Saddle

 Been a wet week here so didn't get a lot done. But I found a saddle to look at not too far from here. I had sold my Wade saddle a couple of weeks ago and was on the lookout for an affordable, good quality used saddle.

What I found was another custom built saddle, made by Mark Denny of Cariboo Saddlery at Williams Lake B.C.  It's very well built and good thick leather. A bit heavy but that is ok. It is the kind of saddle that will last a lifetime, probably out last me by many years! The lady who sold it no longer rides and has health issues. Kind of sad....

To get there we had to go over a mountain pass, and what was rain here was snow up there.

My first snow of the season! The roads weren't too bad, a little slippery going up the hill but ok going down. 

The saddle was pretty much what I expected (you know I love custom built saddles!) so I bought it, and she threw in a whole bunch of used tack, nothing much that I wanted or needed so I will sell it via Ted's Facebook. 

When we got home I checked it out more thoroughly; it needs the stirrups turned and a new latigo strap but other than that its good to go. I put it on Beamer for a trial fit. 

The bars are flatter than the Wade, which is better for the fit ; Sophie has a round back

There's some pretty nice floral carving on it; not too much.

Good wither clearance too

The leather where I have my hand is curved inward from the way she stored the saddle; I will wet and shape it back to where it should be. The bars of this saddle have a good amount of flare to keep from digging into the shoulders.

I am also going to change out the stirrups with the ones on my broken saddle, these have that galvanized wrap that I don't like.  It did come with a back cinch which I have to put back on.

Can't wait to get Sophie home and start riding again! And no, I didn't ride Beamer.