New Saddle

 

New saddle 

So, in October of 2018, I decided to try and find a western saddle for showing. In my head I thought that I would ride in the Alta all of the time, except in the show. I knew I would need to practice some in the western saddle so that I wasn't going into the show cold, but what I wasn't expecting was for Ashke to like it better. The saddle I found was $350 dollars and weighs about six ton. The seat is really flat and not very comfortable for a long time spent in the saddle. Ashke loves it, but I am less of a fan.

Since last October, I have been conducting a soft search for a new saddle. It needed to be used, since my budget is less than a thousand, and it needed to be lighter, especially for trail riding. I haven't found anything, although I wasn't really searching, mostly just waiting for something to fall into my lap. 

A couple of weeks ago, one of the barn ladies saddled her horse in her western gear and the saddle made me do a double take. Small footprint, curved skirt, light weight (23 lbs). It's a Circle Y Flex 2 Trail Saddle. I mentioned it to my barn-wife ( I guess that is a thing) and two hours later she shared a FB marketplace ad for that exact saddle in dark brown and black. I reached out to the woman who was advertising and after several messages back and forth, I picked it up from her barn a week ago.

It is an awesome fit. Like, perfect even. I rode in it briefly a week ago (before heading out for my newest tattoo), Wednesday night and then I rode in it in my lesson on Thursday. Half way through the lesson on Thursday, Amanda looked at me and said "buy the saddle". 

A couple of changes at the end of the lesson

We had agreed to meet this morning and I took over the Alta for the seller to try. It fit her mare better than it fit Ashke, if that is possible. The woman rode in it and it seemed to work for her. We agreed to wait a week for her to try the Alta, and if she likes it we will do a straight trade (best option on the table) and if she decides not to get it, I will buy the saddle and then sell the Alta.

This was on Sunday, 3/1

We have been struggling with the right to left lead change (hocks, my riding, hocks) but they are miraculously much better. I can't wait to try my first trail ride in it. Although, the muscle pain in my back is a thing right now. That tells me I am sitting differently in this saddle and moving differently. Hopefully, the muscles will adapt quickly and get strong.