New saddle!

I've been (not so) secretly searching for a new dressage saddle.  Finally at my limit of working overtime trying to keep a good balance in the Carlton, I was eager to find a treed saddle that would help me out a little bit and still work for Daatje.  But what should I look for?  I've had many over the years, so I knew what I *didn't* want (Wintec, Bates, Kieffer, Duett, Albion, Arabian Saddle Co, Collegiate, Ansur, KN) and she's so broad shouldered....(what drove me towards treeless in the first place)....it makes her very hard to pick a saddle that sits right on her.

I was at a show a month ago, and saw someone riding a beast of an Irish horse.  His shoulders rivalled Daatje's, if not wider.  I quickly ran over and asked her what she was riding in.

A Laser.  The really lovely expensive saddles with the mechanicaly adjustable trees.  That also happen to be really wide.

So, the hunt was on.  Shortly thereafter, I found one used, a Laser 747, for a reasonable price.  We tried it and both really liked it!

And, it's "stupid wide". :)

So, we're rejoining the "land of the treed".  It needs a bit of maintenance (billets and a re-flock) due to it's age, but other than that, we have a winner.  Hooray!

Next weekend is the Myopia Hunter Pace, which we intend on doing, if the weather holds.  I should have photos and a full report.....but until then, here's a quick clip of Daatje enjoying a 2'6" coup I built a couple of years ago.