Does anyone

[Dizzy]

use stirrup turners/adjusters. Though I love riding in a western saddle, I've found it difficult to slip my foot into the off side stirrup, and found that my ankles get tense while riding. I this common.

Lesley

[Outrider]

It is common, as well as knees hurting too. There are swivel stirrups on the market that prevent this, but you can also wet your fenders and stirrup leathers, then put a board between the stirrups to get them to set forward instead of laying aside the saddle. As the leather dries, the stirrups will stay in this position. You then need to put a board or broom stick in the stirrups each time you put the saddle up, to keep the shape. Happy Trails!

[Dizzy]

Thanks Outrider, I was beginning to think I was a strange shape, as I'd never heard anyone else complain! I'm not known for my ability to suffer in silence!

I 'hopefully' have a new saddle coming next week, but thats another story. The other night I was looking through the horsey auctions on Yahoo and saw 'stirrup turners' up for auction. I asked my saddler if he could get me some, and he thinks he can. But if he can't and my saddle does show up I'll try your method.

Lesley

[RoxR]

Did you get your new saddle??

[Dizzy]

Oh my G*d, that is such a sore question. The simple answer is no, and as it stands at the moment, I'm not any nearer to getting one!

The saddler arrived last Tuesday, he was dealing with 4 horses - because we live out of the way its more encouraging for him to come out, if he gas a few to deal with. The first words he spoke was 'Who's Lesley, that wants the Western saddle? I put my hand up, and he explained that reading the template I'd sent him, he had nothing wide enough and handed me a catalogue to look at.

While he dealt with the other horses, I had a good look and chose the saddle I would like. He said that he would order it and all going well he would bring it out to try on Friday, but he would ring on Wednesday morning to confirm a time. He left that day with one to reflock that would take about a week, one to restitch which would be delivered on Friday when he came with my possible saddle.

I heard nothing on Wednesday, I rang and got no joy, same Thursday and Friday, I got to speak to him on Saturday - he says the saddle I chose has been modified, but he was going to a trade fair on Monday and Tuesday and the theme is Western, so he'll be able to tell me all about the different types of saddles thats available and he would be back in touch.

I'm still waiting to hear from him, as are my friends whose saddles he's taken away! I did ask his opinion on the western saddle I have been using. I already had doubts about it, as when I had a good look at it, it wasn't straight, the under panels weren't symetrical and when you looked straight down at the horn it wasn't totally true - I only noticed this when I was cleaning it - I had it it sat on stool, I kept thinking that I mustn't have it sitting straight. But eventually after lots of manouvering around I decided it wasn't the stool, but the saddle.

Putting all that to one side, the saddler did say it was slightly tight for Breeze. He put the saddle on her back and applied a little pressure on the seat, where the cinch atttaches you couldn't run your hand freely past it. I was quite amazed, as Breeze has ridden so well with this saddle, and did say so. He said because the wieght bearing distribution of a western saddle is spread over a wider area than an english saddle it wouldn't feel quite so uncomfortable, but it wouldn't be comfortable. But he did agree that the saddle was slightly twisted.

So I'm just waiting, I know that when I eventually get a saddle from him it will fit, he's maybe not the most reliable person in the world - but I do know he's good at what he does. Thank the Good Lord, the weather is foul, I'd be in a major depression if the sun was shining.

So sorry my moan was so long!! Have you had you're saddle fitted yet?

Lesley