Hey Armchair Saddlers - wanna check out this fit?

[Across Sicily]

And a thousand thank-yous if you do :)

Story: New County Stabilizer, received on Friday. Have now ridden in it 2x. Pictures are from before first ride, so saddle is basically virginal and untouched. Saddle fitter has not yet come out and won't be out till next week or week after, and I am a *ridiculously paranoid* horse mother who is not particularly well versed in saddle fit. (I have basic ideas and can tell when it's bad or bridging or what have you.)

The "sweat test" showed even sweating all along the panels and near the withers, and the Darling Pony (who is not really a pony, he is a 15.2ish hh Morgan gelding) said he approved. (Believe me... he will let you know if it's bad.)

Anyway, on to pictures.

Took some ungirthed and just hanging out sans pad (not sure how useful these are..)
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/ungirthedleftside.jpg - Left side
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/ungirthedrightside.jpg - Right side
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/ungirthedrear.jpg - Rear - not quite straight on - didn't realize it until I looked at the bigger shot

Now girthed up and with a thin pad:
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/girthedleft1.jpg - Left side
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/girthedleft2.jpg - Left side again
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/girthedright1.jpg - Right side
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/girthedrear1.jpg - Rear
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/leftmiddle.jpg - Left side, middleish, near flap
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/rightmiddle.jpg - Right side, middleish, near flap
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/rearright1.jpg - Right side, rear
http://axacio.com/Chad/saddle/leftrear1.jpg - Left side, rear

He was standing pretty much square on a very flat surface.

[buck22]

only just started reading your thread but HOLY WALL O' BITS!! just had to say!!! wow! :)

sharp looking saddle too.

[buck22]

had to say again, beautifully shiny horse, and lovely clean and well organized tack area. Really nice. I love seeing clean organized work areas.

Saddle looks great, but a bit hard to tell since the photos are so up close.

Question, they didnt' suggest your first few rides should be w/ no pad at all to let the flocking settle in a bit? just curious, I've only had one brandy spanking new saddle and it was suggested by that saddler.

[Across Sicily]

had to say again, beautifully shiny horse, and lovely clean and well organized tack area. Really nice. I love seeing clean organized work areas.

Saddle looks great, but a bit hard to tell since the photos are so up close.

Question, they didnt' suggest your first few rides should be w/ no pad at all to let the flocking settle in a bit? just curious, I've only had one brandy spanking new saddle and it was suggested by that saddler.

:) Thanks! We like it... with 30-odd horses in training it keeps things going and fairly neat (though near the end of the day it looks a bit like a tornado ran through!).

I didn't think to think about how close the pictures were... whoops... I can take better ones later in the week.

They didn't suggest riding without a pad, but fwiw the pad I did use was quite thin (think baby pad).