My Horse Likes Expensive Shit

I rode Stinker in S's dressage saddle (County Fusion) today. He was excellent. Sure we had some tension and quick tempo, but he was much less tense than normal. And he actually lifted his back. I must say that makes a huge difference in the way he feels. I haven't felt it enough to really be able to describe it (nor do I have video) but everything is just better. He reaches under himself, reaches for the contact, and feels much lighter for lack of a better term. All in all it is an amazing feeling and gives me hope for our progress and our future.

So pretty so expensive...

The down side is that it is a $5000 saddle and there isn't one on the demo list (read $1000-2000) cheaper. I scanned online and found very few for sale and nothing that would fit either of us. Darn horse and his expensive taste. In addition to that, I actually liked how it feels. I wasn't struggling to keep my leg under me. I'm going to hold off my opinion on it for me until I can get video. I think I'm going to get video of us in S's saddle for me and D and also video of us in a demo saddle.

The rep will be back next week and I am going to try a wide 18" vs. a narrow 17.5" (I think). This will also answer a burning question I have. Everything I have read/heard about saddle fitting Saddlebreds is that they are deceptively wide. D thought he was a narrow, but I sent pictures to a saddle fitter she recommended and that lady said medium to medium wide. So I got a medium Albion. Which he liked until I brought him back into work from the EPM.

Not fitting...

I was struggling to find someone who would come to our area for saddle fitting, so I sent pictures to a second saddle fitter (she was recommended by the dressage judge I clinic with). She said the problem was my Albion was too narrow. So, I decided to try this County lady, because I was desperate. This lady put him and S's mare in a narrow. I ordered my jump saddle (she did agree to a cheaper price if I need to swap out the tree within a year). So I was left wondering who was right... D and the County lady said narrow. Two well recommended saddle fitters said wider (from pictures) plus all my reading was on their side. I honestly don't even know what to think. But now I'm going to get to try a wide and maybe that will shed some light on the narrow vs wide situation.

Right now my bottom line is my dressage saddle is causing tension and puffiness, so something needs to change. If D says I ride much better in S's saddle I might be biting the bullet and getting a new dressage saddle. I just want to make sure I get the correct one, so I am not having a repeat of this in another 6-12 months. But I have been informed that what I have is not working and he prefers things that cost $$$$. All I have to say is thank God I'm single and I don't have to justify my spending to anyone besides me.

He is lucky he is cute...expensive but cute