[Skyedragon]

Well I have been so sick the past week that I haven't been able to actually enjoy my new saddle, but I thought I would share. I finally found a saddle that works for myself and for Skye. Its a Billy Cook Maker show saddle, but is super light weight considering.

Picture

Skye likes it

[Bluey]

Good for you, noting like a happy horse and a happy rider's bottom.

I would be sure to store your saddle where you can wet the bottom of the fenders and turn them, run a broom handle thru them with a bucket hanging from it for weight.
That is so they will not make your knees sore trying to keep them turned when you ride.

[Skyedragon]

I was asking my BO about the fenders. I was asking how to turn them and she said they were already turned because the leather was broken in, but I thought that turned meant that they stayed pointing forward. I knew about the broomstick to help turn, I didn't relies that you should get them wet too.

[wylde sage]

Very nice! Congrats!

[aqhadreamer]

Very nice!

[potteryshop]

That looks nice - and glad it fits.
And yes, you need to do the broomstick, or 2x4, and water thing.
Good luck with it.

[Pasde2]

Good for you, noting like a happy horse and a happy rider's bottom.

I would be sure to store your saddle where you can wet the bottom of the fenders and turn them, run a broom handle thru them with a bucket hanging from it for weight.
That is so they will not make your knees sore trying to keep them turned when you ride.

This works well, and of course it IS important to prevent knee soreness, but there are alternatives. "Stirrup straights" (you put them between the stirrup leathers/fenders and the stirrups themselves) will let the stirrup leathers and fenders lie flat against the horse's sides whilst keeping the stirrups themselves perpendicular to the horse. No water, no broomstick, no fighting your fenders, and no knee issues!

[Skyedragon]

Thanks everybody!

I was looking at stirrup turners, and thought they would be super noticeable until I found these: ebay. Look like they could blend in pretty well.

If I go the broom route, how wet to the fenders need to be? Like soaking wet? Damp?

[Beverley]

Getting them good and wet won't hurt.

Alternately you can give the saddle a good oiling to lubricate, including fenders, and then insert broomstick.

(BTW in picture, saddle is a tinch too far forward, you need to make sure it isn't on shoulders).