Now that Gracie has lost around 100kg, it won't surprise you to hear that her saddle doesn't fit her any more. This is the lovely Silhouette one that I had custom-built for both of us and finally got, after the first lockdown last year, at the end of May. I have a new fitter after I lost faith in the lady I was using before. This guy is a master saddler, comes highly recommended and I had to wait 5 weeks just for the appointment. He spent two hours with us and was extremely thorough. He felt all the spinal processes along G's back and marked up the space available for a saddle with two round plasters, so it was instantly visible for the rest of the time.
My saddle has foam panels and is a fixed tree, but he reassured me that there are still things that can be done for these types of saddles, however it soon became clear that the front is now the wrong shape for G. Not only that, he's the first saddler in 4.5 years to tell me that she's very short-backed and that she can probably only take a maximum 16.5" saddle. He made me feel her spine and last rib to prove the plasters were in the right place (not that I disbelieved him anyway), so ever since I've owned Gracie, she's worn a saddle that's been too long! I'm trying to give the previous fitters the benefit of the doubt, on the basis that it might have been hard to feel for G's last rib when she was fat, but it potentially does make a few things make a lot more sense.
So the short version is that he's coming back in a fortnight with a few saddles that might fit us both.... but I might end up having to have ANOTHER saddle built for us both. He's confident he can fit my backside into a smaller saddle..... but I must admit I don't have his faith!
In the meantime, it's groundwork for Gracie then!
To be continued.....
My saddle has foam panels and is a fixed tree, but he reassured me that there are still things that can be done for these types of saddles, however it soon became clear that the front is now the wrong shape for G. Not only that, he's the first saddler in 4.5 years to tell me that she's very short-backed and that she can probably only take a maximum 16.5" saddle. He made me feel her spine and last rib to prove the plasters were in the right place (not that I disbelieved him anyway), so ever since I've owned Gracie, she's worn a saddle that's been too long! I'm trying to give the previous fitters the benefit of the doubt, on the basis that it might have been hard to feel for G's last rib when she was fat, but it potentially does make a few things make a lot more sense.
So the short version is that he's coming back in a fortnight with a few saddles that might fit us both.... but I might end up having to have ANOTHER saddle built for us both. He's confident he can fit my backside into a smaller saddle..... but I must admit I don't have his faith!
In the meantime, it's groundwork for Gracie then!
To be continued.....
It sounds like you have found a good fitter now, it's amazing how many not so great ones there are who somehow have good recommendations
