The Saddle Story

Show recap will be here eventually!  Still waiting on photos!  So here's the saddle recap in the meantime!

Last Thursday, I was casually perusing the Marketplace section of the Facebook, looking at all of the saddles that I can't afford, and sighing internally at my lack of thousands of dollars with which to purchase a super fancy jumping saddle.  I decided shortly after I bought my horse and discovered that my synthetic all-purpose saddle didn't fit that I would hold out on buying a saddle for him until I had saved up enough money to buy a higher-end one that I absolutely loved.  Which will probably take months.  Maybe a year.  Who knows.  Luckily, my barn has over 20 lesson saddles that are free to use at any time (provided, obviously, that someone else isn't already using whichever saddle you're looking for), and while none of them are 'super high-end,' many of them are quite nice.

What my barn lacks, however, is spare dressage saddles.  And while I'm willing to pay an arm and a leg for one saddle, two is pushing it at this point in my financial life.  So I figured I'd buy a decent lower-end dressage saddle and save up for a fancy jumping saddle, and would borrow lesson saddles as needed until a financial windfall occurred/savings amassed.  I wasn't planning on buying a dressage saddle any time soon.  And then I found this.

On a whim, I searched for 'Collegiate dressage saddle.'  My favorite lesson saddle is a Collegiate, fits my horse, is super comfortable, and has held up admirably to the abusive lifestyle that all lesson saddles endure.  I wasn't really expecting to find anything - I didn't even know what sort of price range Collegiate saddles get in to - but after much scrolling I stumbled across several months-old ad for a 16.5" Collegiate dressage saddle package - including the saddle, leathers, irons, a dressage bridle, a bit, a pad, and a girth - all for a shockingly low price, and all conveniently located 2 hours south of my central Missouri location.

With much trepidation, I messaged the seller.  'It must be a mistake,' I thought - all of the other Collegiate dressage saddles were going listed for at least $200 more, and they didn't come with all of the add-ons.  'It's probably sold.'  Except.  The seller messaged me back.  The saddle was still available.  She sent me pictures of it on her horse, who happened to have quite a similar build to Leo.  I did some quick budgeting.  I asked about shipping.  She offered to meet me halfway between our locations.  I thought about it some more.  I looked at more Collegiate dressage saddles to determine potential resale value if it didn't fit my horse.  I looked at my schedule to see if it was even possible for me to meet her during the next week.  And on Saturday, I drove 1 hour south, cash in hand, and came home with my new-used first ever dressage saddle.

dress-up sucks, ma. 

So, does it fit?  I think it does.  Assistant Trainer L thinks it does.  Trainer K is not entirely convinced and wants the chiro to check it when she is out next week.  It definitely fits me.  That thing is ridiculously comfortable.  I told Trainer K that I honestly never want to ride in another saddle ever again.  And it came with the pictured bridle, which I think is way too wide for Leo's little baby face, but whatever - it's not terrible, and I like the reins that it came with.

The face of a horse that accidentally now has 3 bridles.

Bonus saddle points - it definitely fits Sherlock.  So even if I do end up having to sell it, I'll have a dressage saddle to dressage in for the mini-event, which is pretty cool. 

I know it's not the fanciest or the nicest, but it's comfy and it's mine and I got a crazy lucky good deal on it.  So I'm pretty happy with that.

Hopefully will recap the show tomorrow - and I'm taking Sherlock in the baby hunters at another show this Saturday, so there will be even more show-related things in the future.  I'll try to get more pictures on my phone this time around!