For several years now, I have been trying to find a saddle that suits both Tino and myself comfortably. It’s been quite the chore. Schleese managed to fit Tino properly, but I personally found their saddles uncomfortable to ride in and visually unpleasing. Then, I was convinced by the CWD representative in our area that they could provide a proper fit. WRONG! Unfortunately, even after sending the saddle back and forth four times, it still doesn’t fit Tino correctly. With saddle prices on the rise, it’s hard for me to justify spending another $6,000 to $8,000 on a new one.
Through my recent research, I’ve come to appreciate the advantages of foam panels, such as low maintenance, some forgiveness, and better weight distribution. However, I’ve also realized that they come with their own challenges when it comes to customization.
As I start my new search for a saddle that fits my “difficult to fit” horse and appease my own wants and needs, I search the options, I’m looking into an adjustable tree with wool panels and searching for someone who can offer a custom fit. It seems like a reasonable plan, but I need to gain more confidence in the world of saddle fitting.
Have any of you encountered similar challenges? The days of relying on pads to make Hermes Steinkraus Saddles work on narrow Thoroughbreds are long gone.
In the up and coming months, I will jump into the pros and cons of different Hunter/Jumper close contact saddles, including those with adjustable trees, wool or foam flocking, and the varying costs. If you’re also facing the same challenges with saddle fit, I invite you to join me on this journey as I search to find a saddle that satisfies both Tino and I.
Are any of you experiencing similar challenges? I would love to hear about your struggles and solutions regarding these not-so-uncommon issues with saddle fitting.
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