Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert Dressage Saddle Review
Passier’s Nicole’s Grand Gilbert Dressage saddle is a no-frills classical dressage saddle that is made in Germany. The Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert dressage saddle has a relatively shallow, close-contact seat and a notable lack of padding. If you are looking for a soft, cushy saddle that will guide your leg and seat into the correct position, the Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert Dressage saddle is probably not the right saddle for you.
Pros of the Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert Dressage Saddle
- This dressage saddle provides a very close contact feel for the rider and allows the rider great flexibility of movement.
- The PS Baum tree that the saddle is built around is renowned for its ability to provide good saddle fit on a variety of different horses.
- This dressage saddle is a very well built saddle made with high-quality materials.
Cons of the Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert Dressage Saddle
- This saddle has a very hard seat that some riders may find uncomfortable
- This saddle lacks external thigh blocks and other accessories that help the rider to maintain a correct riding position
- The retail price of this saddle (currently hovering just below $4,000) is substantial
Description of the Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert Dressage Saddle
The Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert dressage saddle is designed to be a classical style dressage saddle in terms of its fit and construction. This means that it is a balanced saddle that, with good care, will last a lifetime. However, the Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert lacks some of the niceties (i.e. a soft padded seat, “grippy” leather, etc.) that many of today’s dressage riders have grown accustomed to.
Review of the Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert Dressage Saddle
Amazingly, an off-the-rack Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert dressage saddle fit both of my horses exceptionally well. This is amazing because one of the horses is a short-backed Arabian with an “uphill” build and the other is a long-backed, croup-high, American Quarter Horse.
The problems that I often have with my saddle sliding forward (on the Arabian) or shifting side-to-side (on the Quarter Horse) disappear when I use this saddle. Both of the horses also exhibit great freedom of movement when they are wearing this saddle.
Sounds too good to be true? Well here’s the catch: this saddle is not what is known as a “rider’s saddle”. In fact, I think it’s a “horse’s saddle”, meaning that it was designed with the horse’s needs in mind, and that the rider’s comfort and position were left out of the equation to some extent.
Don’t get me wrong—this saddle is very well-balanced and allows the rider to sit “in the middle” of their horse without getting tilted forward or backward. So, the Passier Nicole’s Grand Gilbert allows you to get into a “perfect” position, but it certainly won’t help you stay there.
My trainer's opinion of this saddle is that, to paraphrase “it’s great for an Olympic-level rider, but maybe not so great for a rider who lack an Olympian’s balance and strength of position.” Of course, she was exaggerating a bit, but that is the essence of this saddle.
So, if you’re a strong rider who is looking for a well-balanced, expertly-crafted dressage saddle that allows maximum range of motion for both you and your horse, Passier’s Nicole’s Grand Gilbert has got your number. On the other hand, if you have trouble imagining yourself doing half an hour of sitting trot on a seat that’s roughly as hard as a fence post, you probably won’t enjoy riding in this model of Passier dressage saddle.
For More Information:
A review of the 2009 Wintec Pro Dressage Saddle
A Review of Centered Riding 2: Further Exploration by Sally Swift
Passier Young Champ Dressage Saddle Review
Pictures of horses schooling on the Fenridge Farm Cross Country course
Hotels to stay at for the Washington International Horse Show in Washington DC
