We have all heard the joke that all-purpose saddles are “no purpose saddles”. This can be true. In the eighties and nineties when all-purpose saddles were heavily marketed here in the US, there were quite a few models that were examples of just plain poor design.
These saddles tried to bridge the gap between a jump saddle and a dressage saddle,literally, often combining them with some with pretty unremarkable results. They often featured gimmicks like moveable, adjustable flaps or flaps that were big enough to be BOTH a forward jump flap and a straight dressage flap. I had one of the second types. The flap was so huge that it covered the whole saddle pad. My leg slid around on it and I had trouble getting my calf to make contact with my horse’s side. I used to fantasize about cutting the back of the flap off so it would look more like a normal saddle. This saddle was not only cumbersome but borderline useless and truly ridiculous to look at!
The mistake these saddle makers made was trying to visually show the functionality of these “all-purpose” saddles . What was sacrificed with these gimmicky designs was the essential security and balance of the saddle for the rider. In my mind, what makes a good “all-purpose” saddle is the same thing that makes a good saddle of any kind. It must allow the rider to find a correct, comfortable, secure position from which they can influence their horse with their aids correctly.
These days, there are some really great saddles that fall into the “all-purpose” category. It seems to me that calling this category of saddles “all-purpose” is part of the problem. They are not “ALL-PURPOSE”;instead they do have a purpose but it is just not limited to one specific discipline. Maybe “multi-purpose” would be a better name. These saddles are designed with a specific rider in mind and each target a slightly different corner of the market. Some are a bit more trail oriented, some are designed with jumping a bit more in mind.
The most successful examples of this type of saddle do not try to bridge the gap between two or more specific disciplines in their design, instead they have been designed with the intent of making a good, well balanced, secure saddle in which a rider can comfortably accomplish a number of different tasks. The best “all-purpose” saddles are essentially designed to bridge the discipline gap in their function. As I stated above, they serve to help a rider find a secure, correct position from which they can comfortably ride over a variety of terrain and influence their horse safely and effectively.
Black Country makes some great examples of this style which we are lucky enough to carry here at Trumbull Mountain. I am particularly fond of the Wexford. This saddle has a K panel and comes in both the standard and hoop tree. This saddle is marketed in England as a jump saddle. Here in the states, we list it as “all-purpose” because it has a deep secure seat and longer flaps than many jump saddles.
This saddle is supportive enough for a rider to do lower level dressage, trail ride, fox hunt or jump with equal success. Many riders are not looking to advance up the levels of any one discipline. For this rider, there is no need for a truly specialized saddle. In many cases, it can make more sense to buy one well made, properly balanced saddle rather than buying two lesser saddles. This is a great kids pony club saddle or lower level adult amateur eventer saddle.
Another Black Country saddle of note is the Summit. This saddle looks a bit like the Wexford but has a more of a straighter flap, flatter seat and is built on a hoop tree.
With the straighter flap, the Summit is designed for a rider who is not looking to jump anything too big but it is perfectly appropriate to jump smaller stuff. The straighter flaps make it quite a comfortable trail/pleasure saddle and makes it useful for lower level dressage. This is a good “all around” saddle and would be a good fit for someone looking to be comfortable in their everyday riding whether that means a four hour trail ride or a dressage lesson/jump school. Additionally we have many clients comfortably eventing in this saddle at the lower levels. While the more forward Wexford flaps make that saddle a bit more of appropriate for shortening your stirrups to jump big stuff, this saddle is quite secure for hopping over littler jumps and securely negotiating terrain and small obstacles at a gallop.
Last on my short list of multi-purpose Black Country saddles is the Celeste.
This saddle is a brilliant marriage of the Equinox trail saddle with a more traditional dressage saddle. It has the look and balance of a dressage saddle yet incorporates a more open seat and a short, angled, less restricting thigh block than many dressage saddles. It is also on a hoop tree with a K panel and has full front gussets. This is the saddle that first got me really thinking about the market for these “all purpose” type saddles. My mom is a great example of the target market for this saddle. She is an avid rider and enjoys learning and taking lessons as much as she enjoys hitting the trails for a few hours. This saddle allows her to lengthen her stirrups and open her hip angle to school dressage or put her stirrups up a bit and head out on a brisk trail ride. The slightly flatter, more open seat is well balanced for flat work let allows her to get up in half seat to gallop up a steep hill. She was really excited to find a saddle that put her in the correct position without locking her into that position. In order to school dressage it is important for the rider to effortlessly find the right balance and the proper position on the horse. Many dressage saddles put you in that position with a deep seat and large thigh blocks. This is great when you are schooling figures in a flat arena but try riding up and down hills in this type of saddle for any length of time and it can quickly become an uncomfortable situation! The Celeste puts the rider in the right spot but does not hold the rider there. The rider is able to move a bit and find their balance in a lighter seat when necessary. The Celeste allows a rider to open their hip angle and extend their leg around their horse as they would in a true dressage saddle but the more open seat and shorter, exposed and angled thigh blocks do not hold your leg in that position. This is a saddle that can keep you comfortable for hours!
Obviously, if you are a serious competitor or are intent on moving up the levels of either dressage or jumping you are most likely going to be in the market for a more specialized saddle. You are not the target market for an all-purpose saddle so don’t get one!! If you are a rider with varied interests whose ambition is somewhat casual, these saddles could be well worth a look. They are secure, well balanced saddles that are designed with the comfort and safety of horse and rider in mind!
One Response to “The Purpose Of All-Purpose”
Susan Sanders
The Celeste has been the answer for me and my backyard Arabian. We love to take dressage lessons (at low levels); however, our normal work area (the yard around the house) is not level and cluttered with trees. A shorter stirrup helps me cope with the constantly changing terrain and footing.
He’s a good lad with a big spook in him, and the thigh blocks on the Celeste have helped keep me from hitting the dirt during our unannounced WTF moments (knock on wood!). I appreciate the more open, flatter seat too. The saddle feels more like some endurance seats than the deeper, more restrictive dressage saddles.
The leather is high quality throughout, and it’s not slippery- something deeply appreciated when it rains on us. Also, the flap length accommodates my leg without hanging on my boot. I’m 5’10” and long from knee to hip, and have old scars inside my knees from hanging over the edge of saddle flaps in the past, so I appreciate this saddle.
The adaptability of the front gussets has allowed a good fit on my big-shouldered, wide-backed Arab. He has a lovely even sweat pattern. I am so happy to have a saddle that fits his contours and isn’t too long for his short back, even though I’m a tall rider (17 1/2 XW). No more white hairs for my little chestnut guy!
As the writer suggests, the Celeste really feels like a “multi-purpose” saddle.
Thanks Trumbull!