After waiting what seemed like several weeks, but was only 1.5 weeks, the saddle fitter finally came by. She was 40 minutes early, already there when I got home from work. I had to clean up the horse and pick up the poop by the barn as the lady watched.
It's a little humiliating and mostly eye-opening how little I know about saddle fitting, and how little feel I have for it when I stick my hand under the panels. I had to be told what to look for.
I had been measuring with the template incorrectly, as the vet had said. She's not an extra wide. Also, my saddle's flocking is terribly uneven. How did that happen.
She confirmed that the saddle is in fact too long for Mara, but that going over the 17/18th rib doesn't impact all horses. To me this means I'll most likely need another saddle. It might not seem to bother Mara, but it can't be optimal.
Since the saddle was bridging, she is going to reflock it to make it fit. She will try to flock it in a way that puts less pressure at the rear of the panels because it's so long.
My man held Mara's lead and helped us out, and made witty banter with her that I needed help understanding. I said, "Wow, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to saddle fitting. Hooves, OTOH, I can talk for days about."
She'll come out in a week to see how it fits, and try to decide about padding. As she was filling out the information, she made a guess, "So, this mare is a Quarter Horse, right?"
*Deadly silence from horrified speechlessness*
My man came to my rescue with more witticisms.
Is Mara that much of a chunk? Good heavens. But I think Connie's right - when she gets fit, she'll get some type.
In the meantime, I'm ordering this.
I feel like Kacy, poor girl, always in a bareback pad. But maybe I'll get buff like she is.
In any case, I should soon be able to give a review of a fancyschmancy product. Can you believe how pricey a bareback pad can be? But the removable pads look pretty cool.
My man was like, "So, are you safer in a saddle or on a bareback pad when the horse spooks?"
Um, yah, I'm probably gonna hit the ground.
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7 comments:
Quarter Horse, really? LOL That girl is all Arab! Especially after watching her lounging video!! If she was black she looks like the Black Stallion in the movie! :O) Coming from a Stock horse person, she looks more old stock Arab, I see these stocky Arabs more in Arabian Cow horses. Just because she doesnt look like a modern fragile halter horse! Ha LOL LOL I like her!!! She doesnt look to fat, I dont see a cresty neck on her.
LOL! You won't hit the ground. Chrome spooked really big and I didn't hehe. Of course if he had spooked sideways I probably would have LOL!
I can't wait to hear what you think about the bareback pad. It's very interesting. Just don't use stirrups on it. That can be very dangerous!
Did the fitter think she was a Quarter horse because you are American or because she's chunky? She must not have seen Mara move, because she all Arab in that video you shared. :)
I hope the saddle will work after the modifications, but if not at least you have the bareback pad. :)
Huh. So, this person is going to fix up your faithful ol' Wintec...and then you're good? Or you will still be hunting for a different saddle?
Sorry, I'm a little dim.
I am having my saddle fit (again) on Sunday. Fortunately, while both my boys have different builds, they're not so different that they would require different saddles. My saddle fitter is able to make my dressage saddle work for both boys. I use different pads on each, but so far it is working. Saddle misfit is a complete pain in the butt! Hopefully you get it worked out soon!
HAHAHA!!!
I was reading along and thinking, "oou, can't wait to talk to you about all this stuff since I've done some extensive research" (feel like I could be a saddle fitter!) and then, I looked at the bareback saddle pad, and was itching to comment...THEN, you mentioned me and "Poor Girl"!
NA!!! I adore my "soft saddle" bareback rides...almost more than my saddle rides now! I never have to worry about the mare's back with my soft saddle...I use a "Mattes Correction pad" with "Thin Line shims" in the pockets.
I do like the look of that bareback saddle pad. My mare dislikes "dressage length" girths though. That was my only reservation.
There are two sets of videos I would recommend for learning the ropes of saddle fit.
One is the set of films Jochen Sleese, Saddle fit 4 life(think I spelled that right) They are on You Tube, about 9 of them. Good stuff.
And the other one is through Laser equestrian, Jeramy Beals. A very dry humored english man, who is right on.
Any who...poor me is being stuck with this saddle I have from ANSUR. I have thought though, It is the most comfortable saddle I have ever had...but it needs a rounder horse, with little to No wither . MARA!
I sure wish I could get it to you!!! REALLY. I think you'd love it. I rode a ROUND mustang with it , and it fit him like a dream...saddle marks were wonderful. It is treeless, but has a gullet system for spine relief. It just was too narrow for HIGH withers, like Wa has. Her back Never hurt though.
Sound like you may be getting yours fixed up. Good. Shocking about that SF saying QH. OH! Never would I think that about your gorgeous mare...it is obvious, she's an outstanding Arabian!
I may try Heather Moffits (Enlightened Equitation) new saddle the "Flex EE".
I'm back...
haha, laughed again when your man asked that question about safety. I thought stirrups always meant better safety.. until I got dumped off a standing horse(Pantz).
If they drop a shoulder and roll around...ain't no stirrup in the world saving your butt from the ground!
My "soft saddle" was sideways(no stirrups) after my mare did the drop shoulder spook 6 1/2 weeks ago...so my legs vices worked...but no staying on that!
"Cashel Co." has another nice looking bareback saddle now...if ya take the stupidly added stirrups off! just can't have stirrups and no tree! Though, I used mine in the arena with the stirrups, and was fine. the day I took the soft saddle on the trail and she slipped and I weighted the stirrup-OH! Sideways and stepping onto the ground in a heartbeat!
Yea, Expense is keeping me held back in the saddle dept.
(I've this $3,000 gorgeous Ansur saddle sitting in my house, which fries my grits)I may try to commission it at half the price.
Though I got a very nice Stuuben Tristan off Ebay...it needs flocking..another 150 dollars +shipping. For now I am using it with a closed cell foam bumper for her comfort.
I certainly Pray you DO NOT hit the ground!
Lytha, if allhorsestuff offers to sell that Ansur to you for halfprice, GRAB IT. Those things are gorgeous.
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