If the saddle fits

...ride it! Well, that's the plan, anyway. Yesterday Tracy and I spent a few hours trying on saddles on Gem, because, uh, yeah his terrible owner (me) didn't realize or remember that my saddle didn't, uh, exactly fit right, uh, yeah for like EIGHT YEARS.

I know! But I didn't know. But I did. But I didn't. And just lately Tracy said she thought he hurt. Well she was right. Is it the cow kicking he does when we ask him to pick up the left lead canter that tipped us off? Uh, maybe. Is it the sucking back and crow-hopping he does in the corners? Uh, could be.

Tracy offered to buy a new saddle for us to ride in, so Wednesday we browsed and picked four saddles to try: Bates Caprilli, Barnsby Aurora, Burghley event and a Pessoa GenX.


Yesterday we tried them on and the Bates fit him the best. The Barnsby is a super-sweet saddle also, but it didn't quite fit him right which was sort of a bummer. But that Bates felt soft like buttah. OOOh aaahhhhhh....

Tracy rode first in it, while Becky and I watched. Gem seemed more forward and his gait more fluid and I feel even more guilty. Sigh. But at least we are getting this straightened out and we will all move forward more comfortably from now on!

I also asked DocK to check Gem overall for anything else that may be bothering him, whether it's related to saddle fit or not. We already know about his stiff left hip so we'll see what else he comes back with.