The dressage saddle differs from your normal general purpose or jumping saddle in that the saddle flaps are cut straight to allow the leg to hand down straighter under the riders hips. This way the rider has maximum use of the leg. Similarly, the girth straps on a dressage saddle are much longer and coupled with a short girth help to keep a close contact with the horse.

Dressage saddles also come with pommel options of either a high or low head as in the Albion SLK once again to accommodate those horses with a high or low wither. Alternatively many saddles come with a cut-back pommel, these saddles are especially useful for horses with high withers and means that you don't necessarily have to have a high arch in order to accommodate him.