Saddle Fitting, Stübben Style

Drum Roll Please…

Thursday was a long long day and I introduced myself to Morgan at the Stübben tent at FHI. It was cold and it was wet and I wondered a few times if we could even do the fitting (We would have had to haul to Fox Mill for the arena which was doable but would add even more time on an already long ass day)!

Morgan had told me it would be around 630 but lucky for me she closed up early and came out to meet Remus and try saddles on even earlier! Which helped because it gets dark so early now (We do have lights in the ring but that tends to bring the spooky side of Remus out). We lucked out in the weather as in rain went away so that was good!

The Saddles

First off I have to show you the pink and black monoflap (Zaria) which I am sad to say we did not try on Remus (Not that I want that color but still it would have been a giggle to put on him!) We were planning to but she had a regular brown monoflap we put on him instead (I got no photos of the monoflap or the double flapped Zaria on Remus, massive fail on my part). By the end of the fitting we were all over the map so completely forgot to pull that saddle out of her magical Hermoine bag (aka Prius that held so many saddles)!

All the saddles we tried, I actually liked! ALL OF THEM. Like when does that happen? First off though Morgan took a look at Remus and while agreeing he is wide she said due to how the trees are on these saddles, he is not a wide. He wears a….wait for it….are you ready for this….a 29 tree. UM wait and I have been searching for a 32 tree. GOOD THING I DIDN’T FIND ONE, EH? So after scooping me off the ground where I lay in shock we started trying saddles out. And this is great when all the saddles fit you and your horse pretty well but omg this is hard when you keep trying and you are like umm I like them all! All of them.  I WANT ALL OF THE PRETTIES.

Remus was NOT impressed with our search for the ultimate saddle (see photo above as proof!). He in fact gave me several middle fingers to show unimpressed he was. He refused to canter, he was spooky and looky, and was certain his buddies had left him (THEY were in the paddock in line of vision, they had NOT left). Morgan laughed at him because drama queen he was. But the good thing was that I could ride him in all the saddles. And make him go. So yay? But damn, horse, did you have to make me work so hard the whole time. I need a plan or at least a pla’ while looking for saddles, please so work with me Remus.

Anyway, the Monoflap Zaria was pure pleasure to ride in as we kind of suspected might happen. They also have a double flapped Zaria (which is the same but about 1000 dollars less without the monoflap which makes it about 3500 or 3600 so not like it is bargain basement prices but at least not 4500!). That one Morgan thought I rode Remus in the best. The monoflap may have fit Remus a smidge better but she though the regular Zaria would do fine. I rode in a Roxanne which I liked a lot and I can’t even remember how much that cost, it was very comfy and had front and rear blocks which were great and kept me very secure, and I loved the Biomex seat a lot. I also was comfy and snug in the Portos. And that one I think was the most affordable one of all. So after all that where am I?? I don’t know! If I buy new, I can customize a bit so the double flapped Zaria I can put rear blocks on it (The one I was in did not have them but had the same front blocks as the monoflap which was great security!).

Next Steps

Morgan is going to look for demos and/or used for me as well. SO at least I found something that can work. I did a small cross rail in the Zaria double flapped and it seemed okay but by that time I was ready for the loony bin and Remus had turned off the lights on his front porch so we were done with that. I didn’t walk away feeling like I had to buy a new saddle right then (only cause I am so damn cheap) but I am pleased I found something that might work. Poor Morgan I feel for her. She really enjoyed fitting a Quarter Horse and seemed to enjoy Remus with all his shenanigans.  She worked for that fitting fee though I tell you.

We shall see what we find, she wanted me to put a deposit down on the Zaria double flapped to try over the weekend but I knew I wasn’t going to ride any because of FH so I declined for that part. She was very nice and not pushy at all and had a great sense of humor (A must!) and I would recommend her to anyone who is looking for a saddle to fit a wide horse.

She sent one to me already that was a used double flapped Zaria but it didn’t have the rear blocks and I really think I want that. I really liked them all and the leather while not the best in my mind, looked sturdy for me which is more important than having the softest calf leather which I would destroy I am pretty sure. I really don’t want new though for the break in period and the cost both!!  My only beef with all the regular saddles (ahem but not the monoflap) is the billets are short short short on them all. And for that reason we had to use Sterling’s girth again which is too big but all the 50 inches and below wouldn’t work on the saddles with the short billets.  So a new girth would have to be bought as well. Details right? The billets are very thick and again being so short they would make it tough girthing for a while through the breaking in period.  Stay tuned for updates as they happen!