Cob Jockey

I got feisty this weekend and listed both of my saddles for sale.  Nevermind the fact that I have an event this weekend and a clinic the next and am now (almost) saddleless?

The Stackhouse sold, like, immediately.  I guess I got the deal of a lifetime on it last summer, because I posted it for $200 more than I paid a year ago and within minutes had people commenting on it being such a good deal.  I like it when my major purchases appreciate over time!  The girl that bought it, through the Facebook group, is so excited to have gotten it, she doesn't mind if I have to wait a week until after Leg Up to ship it.  Very cool.  One down.

My first, and maybe only, Stackhouse.

The County has six watchers on the eBay auction, which ends Saturday.  Cross your fingers for me, both of them need to go.

Freakin love this saddle.  So sad to see it go.

Where does that leave me?  Looking for a 16.5" wide close contact saddle, used, preferably with short flaps, preferably a good brand that will not depreciate quickly like the saddles I currently own, that's flat through the panels for my broad-backed pony.  Unsurprisingly, eBay is not helpful for something that specific.

The only saddle fitter in Indiana is a (well-loved and talented) County rep.  As much as I love my County, I don't like being locked into a specific brand at all.  But do I buy a County (used) in order to have a saddle fitter nearby?  (Also, someone PLEASE get certified as a master saddle fitter and come to this state!)

There's a saddle fitter that flies up from Florida to do intensive saddle fitting sessions with folks here, but she doesn't come until October.

There's a tack store two hours from me in Ohio that has loads of consignment saddles, high-quality brands, and they allow you a three-week trial on each saddle.  Do I hike over there and trial something, even if it's just to get me through that clinic?  Road trip, Austen?

There's the Trumbull Mtn option.  I've heard very good things about their remote saddle fitting service and trials.  Apparently they stick with you through the entire process, responding to as many emails with photos and videos that you can throw at them, and don't give up until you're totally satisfied.  I'm interested, but wish I knew someone who had done that process.  Anyone?

Trumbull Mtn also carries Kent and Masters saddles, a British saddlery that makes a Cob tree, which I am very interested in, but the resale value wouldn't be as high as it is for the saddles I'm selling now.  But if this is a forever saddle, do I care that much if it fits both of us and is of good quality?  I'm hoping to be done with the revolving saddle door now.

Thoughts?  Your own experiences?

After almost two days of staring at the gullet of the Stackhouse and thinking it would be too narrow for Connor, I finally have my answer:

It fits!  Very well, for buying it sight-unseen.  It's my second eBay leap of faith with a saddle that turned out well with Connor.  The only place I can knock it is the back panel, which is upswept a bit too much for his flat Cob back, but it's going to need such a minor correction that the riser pad you see in the photo was really too much.  I'll probably get some sort of shim pad for it.

Upsweeping issue apparent here without pad.

On the lunge, I was really able to observe saddle fit while he was moving, as the cool, windy weather had him in a forward mindset.  It took me quite a while to bring him down from the surprisingly controlled, balanced canter he offered immediately, and I was ecstatic to see that he was rocked back on his hocks and really working through his back under the saddle.  Gosh, he's going to have a nice canter when we get things sorted out.

As far as it feels for me, it puts my leg more under me than the Beval did, which my trainer will be happy about.  It's so, so comfy, and the leather is just impeccably well-maintained and soft.  Plus, it has little knee rolls, which I have not ridden with in years.  I think the twist might be a hair wider than my old saddle, and the seat is a 16.5" instead of a 16", which I noticed more than I thought I would, but neither issue bothered me.  We had a quick walk and trot ride and I was able to stay very balanced while posting, sitting and in two-point.  I can't wait to get over a jump in this saddle!

In conclusion, it's not a custom fit, but for $699 I'm thrilled with it and the way he reacted to it, and it will definitely be staying as long as it fits both of us!

I’m going to make this brief since I only have a few minutes left before leaving work for the barn.  I had a lesson on Saturday in which my trainer made sure I was doing the lunging properly.  There really is a lot to it when you’re using it as a teaching/training tool and not just for non-riding exercise or to let the horse blow off some steam.  She made sure I was holding the “rein” properly and complimented the timing of what essentially amounted to half-halts.  After that, I felt much more prepared to tackle it on my own and start working with him more often.