane Savoie's Cross-Train Your Horse (both volumes, but start with Vol 1, lol). It is a book about dressage for every horse/rider. (I would actually recommend any of her books, but these are most applicable to your situation.) I haven't read it, but this book of heres also sounds good for you - Jane Savoie's Dressage 101: The Ultimate Source of Dressage Basics in a Language You Can Understand.

Sally Swift and Mary Wanless are also good authors.

Mary and Jane both have great websites with lots of info on them: 

http://www.mary-wanless.com/

http://www.janesavoie.com/index1.html

I really recommend saving your money and spending it on a good instructor for once a month lessons.  I put aside $75 every month so I can have a private lesson with an "R" level judge I was introduced to and she is the sole reason why I am not only hooked, but why my horse and I are so successful.  I've also found that if I volunteer to scribe for her at shows she'll usually give me a free lesson plus I learn a lot just by scribing.

As for free saddles you can usually get a good deal by going to yardsales, I recommend checking craigslist postings for horse items, the best deals don't usually advertise everything in detail, but it's usually worth the travel.  I've gotten brand new blankets with price tags still on them for $10 this way and my dressage saddle for $75 with leathers, stirrups, and a girth included, it's a no name saddle, but it fits me and my horse.  Try to borrow an english saddle from a friend just to get an idea of what the proper fit looks like on your horse, and always make sure you have a tape measure in your truck/car when you go.

Thanks all for the advice! I have had a hard time fitting all of my horses in western saddles so believe me, I know fit is important! I will have to check out those books and keep my eyes pealed at yard sales etc. Looking forward to doing some book shoping!

Things are coming together! Yay! Found a saddle to trial for $100. Its a wintec, and I know there are people who like and dislike them, but will make sure it for sure fits before I commit to it. Got the moose an oversized bridle, and am signing up for the rest of the clinic series on Sunday... so freeking excited! Now... I just need to find some of those stupid tight pants that fit lol!

ETA The clinic's are only $25 a pop! Can't get better than that!

 

Wintecs Are nice saddles, by and large! And you don't have to saddle soap yr saddle like with a leather saddle. Just as long as the saddle fits your horse and  he's comfy with a nice thin saddle pad underneath, you're good to go!  You may want to check out the USDF web site for a group member dressage club in your area as there are lots of educational opportunities fm clinics and symposiums to schooling shows at different barns once you decide to take the plunge!  The web site is www.USDF.org!! 

DId you say yr horse takes an oversize bridle?  IS the Moose a draft or a draft cross? Would love to see The Moose!! I have a lovely Percheron/Morgan cross who was jumped first and also competed in Training level dressage; we are getting ready to hit the show circuit this coming year!  If you are looking for riding pants, try a local tack shop for riding tights, paddock boots and some half chaps made fm suede!  One on-line tack company is www.doversaddlery.com  and/or www.statelinetack.com!!  Kerrits is one company who makes inexpensive riding tights with ultrasuede type knee patches or full suede seated breeches! 

Good luck and have fun learning about dressage!  Whatever your horse's breed or discipline of riding you enjoy, dressage will help him become more supple, fit, and willing partner out on the trail!!  Hope to hear how you're doing!

Dresagfan

 I am jealous of your $100 WIntec! And your $25 clinics.

You should try to find a tack shop near you - they usually also sell riding clothing, including breeches. I don't know how you are built, but for those of us on the "fluffy" side, breeches show less (rolls, lumps, cellulite, etc.) than riding tights do. But for your first pair(s) you will want to try on a few different brands. They all fit completely different - I am short waisted and with some brands (Devonaire especially) the waist band comes up to my bra!

If you are lucky (I was for my first pair), the tack shop will have a bunch of choice in your size - including some on consignment. My first pair of breeches were the wrong size (all stretched out, I'm several sizes larger, lol) and on consignment so they were only $25.

Once you know the brands you like (and your size in them), you can look for bargains online.

Wow, schoolhorserider!!  I'm  jealous of our dressage newbie's $25 dressage clinics too! Around here we have noted clinicians come every quarter at many barns around her (Lincoln and Omaha NE) and the least expensive were $125/lesson for  45"!   I did go to a USDF Adult Clinic in early Nov and it only cost me $75 to audit for 2 whole days!   Another lady comes fm S. CO to a barn  in Lincoln, NE for $250 clinics over a long weekend!  I've ridden with her a couple times--she is good!!  Have a great holiday and a very Happy New York!

