AND I have gotten a chance to ride in it!
I am just going to say it right now: I am never, ever trying to buy a "non" name brand saddle again. The difference in craftsmanship, leather quality, EVERYTHING, is so significant. Sure, I had to expand my budget a little bit, but I think I mentioned in my last entry that I had a wonderful experience with a seller who was willing to work with me. (So Nora, if you're reading this, thank you again! I know I've said it a million times, but I'd keep saying it!)
I picked it up at my postbox across the border on Tuesday, the 4th, but in my excitement, even though I knew (believe me, I kept reading the specs on the saddle over and over) that it is rigged for a dressage girth, I "forgot" and so didn't have a suitable girth to use... so it sat in my living room on my saddle rack while I admired it from across the room until Saturday morning when I was finally able to get to a local tack shop and pick one up.
I ended up with a 26", which WILL girth up and go up several holes, but I am told is a little too short. Anyways - I had to get a girth and that was the only option I had and if I didn't get something soon, I was going to strap it down with balertwine and sit in it! With the holidays and troublesome weather on the East coast, it took just short of three weeks to arrive, so I was pretty anxious.
So Saturday rolled around and I headed to town, went to the gym, picked up the girth, ate some sushi, headed home, and immediately changed my clothes and headed out to the barn. We've been getting some snow, so I knew I couldn't do too much but I needed to at least SIT in that saddle!
Anyways... this is what you're all here for! The pictures!
For comparison's sake, I am first going to refresh your memory with a couple of pictures from the 18" Thorowgood that I bought a while back. The extended panels were too long for her short, stout back, and she was pinched at the shoulders. It also really didn't fit me, like, at all.
Now, the new saddle!
If that doesn't look like a happy horse, I don't know what does!
I normally am very cautious riding in the snow but I was so excited about this saddle and the obvious difference in how easily and pleasantly she moved out that I just had to see what a canter in a well fitted saddle felt like. We have not done a lot of canter, DUE to the saddle issues we have had because of slipping (anyone remember me getting deposited on my head at the canter from a saddle that slipped all the way around Bronwyn's belly?) and also due to the ill fitting saddles, she had some issues (ducking, veering, etc) when we weren't in a roundpen in a "forced" circle.
We took off up through the snow... straight, balanced, comfortable and SO MUCH FUN.
I have had a few offers to buy this saddle from me (before I even got a chance to sit in it) but I have said more than once that I love this one so much I think I might have it buried with me, haha! If anything, it is a smidge too wide for Bronwyn, but I would rather a little too wide than too narrow, and still a little tight for me but I think it works for the length of my leg, just gotta work some of my butt off.
Now I feel that I can finally move forward instead of just floundering around in the same place. I have things I need to work on (hands out of my crotch, no piano hands, and eyes up, to name a few things!) and I feel like I can work on those now that I am not obsessively thinking "Is this saddle hurting my horse? Is this causing her pain?" - I feel like I can comfortably spend more time in the saddle now - it's refreshing and makes 2011 seem pretty bright and exciting to me!
2015-12-15: Hi! You're probably here because you did a Google search for 'plus sized horseback riders' or you saw my content quoted elsewhere. There are a couple of things I'd like you to know.
I am still here! But I am living away from my horses and not riding often. I could tell you a lie and say that I am, but I have always endeavored to give you the truth here. As a result, I'm not feeling terribly motivated to write blog posts and I feel out of touch with the community.
I'd love for you to stay a while and look back through the archives. Visit the links listed below. We still have an active forum community and I post on the Facebook page from time to time.
I have tentative plans to try to get more involved in the horse world in 2016, and I will absolutely share whatever that adventure becomes with you, so keep checking back!
I have tentative plans to try to get more involved in the horse world in 2016, and I will absolutely share whatever that adventure becomes with you, so keep checking back!
I just wanted to say I absolutely love your blog! I am also so happy to hear you have found a great saddle, I too had a hard time finding a saddle to both fit my horse and myself, but I have one now, the difference is amazing.
ReplyDeleteGreat job :-)
Told.You.So. 'nuff said - you figure out who I am :)
ReplyDeleteLOL Candi - just had to get the dolla dolla bills together to make it happen.
ReplyDeleteLOL - I know - had to rib ya that's all!
ReplyDeleteyay for you !Looks like a darn near perfect match
ReplyDeleteYou both look fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYou two look fabulous together...congrats and here's to a wonderful 2011! A well fitting saddle truly DOES make all the difference!
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad it works for you! The right saddle does make all the difference. Great pics!
ReplyDeleteI just recently found your blog and I am absolutely in love with it. Being a plus sized rider myself I often myself feeling self conscious around the many slimmer riders. I've been able to identify so well with this blog, between being a plus sized rider but also having a plus sized friesian/quarter horse I've found your blog to be one of my favorite horse related anythings on the web. Look forward to reading more from you! =]
ReplyDeleteThis depends on you and your horse... but I used a gel pad between the saddle pad and saddle on my horse. He is off the track and had a tempermental back. Worked wonders for us, bridging the gap to make a much better fit for our saddles. Thanks for putting yourself and your pony out there. Reminds me of the one true passion I miss so much! Keep riding and pushing through any rough trails that come your way =)
ReplyDelete