March 29, 2017

Remote Saddle Fitting

Now that the trailer is getting all fixed up, that leaves me with one last item to check off my list before I move barns.


I currently co-own this saddle with another girl in my barn.  The backstory is here, but basically, last fall I found a saddle that fit me perfectly, and fit Connor passably with a half pad.  But it turned out it fit my barnmate and her horse Louie PERFECTLY, so we decided it would eventually be hers, but we would share it until I got one of my own.  She's going to buy my half out when I get a new saddle.  It worked out really well - she got to pay two installments over six months and I can count on a modest check to help pay for my new saddle when the time comes.


I took one more stab at trying to self-fit a saddle, and trialed a Stubben Juventus D in a 32cm (wide) tree, from Pelham Saddlery last week.


It was a 'meh' fit without a girth, a little too high in the front...


And it got way worse when girthed - it went straight up in the back.  Slightly exaggerated here by Connor trying to graze while I took the photo, but still - bad bad bad.

Mary talked me off the ledge counseled me like only a former professional saddle fitter can and said that the tree size isn't necessarily the issue with a lot of the saddles I've tried, but the long narrow points on the horse-sized Dressage trees are the issue.  Our CWD jump saddle fits so well, and was a lot easier to get right, because of CWD's short flexible tree points (and the integrated panel, to a lesser extent).

So I called in the infantry.  I am out of time.  I'm doing a remote saddle fitting with a lady out of Florida that comes to this area twice a year to do fittings and flocking adjustments.  Half of my barn has used her before, a mix of remote and in person and she's good at what she does.  She's a brand-agnostic independent saddle fitter with a large inventory of nice used stuff at various price points.  She also doesn't give up until things are totally right on hard to fit horses.

Here are Connor's remote fitting photos:

Wearing the Devoucoux - which really doesn't look bad from the side, but looks terrible from the front.

And naked - cutest.  picture. ever.  Trainer: "He's really good at that, isn't he?" Me: "What, looking cute when I fake give him a treat?" Trainer: "Yes."  Me: Welsh shows for the win.
And here is his tracing, taken by my trainer:


I am supposed to talk to the saddle fitter this afternoon, should be interesting.  Stay tuned!

13 comments:

  1. I'm definitely interested to hear about your remote saddle fit experience! Around here, there are a few brand reps, but not many independent saddle fitters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Same here, we have one brand rep for County and that's it. No brand independent at all. I will definitely share how it goes on the blog.

      Delete
  2. Fingers crossed you find your dream saddle.
    PS - Connor is so great at posing 😍

    ReplyDelete
  3. Interesting. Keep the blog posts coming about this process please.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I plan to! I know I'm not the only one who lives in a saddle fitting dead zone.

      Delete
  4. This is fascinating! Cannot wait to hear what the saddle fitter says. I love cob types and someday when I hopefully own my own horse, I fully expect difficult saddle fit will be part of my horse ownership. Hope she finds the perfect saddle for you and Connor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It does seem to come with the territory, although I'll say Connor is difficult to fit in a way most Cobs aren't. Most cobs have very broad backs, and he really doesn't. I am on pins and needles waiting to see what she says.

      Delete
  5. Can't wait to see what you guys come up with. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Crossing my fingers the fitter helps you find something! I wish I could send you my unaffiliated fitter... she's a miracle worker for me thus far and I wish I could share her talents.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Crossing my fingers for you! My current saddle, which fits amazing was fit completely online after 2-3 in person saddle fitters failed so hopefully it will work for you as well!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good luck! The Saddle Geek does remote fittings (and she actually leases a horse at my barn!)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ugh struggle is real! Hope it goes well!

    ReplyDelete