Could an english saddle fitter do a good job on a stock horse and a western saddle?
For the second time, my saddle fitter was hours late to her appointment with me. Since I was going to have to meet her and it would have been after dark, I cancelled the appointment. I live at the edge of nowhere, and it is two hours drive to any horse community, this is very frustrating.
Since english saddle fitters are more numerous in the first place, IF I could find a fitter of english saddles that would come to my area, do you have any opinion as to whether he or she might be familiar with stock saddles and horses? Is that sort of thing common?
I know my saddle is not fitting right, I need advice to decide if it needs to be wider, shorter or a completely a different angle of tree. It is Full Quarter Horse Bars, but is still bearing down in the typical area behind the withers that is hard to fit, causing dry spots, and also is impinging on her shoulder movement. This is the second saddle she has outgrown as she matures and gets more fit, but now I'm out of saddles that fit her, and am going to have to search for a new one to buy.
You can't reflock a western saddle, there is no flocking. The only thing you can do is use different weights of saddle pads, or even ones with padding in specific areas. I've tried a thin pad, a thick pad, one with built up padding behind the withers. I've not tried one made specifically for sway backed horses because I think that will be counter productive, but I just might try it while I'm searching for a professional fitter.
I can't afford too many errors here, so I
Of course I'd ask them....I was trying to get your opinion if that was common. I know I sound sarcastic, but I would love to know where you guys live that have custom saddle makers in your area to choose from. I've got a custom made saddle, but it is now, what, about 45 years old, and that guy has long retired, though I do believe he is still alive. It was the first one she outgrew, since it was made for another horse of another generation, horse shapes have evolved over the years, too. Also, like everyone else, I've got a budget, and if I could get a fitter to give me (I don't know what to call it) some parameters, I could look (as is often suggested) for a high quality used saddle, which would have to be shipped in, tried by me (it has taken me months to get the appointment that fizzled out), and then returned if it doesn't fit, and hope I could get my money back.
OK, so armed with the idea that a fitter who specializes in english saddles, MIGHT be able to giv
(ok, yahoo keeps cutting off the ends of my edits)
e me an opinion on western saddle fits, I'm off in search of one who will come to me, or is within a 2 hour drive out for me.