[RedRyderKy]

Are there any similarities between the BC Jumping saddle fit & the BC Dressage saddle fit? I need dressage saddle suggestions.

A little background info:
My horse is a special case, a long shouldered, short-backed TB with the typical sharkfin like withers and a slight roached back. According to the saddle fitter, there is no room for error with him, the saddle has only one spot to sit and must be perfect front to back. I have a BC Close Contact Monoflap w/ wither gussets that seems to fit my boy well. My problem is finding a dressage saddle that will fit him. I was using a Prestige Grand Dressage saddle that appeared to fit from September (when it was completely reflocked) to November. My horse was clipped right before his last HT in November and when his hair started growing in, he had white patches from the saddle! My horse showed no discomfort, I even received my two best dressage test scores in the saddle during this time period. I felt terrible since I had NO clue the saddle was hurting him.

This spring I met with saddle fitter again after my horse was back in shape from his winter break to check the fit of his BC jumping saddle and find out what was up with the Prestige. I had not used the Prestige saddle since the last show in November and his white patches are now gone. The saddle fitter feels I need to try a dressage saddle that is similar to my jumping saddle. It has Wider, flatter panels (the Prestige has upswept panels) and absolutely must have wither gussets. This is why I was wondering if a BC dressage saddle might be the best option if the fit is similar.

Thanks for reading my novel and hopefully giving me a few suggestions!

[VCT]

It depends on which models you are comparing. BC uses a few different trees IIRC... your best bet is to talk to a BC rep. Trumbull Mountain is great.

[eventer_mi]

Which models are you looking at? I have a Black Country Bellissima (upgraded Eloquence) and a Tex Eventer, and they fit the same - both fit a slightly flatter back. The BC Eden fits a more curvy back, so it probably fits more like a Ricochet (someone correct me if I'm wrong - I'm going off memory here).

[pharmgirl]

I do think there are similarities, and certain trees may do better for you than others. But, to know which may work we need to know what model your jump saddle is. My guy goes in a BC Ricochet for jumping and an Eloquence for dressage. The ricochet is the Wexford tree with the Quantum design, I believe. I know that the Quantum tree is too curvy for him, and we wanted something with more real estate on his back (so to speak). I agree in that I think the Eden is also a more curvy tree.

[RedRyderKy]

My jump saddle is the BC Vinici Jump. I love the feel of the monoflap so leaning towards the BC Vinici Dressage.

[RunForIt]

...just wondering as a good friend of mine (and VERY popular here on COTH) has a Vinici jump saddle and her horse has a back like a table!

[EventingChase]

My understanding (limited as it is) is that the Vinici Jump and the Eloquence dressage tend to be for flatter backed horses as they have flatter trees and broader panels.

However, black country can build a saddle on any tree, so someone with a Vinici may have had it built on a curvier tree to suit their horses back.

[VCT]

Yeah, agree with EventingChase... the Vinicis are for flatter backed horses. Flatter trees and definitely broader panels. I recently was shopping for a dressage saddle and tried the Vinici... the panels stuck out too far for my horse - I guess he was not quite flat or table-ish enough for it. I ended up with an Adelinda which IIRC has the same tree but the panels are just regular gusseted panels.