Narrowing a Black Country saddle

[acking01]

Can Black Country saddles be narrowed? I just bought a used XXW Black Country saddle (older Ricochet model maybe?) for my mare and to my utter dismay it doesn't fit. :cry: Needless to say I feel like kicking and screaming!!! This is my dream saddle and I got it for an absolute steal as it is in fantastic condition. It is not monstrously wide (said mare's shoulders are WAY too large for all wide trees and most XW trees) in the shoulders, but does not make any contact on the lower part of the tree in the front. I am willing to sell it and try again if need be, but I am hoping that it could be made to fit by narrowing the tree 2cms. Is this possible?

I have contacted several saddle fitters in the area and none seem to offer this service. Maybe Houston has abysmally poor saddle fitters, though?!?! :winkgrin: Has anyone ever had a spring tree narrowed? Thanks.

[jn4jenny]

Just about any spring-treed saddle can be widened or narrowed by one size. Black Country is no exception.

Kim Peterson, who used to rep BC, once me that The Saddle Doctor in Virginia does it (http://saddledoctor.homestead.com/saddletackrepair.html). I'm sure there are others who do it as well. Try calling a tack shop that reps Black Country and ask who they'd recommend.

[Little Valkyrie]

Trumbull Mountain (link) (http://trumbullmtn.com/) also has a tree adjusting service and they deal mostly in Black Countries, so I assume it can be done. They widened my Albion last year and did a beautiful job, I highly recommend them!

[pharmgirl]

I believe Kurt at Smith Worthington also can do them.

[CookiePony]

Patty Barnett at East Crow Saddlery does the warranty work for Black Country here in the US. I have had her widen a saddle and she is very good. I shipped her the saddle with a tracing of the horse's back.

Patty Barnett
52 Ratlum Mountain Road
Barkhamsted, CT 06063
Tel: (860)379-2300

I believe her email is saddledr at aol dot com.

[Candle]

Can this be done to a Crosby as well? I guess I should call and ask, but has anyone heard of that?