It's here!
And...the story isn't over yet.
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| Because what about my saddle fitting journey could be easy? |
The good news? It's here and beautiful.
The bad news? It's missing a couple of key features we discussed that I won't budge on, like serge panels and both billets coming off the waist of the saddle.
Now, normally with a situation like this I wouldn't post about it til it's done and over with, and I know what the full story is, but since I posted it was coming this week I feel like you guys deserve an update. That said, I'm going to encourage you all to suspend your outrage until we all - myself included - know exactly what happened and why, because I don't yet.
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| Going to swap out that pink rhinestone, but otherwise, this is exactly what I asked for. |
I've texted the saddle fitter, but she has a very valid and legit reason for being delayed in checking into it, so it may be a couple days before we talk. GP trainer was incredulous that those features would be left off, and says in all her years of working with Patrick this is the first mistake she's seen. She also said they have a track record of doing whatever it takes to make the saddle owners happy, and she's not at all concerned that they won't fix it.
The standing still fit on Connor is absolutely impeccable. That system they use to take all those measurements of the back and then recreate his back shape in the shop in England REALLY works. I've never seen a saddle fit him this well before besides the CWD jump, and Mary agrees.
I did ride in it last night in my lesson, and the flap length is perfect (14") and the balance is perfect. The blocks are not right at all, but - eyyyyyyyyyyyy - they're Velcro! So we're just going to order a shorter set.
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| Definitely should have checked what blocks it was coming with by default, these are waaaaaaaaaaaaay too big, lol. |
Connor wasn't super happy in it, but I'm not fussed about that yet because I think with a billet change and some flocking adjustments he will be. Mary thinks it needs the flocking reduced in the waist - it's on the same tree as the loaner, which he loves, but the loaner has a lot less flocking in the waist area. It's a similar problem to the Trilogy, and we all know how he felt about that.
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| Mary came down on a weeknight to my lesson with a bottle of wine because
she knew I shed some tears over this and she is The Best Friend. And then she cooled him out bareback for me while I drank my sorrows away. |
So, while I wish this was a happy ending, we're not quite there yet. And, you know, since I'm only going to be riding my horse once a week for the next few months, if it does have to go back to England, I'm not upset about it. It's just one more entertaining chapter in my terrible, horrible, no good very bad saddle hunt!
OH NO! It's so hard and frustrating when something you've been waiting SO LONG for arrives incorrectly. I hope they can resolve things for you quickly. At least it's beautiful?
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely that!
DeleteIt's absolutely beautiful, but I'm so frustrated for you that it's not 100% correct. Hopefully they are as willing to fix it as GP indicated!
ReplyDeleteI think they should be. We'll see.
DeleteHow frustrating! If it makes you feel any better, a similar thing happened to me with my custom Adam Ellis dressage saddle–it was made without the serge panels (and I needed my flaps shortened too! When I couldn't decide which blocks to buy, he actually sent me several to try, so ask!) Anyway, when my saddle fitter called Adam, he graciously let me keep the saddle while he made a new one with serge panels. The saddle fitter was thrilled to have the nonserge saddle as a loaner when I was done with it since it was made for a cob back. I'm sure Patrick Saddlery will do something similar.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I had blue bling on mine :)
That's really good to know! I have no idea what's going to happen from here. I'd feel bad if they had to make a second one, but I definitely can't accept anything less than exactly what I wanted, especially for the price.
DeleteWhile I can drool over gorgeous leather high-end yum-yum saddles, I am extremely thankful that the saddle that worked best for my big brute of a mustang as well as my little Barbie of a Morgan mare (and lastly but importantly, me) is an old, synthetic Wintec with CAIR panels that I bought used and CHEAP. I remember the saddle-fitting nightmares and pray that I'm done with them forever! (I'm much older than you so it's possible.)
ReplyDeleteYeah, trust me, I do not drool over gorgeous saddles and I did not want to go custom, but when you're at the wrong end of the bell curve, you literally don't get a choice. No off the rack Dressage saddle will fit me, and finding it used is impossible. So, here we are.
DeleteOof, it does make me want to cry on your behalf. At least they have the reputation of making these things right. Also, glad the timing is okay to not have the saddle if that's what needs to happen.
ReplyDeleteYeah, definitely. TBH the loaner will fit my GP trainer far better than my saddle will, so maybe she can borrow that for another 3 months.
DeleteSaddles are THE WORST, and I'm so sorry this happened. I hope they fix it and quickly.
ReplyDeleteYes they are. Thanks!
DeleteUgh, hopefully he does not change too much when he goes to training and it still fits when all is settled. I greatly appreciate my saddle luck when I hear stories like yours. It is very fancy!
ReplyDeleteHe won't, and if he does, it won't be any more than a flocking adjustment can fix. It's definitely not fun, believe me, I did not want a custom saddle.
DeleteI'm sorry the saddle isn't perfect, but its beautiful. I hope that its fixed soon!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Jen, I’m so sorry you’re dealing with that. I can only imagine how frustrating that would be. Sending hugs.
ReplyDeleteDeep breaths, lol.
DeleteI would have shed tears as well. The saddle buying process is so stressful - even when it goes well. (I think it's only ever gone well in my imagination lol) Hoping the company makes good on the corrections.
ReplyDeleteI swear it's just karma for the CWD jump falling into my lap effortlessly and being its absolutely perfect self.
DeleteLol when I got my new dressage saddle everything was perfect ... except the rhinestones I specifically asked to not have! Luckily it was an easy fix my local rep could take care of but I was a bit horrified when I first saw it.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Yeah, they need to be perfect for the price.
DeleteI am crossing my fingers that they make you whole
ReplyDeleteMe too! I can't imagine a universe in which they wouldn't.
DeleteI can see how he'd be annoyed by that point billet. Compact horses are such a difficult fit! There's nowhere to put a girth!
ReplyDeleteYeah. He just doesn't like anything even remotely impinging on his shoulder. He'll Do The Thing if it's there, but not well.
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