Trilogy Saddle Review: Trilogy Verago Dressage Saddle
Our first ride in the Trilogy Verago
Nox has always been a sensitive horse. On top of being a typical hot Dutch Warmblood, he was also born with some not-so-perfect back x-rays.
So when it was time to start him under saddle, we knew it would be important to take our time. And to find a saddle that fit from the very beginning.
We ended up borrowing an old Trilogy Verago. Despite trying countless other saddles throughout the years, we kept coming back to that same old Trilogy.
Keep reading my full review of the Trilogy Verago Dressage Saddle to find out why.
Trilogy Verago Dressage Saddle
The Trilogy Verago is one of the few saddles I’ve ridden in that felt genuinely comfortable for both my horse and me. I spent nearly a decade as a former professional groom and working student, so I’ve ridden dozens of different horses in dozens of different saddles.
For me, the biggest strengths of the Verago were its security for the rider and stability on the horse. While some horses may prefer more flexible saddles, Nox consistently felt more confident and comfortable in the Trilogy.
The Trilogy Verago dressage saddle is described as a model for riders who prefer a deep seat, a narrow twist, and a well-supported seat bone area. It felt supportive without making me feel trapped, and it gave me a secure place to sit on a very bouncy young horse with huge movement and quick reactions.
Saddle Fit for Sensitive Horses
Nox has a pretty textbook conformation. In theory, that should have made saddle shopping and fitting fairly straightforward.
In practice, it did not. What made finding the right saddle challenging was not his conformation. It was his sensitivity. He reacted strongly when something felt even slightly off, making his opinion clearly known with impressive, sometimes dramatic, displays of athleticism.
Supporting his comfort was critical for helping him work properly and build the muscle he needed to support his back, so we always listened when he let us know a saddle wasn’t quite right. The one saddle he didn’t seem to mind? An old Trilogy Verago.
Fitting the Trilogy Verago
With an 18” seat and a Medium-Wide Tree, the Verago we borrowed was slightly too large for both of us at first. But thanks to our excellent fitter, we were able to adjust the flocking to fit the saddle to him as he grew.
We also discovered that Nox strongly preferred being ridden in saddle pads with built-in sheepskin directly against his back—those super-expensive Mattes ones, of course. The pad also lifted the front of the saddle, helping it sit correctly on his back.
As he developed, he filled the saddle out better and better. During his young horse years, we could clearly tell when he was due for a fitting, and we noticed immediate improvements after every adjustment.
Riding in the Trilogy Verago
Riders often compromise their own comfort in an effort to find a saddle that fits their horse.
The Verago and other Trilogy saddles have a reputation for being incredibly comfortable for riders. Many models have deeper seats and larger thigh blocks to help riders feel secure. But does that comfort and security compromise performance and effectiveness?
One of the most common disappointments in saddle shopping is finding a saddle that feels amazing for the rider and clearly does not suit the horse at all. Yet a saddle that you can’t ride effectively in will also negatively impact your horse’s comfort while riding, regardless of how it fits in the crossties.
What surprised me about the Trilogy was the fact that I felt both secure and effective. It didn’t restrict my movement in the saddle, yet I found it genuinely comfortable. And I’ll be honest, there were several moments that security came in handy while riding a sensitive young horse.
Trilogy Saddle Fitters
Our Trilogy saddle fitter played a vital role in making the saddle successful, especially since we were using a hand-me-down.
While working in professional barns, I learned that your fitter is often a make-or-break factor when it comes to saddles. While there are several brands of saddles I personally like, very few have good fitters. And in our region, Trilogy has the best.
I can’t say enough good things about the Trilogy fitter for our region. Every time she came out, her adjustments led to huge improvements in Nox’s comfort and performance. She frequently helped friends with different saddle brands and never pressured us to buy a new one. (If you’ve worked with many saddle fitters, you know how rare that can be!)
Working with a good fitter matters because regular fitting and reflocking are essential for maintaining your saddle as your horse’s body changes.
Horses change shape with age, training, injury, rehab, and muscle development. Young horses can change especially quickly, and sensitive horses often react before the fit problem becomes obvious to the rider.
If you don’t have a good fitter, it doesn’t matter what brand of saddle you use. You’ll never achieve the perfect fit.
Trying Other Saddles
I didn’t expect to use our Trilogy as long as we did. It was supposed to be just a hand-me-down that would help us survive the first few years until I could justify buying my growing young horse a saddle of his own.
Nox has always been in full training, which meant we had access to many of our trainer’s other saddles in the barn. We could try different brands, different trees, and different designs. And yet we kept going back to the old Trilogy.
Many of the saddles we tried were from newer brands that touted trendy features, such as flexible trees and lighter materials. Yet my sensitive horse clearly seemed to prefer the more classic, proven design of the Trilogy with their wooden trees and wool-flocked panels.
While some of the more unique saddle designs may be the right solutions for certain horses, the experience taught me that keeping it simple is usually the best place to start.
If you and your horse both like a saddle, don’t overcomplicate things by always falling for the latest marketing trend.
Trilogy Dressage Saddles
Trilogy was founded by Debbie Witty, a certified saddle fitter from the Society of Master Saddlers of England. Their saddles have been a favorite of top dressage riders for decades.
They offer two lines of dressage saddles, a classic collection and a monoflap collection.
Saddles in the classic collection include the:
The Verago is the deeper, more supportive option. The Amadeo is more moderate in seat depth and twist. The Debbie McDonald is flatter and more open. If you prefer a more close-contact feel, the Trilogy monoflap models might be the best choice.
Saddles in the monoflap collection include the:
Trilogy saddles are made in England and use British-laminated beechwood trees. You can learn more about Trilogy and their different saddle models on their website.
Shopping for a Trilogy Saddle
That brings me to where I am now. With the borrowed Trilogy returned, and Nox now fully grown up, it’s time for his very own saddle. After everything our borrowed old Verago got us through, we’re sticking with Trilogy.
If you’re shopping for a new Trilogy saddle, the first step is contacting your local saddle fitter. You can find a fitter in your area on their Find My Fitter page.
While I’d love to purchase a new Trilogy, the ceaseless vet bills associated with owning a mischievous young horse have pushed me toward the used market rather than buying new.
If you are shopping used, pay attention to more than just the model name. Seat size, tree width, flap dimensions, flocking condition, panel symmetry, and billet wear all matter. Your fitter can help you evaluate if a specific used saddle is a good option for your horse.
Stay tuned for updates on our own saddle search!
The Verdict: Trilogy Saddle Review
The Trilogy Verago Dressage Saddle was comfortable, secure, and consistently stable on my sensitive horse. Even after trying many other saddles, we kept coming back to the old Trilogy.
No saddle is right for every horse, and fit always comes first. But if you are looking for a dressage saddle with a supportive feel, good stability, and a track record of working well for sensitive horses, Trilogy saddles are a great place to start.
