Saddle refit options, if any?

[UlysMom]

I was hoping someone in the endurance world may have a solution to my little problem.

I have a Marciante endurance saddle that I had custom made for my MFT 20 years ago. I LOVE this saddle. It is in beautiful condition and has been kept cool and covered for the past 5 years, since my little old man was retired from riding during that time.

My new gelding is being ridden in a Black Forest treeless right now, which is comfortable for both of us. But…I would really like to see about having the Marciante refitted for him so I could have options. The tree is fine but the padding would have to be completely reworked to comfortably fit my guy. I have ridden him in it on short rides with some creative padding to see how he goes, but I won’t take him out on longer rides like that and I know there has to be a better solution and would hope I could rework the saddle. I know Frank is no longer making saddles, so the option of sending back to him for a refit just isn’t there anymore. Does anyone have a suggestion as to who/how/where I might be able to have this done?

Thanks so much for your time.

[chicamuxen1]

Have you opened the panels by removing the screws and taken a look at the padding? I have never seen inside the Marciante panels. You might be able to adjust it yourself. If not then I suggest you work with someone local to you to get it fitted. Being able to have your horse right there to “fit” would be best.

Another idea: try contacting Stonewall saddles about it. I believe the bottom panels of their saddles is foam filled and I think they adjust the fit with that foam but I could be wrong about that.

Bonnie

[UlysMom]

Bonnie,

I just wanted to thank you for your help. I’ve been in touch with Jackie from Stonewall just this morning and it looks like she is going to be able to help me out. I had no idea she was so close to us.

Thanks again!

[chicamuxen1]

Great! Glad to hear that and you must let us know if it works out for you.

Bonnie

[UlysMom]

Just wanted to update:

Jackie from Stonewall Saddles came out yesterday to look at my saddle and take all of my boy’s measurements. What an educational experience that was!! She is a wealth of knowledge and was incredibly nice to work with. She actually came up with some options that look like they may work out and I am excited to get to ride in this saddle again (I know I am a geek! :D).

and…it’s nice to know that if I ever have the extra $$ in the future, she already has his measurements to build out a new saddle. Thinking I might need to drop her business card in Hubby’s wallet…:winkgrin:

Bonnie, Thank you so much for the referral! I truly appreciate your help!

[chicamuxen1]

So cool! Please let us know how the saddle works out.

Bonnie

[reubenT]

Excellent fix there. But just a note for others with fit problems, I use the corrector pad from Len Brown, I’m sure it won’t solve every fit problem, but I’m using a saddle designed for quarter horse on a slim but tall paso fino, very bad fit, but with the corrector pad and a pile of shims to adjust angles, it seems quite comfortable for him, managed to get fairly even contact as far as I can tell. And the saddle sits quite securely. had to cut out some extra shims from one of those thin closed cell foam camp sleeping pads, shape them so they could be stacked and make wedge shims to change the angle from horse to saddle. The few shims that came with the envelope pad were not enough for the drastic angle change I had to deal with.