Saddle Update & Jimmy's Still Fat

This week has been utter chaos for me, and it's not over yet! Monday I had a migraine so I couldn't make it out to the farm, and Tuesday I was up in Lake Geneva for a sales meeting for work. This brings us to Wednesday, the first day of the work-week I could make it out to see the Choo & I had Lucy to teach. She's officially off the lunge line 100% (until we canter!) and doing an absolutely phenomenal job. She knows just how to push Smiley's buttons and when he gets quick she knows how to slow her body to "yellow-light" or "baby trot" and she knows to full halt him using her whole seat and body. Last night I taught her that I know he's finished the halt when she puts her bottom in the saddle, because he comes all the way back and tucks his nose into his chest. Every halt after that she plopped her bottom in the saddle and the second he tucked his nose in she smiled and giggled. I love teaching :-)

After Lucy's lesson I grabbed Jim to see how he was feeling on the lunge line. Two things: 1.) He's still fat. 2.) He's really lazy. I was surprised because he hasn't been out yet this week other than in his "back yard" (which Bill graciously cleaned last night! Thanks Babe!!) and typically he's got a little more gas in the tank. I'll chalk it up to "he wanted to go back to his dinner" and leave it at that. I can't wait to start him on the new feed and start get him in a more regular program. Someday maybe my schedule will calm down...then again when I start teaching more at the other barn, it has to so I can be there to TEACH!!! I can't wait - I'm practically counting the days.

Tonight we have a venue visit and if it's still early enough when we're done I will head up to lunge JC in the dark again or turn him loose in the arena to let him stretch his legs one last time before Bill and I leave for Augie this weekend. Bill is an Augustana alumni & this weekend is Homecoming, so we are Quad Cities-bound!!

On another note: yesterday I brought my lovely Nona & Jimmy's tracings over to Saddlers Row on my lunch break and met with Michael, their master saddle fitter/adjuster. He used his own tools first to measure the width of my tracings and compared it to my saddle, then took out the 'official' Prestige tool and bent it into place, compared it to my saddle, went over and took out a ruler, started measuring the centimeters, scribbled a few things....all silently. My heart raced and I was petrified to what he was going to say. He looked up and smiled and said "Yep. We can do it." I was thinking, "That's it?!" because I had been told previously that a formal fitting would need to be scheduled, more tracings needed to be made, etc. Lots of steps in the process = someday I'll have my saddle back...maybe. Instead Michael explained to me exactly what would REALLY happen: First, Jimmy measured slightly over 34cm, which is considered "wide" in Prestige lingo (and everything, from what I've researched) and since my saddle is a 32cm, they can widen it just barely over the 2cm it needs, making the adjustment he needs. I then showed Michael the photos I had and he said that confirmed what he thought was happening. This saddle perches up on top of his shoulder/wither, it doesn't lay the way that it should. However, the back panels lay as they should and he said no adjustment needs to take place in the flocking.

The work was to begin on my saddle immediately and they hope to have it back to me by tomorrow or Monday :-) He explained how the Prestige saddles are made with a polymer tree and they have all the certified, official equipment to be able to work on them properly (he showed me the machinery to prove it). Basically the tree is plastic and they heat it up to the proper temperature and stretch it (in the nifty machine-gadget) up to 2cm (and then a little...for fat Jim). He said no matter what, they will make this saddle fit Jimmy. He said once I pay the initial fee, it's not just a one-time adjustment. He will continue to mold and shape the saddle to make sure it fits Jimmy, no matter what. I had my typical, over-excited and near-tears reaction...and of course wanted to leap over the counter and hug him. He also said that he will be keeping Jimmy's measurements and tracings on file in case future work for him needs to be done.

Oh - and just before I left he said himself that "The Prestige saddles are the best saddles in the world." which confirmed my belief in them and made me feel like a million bucks, because he's not a Prestige dealer, he just loves that they can be molded and shaped to fit anyone and anything. He's got a ton of experience and I feel very comfortable with my saddle in his hands!!!! This adjustment will be totally worth it and I can't wait to have my saddle back so I can RIDE AGAIN! (The Crosby was returned last night to it's rightful - and extremely generous - owner. THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES, "MONIZZLE"!!!!)