Katherine Bateson-Chandler Wins Trilogy Dressage Saddle “Best Seat” at the Palm Beach Dressage Derby

National dressage champion Katherine Bateson-Chandler won the Trilogy Dressage Saddle “Best Seat” award during the 2010 Palm Beach Dressage Derby CDI, thanks to her effective and secure seat. Bateson-Chandler gave credit to Olympian Robert Dover, who she rode with for 16 years, for helping her develop her award-winning seat. “I am extremely happy to win the Trilogy ‘Best Seat’ award because having a good seat is the ultimate in dressage,” Bateson-Chandler said. “It’s an honor to win it and I will have to give the credit for my good seat to Robert.”
Bateson-Chandler has had an incredible past few years, but said the highlight was winning the national championship on Dea II, a Hanoverian mare owned by Jane Forbes Clark. “That was fabulous,” she said. “Now it’s been challenging moving my horses up to Grand Prix, but it has been a fun season. It’s fun moving forward and upward.”

Bateson-Chandler’s riding drew the attention of the Trilogy selection committee, who awarded her with the “Best Seat” award and an embroidered quarter sheet from Trilogy. Deborah Witty, President of Trilogy, attended the Palm Beach Dressage Derby and said she was impressed with Bateson-Chandler. “Katherine really stood out from the crowd, and that is saying a great deal because there were many talented riders competing,” said Witty. “Katherine looks beautiful in the saddle and it is easy to see that she spent many years riding with Robert Dover. Her horses are comfortable and happy when she rides and she is a joy to watch.”

The Trilogy “Best Seat” award is presented to the rider that best fits the following three criteria: effective secure seat; well-fitting saddle that enhances performance for horse and rider; and overall appearance on the horse. “It is always exciting to present the ‘Best Seat’ award and it is even more exciting to see how happy and grateful the winning riders are,” Witty said, adding that Trilogy looks forward to continuing to present the “Best Seat” award throughout the winter show circuit. “I enjoy recognizing riders and the importance of well-fitting equipment.”

Witty, a qualified saddle fitter from the Society of Master Saddlers of England, developed her line of Trilogy Saddles after recognizing that there was a need in the market place for a saddle line that addresses more of the horse and riders needs. Trilogy offers three dressage saddles: The Debbie McDonald, the Amadeo and the Verago. The Debbie McDonald Dressage Saddle series gives riders two choices: The Debbie McDonald features a flatter, more open seat, narrower seat and straighter leg. The Debbie Special is designed specifically for the petite rider. Trilogy also offers The Amadeo Dressage Saddle, the choice of riders who favor a more moderate depth of seat and twist with a generous seat bone position. The Verago Dressage Saddle is for the rider who prefers a deep seat with a narrow twist and a well-supported seat bone area.

For more information on Trilogy Saddles visit their website at www.trilogysaddles.com.