Dresagfan

I'm a fluffy :) I have found the Fuller Fillies brand of clothing and I am in love! I just wish there was more of it used as I am a poor horse owner. I have a couple pairs of tights, and am going to save up so that I can buy something closer to the show in spring. My aunt has a pair of the half chaps that I will be borrowing and I have a pair of lacers that I think will work. It's funny tho how the irons, girth and leathers have costed me more than the saddle lol!

My moose is a coming 4 year old APHA gleding. Durangos Majic Zippo "Durango" He is close to 16hh at the wither and taller at the hip, and weight tapes at 1200. I have raised him from 3 months old, and he is the love of my life, although there are days I have threatened to sell him for for fifty cents

 My Moose

The lady running the clinics is super, and I can't wait to take some more lessons with her. It has been my dream to learn to ride dressage, and she is in love with my horse and his movement, which I take great pride in as I have trained him myself from the ground up. I will try and get pics of myself durring the clinics if I am able to. I am so excited!

Save your money and take a few basic lessons. THEN apply those lessons to your trail horse, on the trail! I bet you'll be surprised to see you use a lot of the same moves on the trail. :) Don't run out and buy a saddle just yet, take those lessons and then see if you can adjust your western saddle or even try a barrel saddle. This is not ideal, but you'll have better leg control and posture after a few lessons which will transfer to seat in the western saddle. I've ridden Dressage for many years and still don't own a saddle (though I wish I did, but then I'd want to show and you're talking BIG money). The equitation skills that you'll learn are very, very similar to western riding and will make trail riding more fun and challenging for you and your horse. I also traded my trail saddle for a lightweight barrel saddle specifically to multipurpose. The saddle provides close contact with my horse, the fenders are easy to move for leg queues and the seat is deeper than a regular trail saddle. Hope this helps, Happy New Year and Happy Riding! BE WARNED, Dressage is an addiction! ~CC

The second of the 6 clinic series is this weekend. yay! We have our cheapie saddle and all the bells and whistles that go with it. Now fingers crossed that the Wisconsin winter cooperates and its not as freeking cold as it was for the last one! Ive been addicted to Dressage for years, but never had the time or money to take lessons. This is a treat for me right now.

Moose is very cute, and quite a big boy!  Love his markings too!  That fuller fillies line of clothes is just perfect for you it sounds like and half chaps with paddock boots are perfect for you if you can't afford tall boots! The clinic lady sounds like the ticket for you and Moose, and all the other folks in your area who are interested in dressage.  Even if you only want to improve your horse's way of going and your riding, dressage is a great way to go!! Keep us all posted as to  your progress!  Best of luck and lots of fun for you both!

Dresagfan & Sayler's Creek

 Glad you're so excited about all this. And your Moose is cute. He's skinny compared to mine.

 FYI on the WIntec. The WIntec endurance saddle is really just the Wintec Pro dressage w/ a bunch of extra D-rings! (I've seen them side by side)

For your "show" breeches. Look for a good pair in tan or beige (I love these - have them in 3 colors, but only buy them when they are on sale). Then you can also wear those for lessons/training. You don't have to have white for showing until the upper levels. I don't remember if it's 2nd level or FEI, but that's a few years off (although you may make there before I do). You will probably need "real" tall boots before then.

OK, so I can officially say that this "instructor" is a fruit cake. She left the lady she was renting from with out paying $1100 of bills, didn't pay the lady with the barn where she had the first clinic at, and took my $45 down that I paid for the rest of the clinics and ran. Im over her.

I was talking with the lady that owns the barn where we had the first "clinic" at and she is willing to give me some lessons tho. Im super stoked, as she has a great reputation, and her and I seem to really click. Now I need to find an english saddle that actually fits me. Grr! The "instructor" that sold me my current saddle was not really truthfull, and after riding in it a couple times I can tell the seat is way way to small. Oh well, you win some you loose some. I will just have to take it to a couple tack swaps and see if I can get out of it what I bought it for.

 Wish me luck... something has to turn arround soon!