Another Day of Saddles

  

Let me tell you about this filly of mine. She is dirty. So dirty. Caked in mud and hay and manure, full of dander - she is so dirty you can barely see the white markings on her leg. And she stinks! I can not wait for spring weather to hit 70 degrees so I can wash this dirty, dirty horse.

She even snarled her mane.

However, despite her appearance, Ava is healthy and happy (the rain rot has cleared and new hair is growing back). The stink and dirt are just a minor inconvenience. She is enjoying being a horse and I am too thankful to have a horse at all to mind her scrappy state.

The 40 degree thaw arrived right on time to try (and retry) saddle fit. 

She wasn't sure what to think of the CSI pad. I bought it for my mom as a gift, but I had to try it on the pretty filly. It's too long, and as you'll soon see, the western and aussie saddles don't fit. Doesn't it look delightful on her though?

What this?

Next I tried the Aussie, which is a beautiful saddle, but definitely too wide for Avalon.

The western saddle wasn't too narrow or too wide, but the angle seems to pinch her shoulders.

I took a closer look at the wintec that I've ridden her in once or twice. It didn't fit her as well as I thought before. Like the western saddle, it seems to pinch her shoulder blades. 

The saddle that continues to offer the best fit so far is the wintec lite dressage saddle. At least I think that's what it is . . . it's a dressage wintec and it seems much lighter than the average saddle. I don't know what the official name is.

It's well-used; perfect for a young horse in training.

It will be interesting to see if any of these saddles fit in the future, as Avalon develops muscle along her topline.