I got a saddle for Christmas!!

[TheWorldOver!]

Yes I already got my Xmas present:p:o:D:rolleyes:. My husband drove me all the way up to Pelham, NH and I tell ya, at least down in my neck of the woods, it's been very hard to get a decent store AND decent service when you're out to buy a saddle. I went to the over-rated Dover Saddlery and they pale in comparison to Pelham' Saddlery's service. In fact they are loosing customers. No service, no knowledge of the product or horsemanship all together! The staff at PS were outstanding and very knowledgeable. For beginners like me, they answer every question I had.

I bought a 17.5" AP Collegiate saddle and my bum feels great! :D It is so soft! They included the convertible gullet kit in the purchase price. The only thing I was skeptical about was that it has synthetic flocking. The lady said that many brand-name saddles now use synthetic flocking with no problems. I would have to check the plushness every six months however but I'll worry about that later. I can even replace the synthetic flocking with wool or mix it. They gave me 7 days to test ride it too. I can't wait to try it on my school horse!!!

I sound too goofy, don't I?

[Mareish]

Lucky you :)

I had to buy a new one not so long ago and its lovely - enjoy & Merry Xmas :p

[titch_]

Oooooh Any pics?

[bexj]

Nice xmas present, but what if it doesn't fit your lesson horse?

[TheWorldOver!]

Nice xmas present, but what if it doesn't fit your lesson horse?

It does. I have a 7-day test fit with the saddle so if it was a bad fit, I would take it back. But also because it has a convertible gullet kit, it would make my life a bit easier. I still need to put a lift pad underneath though because my horse is old and his back is starting to cave.

The straps actually ended up being a smidge short or maybe juuuust about right in length. Personally I would like them to have been a bit longer but oh well. They are so soft though. They are stubbens. the stirrups are the foot free irons.

I don't my own pictures but it's this one. http://www.doversaddlery.com/collegiate-convertible-senior-event-saddle/p/X1-15324/cn/93/

[TheWorldOver!]

Oooooh Any pics?

Unfortunately no pics of my own but check the link below. I hope it works :)

[Morganna]

My OH paid for my new saddle as an early Xmas gift too :D Aren't hubbies just great :D

[KateWooten]

I haven't had the best of experiences with Pelham Saddlery, tbh. I worked with them for months trying to get a saddle that might fit - no they don't have saddle-fitters, no, they don't know of any. No, they don't know how you would go about getting a saddle re-flocked ... but if I send them a wither tracing ( I did ), they would get their saddle-fit expert to have a look see what they'd recommend (they never got back to me ... ) In the end they'd sold the $700 saddle I was looking at, so they sent me an $1100 one to try instead. Holy Cow ! I would even consider an $1100 saddle ... but not one that was a) a completely different width fitting, b) with a very bent stirrup bar and c) all the stitching round the pommel coming loose !