PROVIDING THE FUNDAMENTALS OF EQUESTRIANS SINCE 1975
EVENTING • DRESSAGE • JUMPING
A GP (General Purpose) saddle is the most versatile choice for the modern equestrian. Designed to perform across a wide range of activities, it is the ideal solution for riders who enjoy a mix of hacking, jumping, and introductory dressage. Whether you are a beginner building foundational skills or a trainer working with young horses, a high-quality GP saddle provides the balance and support needed for every ride.
GP saddles (also known as all-purpose saddles) bridge the gap between specialized jumping and dressage designs. They are the top choice for:
Multi-Discipline Riders: Perfect for those who want one high-quality saddle that handles everything from trail riding to local shows.
Beginner Equestrians: The user-friendly design helps new riders develop a secure seat, correct posture, and foundational balance.
Training Young Horses: Many trainers recommend GP models for young horses because they offer a stable, supportive platform as the horse develops muscle.
To ensure a high level of performance across disciplines, a quality GP saddle focuses on three main areas:
Deep Seat and Enhanced Padding: Provides extra security and comfort, which is especially beneficial during longer hacks or over small fences.
Supportive Knee Rolls: These offer the necessary leg stability for a shorter jumping stirrup without being as restrictive as a dedicated jumping saddle.
Adjustable Fit Technology: Most modern GP saddles feature interchangeable gullet systems, allowing you to customize the fit to accommodate your horse’s changing shape and size.
Because GP saddles are available in a wide variety of sizes and widths, they are among the most accessible options for ensuring horse and rider comfort. A well-fitted GP saddle prevents pressure points and allows the horse to move freely, making it a staple in any tack room.
These are a small selection of the saddles we carry in stock with immediate availability.
Kent & Masters saddles are expertly made in England and are proud that all their leather saddles are handmade in England by skilled craftsmen and qualified master saddlers using traditional techniques. They combine this heritage with scientific research & testing plus saddle-fitting expertise to develop fitting solutions for even the trickiest conformation.
The Ideal Saddle Company is one of the largest manufacturers of all leather saddles on wooden saddle trees in the world, offering an extensive range of dressage, show jumping, eventing and showing styles. For over thirty years we have been based in Walsall, the home of English saddlery, and our range of saddles offers unrivalled choice in quality, style and performance, whether you’re a leisure rider, a competitive amateurs or a top level professional. With skilled fitting, the finest workmanship and our trademark flexibility we create the IDEAL saddle for you AND your horse, ensuring that you can both achieve your best.
Albion’s guiding principle is simple. Blending traditional values and artisan craftsmanship with revolutionary innovation and state of the art technology, they take tremendous pride in producing beautifully handcrafted equestrian supplies. Established in 1985 with a core vision, the brand began to pioneer a truly premium range of equestrian supplies. Since then, they have gained an outstanding reputation for providing premium quality, excellent customer service and for being talented saddle makers.
Fairfax Saddles are renowned for their scientific design, development and testing. They make saddles, girths and bridles that are proven to relieve pressure and improve the horse’s performance, which is why they are chosen by some of the best riders in the world. Experienced saddlers make their saddles in Walsall, England using a mixture of traditional techniques and cutting-edge technology. Their innovative designs are proven by science and protected by patents, their ground-breaking research is regularly published in reputable scientific journals and presented at veterinary conferences worldwide.
Since 1934, Bates Saddles have been driven by a philosophy of innovation focused on saddle performance and comfort for both you and your horse. When it comes to saddle fit and your horse’s comfort, Bates Saddles are the optimum choice. Our research and development team have pioneered modern saddle adjustability, and are responsible for many of the saddle features that address the comfort of horses today. We have earned our reputation as the industry experts in developing creative solutions to optimise horse and rider comfort and performance. We work alongside elite riders to develop highly specialised saddles in each of their chosen disciplines. Our success lies in identifying the changing needs of horses and riders. We are thorough in our research, employing every means available to us in evaluating our products. Bates Saddles enlists the services of expert physicists, veterinarians, and saddle fitters to assist in appraising our saddles, ensuring complete confidence in their proven advantages.
