Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Would'a, Should'a, Could'a

I've been having saddle fitting problems with Tessa lately.  For any of you non-horse folk, saddle fit is a lot like finding shoes to fit only they have to fit two people at once and if you really get it wrong the horse is liable to pitch a body off.  It matters, and it can be horribly difficult.  I have a saddle that I am very happy with and I thought I had this covered, but I don't.  Luckily, Tessa is a very forgiving and tolerant sort and, while she did try hard to tell me that the saddle hurt, she did it very politely.  It's just one of the many reasons I like her.

I spoke with a saddle fitter who works mainly with gaited horses like Tessa, she recommended a saddle and I just happened to find a used one at a decent price.  I figured it it works, I would sell my other saddle and be even all around, so I bought it and it arrived about a week ago.  The jury is still out as to whether it is going to work for us or not.  It looks good, with a couple of iffy points that I can't asses without going for a real ride in it.  I have been telling myself that I really need to go for a ride, I need to check the saddle, I need to work the horse.  But, we have had rain for 10 days now an inch and a half yesterday alone.  The poor town of Sherburn, just a bit North of here has suffered 100 year floods.  Twice.  In four days.

We don't have the horrible heat that the west is suffering, but the air is like a wet, moldy blanket.  The woods are so saturated that even tanner is digging up the trails.  I kept thinking that I should ride, check the saddle, work the horse.  I've changed my mind.  It is hot, buggy, wet and miserable.  I don't want to ride in this and I know poor Tessa sure doesn't.  Anything we might accomplish will be nullified by both of us being grumpy,  miserable and irritable.  I have decided that we should not ride.

It has only taken me about 30 years to come to that conclusion.  Some of us are slow learners, but we get there in the end.

14 comments:

  1. My daughter has friends stuck at Brookfield and can't get out!!

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    1. Well, there are worse places to be stuck at least:) I heard that they are hoping the water will recede sometime today, as long as we don't get more rain.

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  2. My grandmother had a dun who had extremely high withers, and she had to be careful what saddle she put on him. Beyond that, I know nothing about the fit of a saddle for the horse. I thought that with a good pad and blanket, all would be fine.

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  3. Saddle fit problems are the pits. Especially with gaited horses (or so I hear). My Tonka was built like a gaited horse and I never did find a perfect fit. I hope your new one fits! What kind is it?

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    1. The "new" saddle is a Tennessean endurance saddle made by National Bridle Shop. It is supposed to be designed for TWH's, we'll see.

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  4. I realize that most horse owners are considerate of their mounts (I've ridden, never owned), but you seem to be especially thoughtful of yours. This post has just elevated you in my esteem - and you were already on a pedestal!

    Nancy in Iowa

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  5. Good luck with the saddle. The gaited Paso mare fit well with her Barefoot brand endurance saddle for gaited horses.

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  6. Some days you gotta know when you're beaten. It's taken me many grumpy rides, falls and far too many years to realise this! Good luck with the saddle fitting, I feel your pain, the 'perfect' saddle fit always seems to be just out of reach...

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  7. I have a gaited Paso mule who is especially round, but I am having good luck with a Stonewall saddle which is styled after the McClellan Military saddle.

    I understand difficult saddle fit. Riding mules and donkeys has taught me there is no one fit all solution.

    We finally have had 3 days without rain. I was able to ride. Don't go in the hot muggy weather especially if the ground is saturated. You are wise.

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  8. Some days it's just better to stay at home!

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  9. Muggy and buggy - YUCK! I can't tell you the number of friends I've spent time listening too the trials and tribulations of fitting saddles. I certainly didn't know that after growing up on ranch horses where you threw on whatever was available.

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    1. Most ranch horses are generally Quarter Horses or QH crosses and most saddles built for them fit them well enough. If you have an average horse and an average saddle you get an average fit and that works OK - on average:). Anything outside of the average QH mold tends to have trouble.

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  10. Hope your weather improves soon and greatly, and that the saddle will work beautifully for both you and Tessa.

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