Very cool!
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If those don’t work out, I’d suggest taking a look at the EQ Saddle Science Saddles. I have their Encore model for my Friesian mare who is very wide. She loves it and it’s comfortable for me and I prefer a fairly narrow twist. The fitting and demo process were easy and fun, Carmi is great.
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With some of the price differences, I’ve thought I could pay for short vacation to the UK and bring/send a saddle back with what I’d save, even with customs.
Yes, I thought the same! Go during the tourist off-season.
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I keep saying I will try one, but I can’t get past the appearance of these.
Same here. I’m too much of a traditionalist to ride in that saddle. I’m glad it works for people, though!
Fair enough. Once you’re sitting on it it doesn’t look that different. But to each their own.
I agree. With a rider in it, you only notice if you are looking for it. I also love my Encore. And they can now make it in a regular twist or a narrowed one (I prefer the wider option on my very wide mare).
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I have seen a few sellers that list the price higher on FB than their website to cover FB fees and the added hassle of dealing with FB. I have seen where they are very upfront on that.
I have seen a few sellers that give a with trial price higher than one without a trial.
The higher FB price isn’t anything I would worry about
I’m not worried about it. The price difference was really significant, much more than is needed to cover fees.
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I couldn’t get Carmi to come out and do a fitting. I was told I was “on the list” for her next trip in a couple of months, but never heard from them again.
Bummer! She was super responsive for me, but then I’m fairly local to the home office. Maybe ask to do a virtual fitting? Fingers crossed that she can get to you sooner rather than later.
Wanted to update that I missed my saddle fitter’s last quarterly appointment due to work, so I had to fit the Fairfax myself for my four year old who got suddenly wider. I changed the gullet plate myself and it was very easy. A couple of tips is that it would be nice to have the hex key sets that have the handle, and that you need a flat hoof pick to pull the panel pocket back on the tree head. Other than that, super easy. I do have a sheepskin underpad and do think that the saddle could use a small flocking adjustment. Fitter is coming in July. But to get by, inbetween fittings, this is a wonderful saddle to work with. I am now thinking the Fairfax II would be a better model for my younger horse (it has a full panel), so I’m interested in what the fitter says. The benefit of the original World Class is that you can change out those full panel blocks if you want to use them. My wider horse goes best with the half panels, but my more narrow guy woud go best with a full panel, I think. Love the saddle; still recommend it.
I found it very easy to change the gullet plate on my Fairfax. I wouldn’t mind one for current horse, but they’re just too long for him. Technically the last one I had was a smidge too long for my last horse, but he never got sore from it. We did switch to an Amerigo and their panels/saddle were a better design for his short back. I liked the Amerigo more, but I wouldn’t hesitate to own another Fairfax if that’s what fit my horse.
