The saddle fitter was also slated to be in the area the week of my grant, but alas, it was after I headed back home. No matter. She hadn't seen my Fairfax since I bought it from
overseas last spring, so I was eager to get her eyes on it. Ruby has been working fine in it, and Mary "virtually" inspected it up on arrival, but a lot can change in almost a year!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdxv961JnVWV-euKH72RdiQh3_ltFMj-afFggorl3CzCK9z2cLpSCZC4s_01FaFztR4hC_0QYuI1EmCC9sHKggXH8dki0mWBN0LUuwjTcnTXh5m1SZ9nTbDPrNHA_W9CzYuF58b0_9bKmSu72BXE0KLRL5QtAoSyfNgpgk5BzKsk9aN_1uA2oszTdDA/s320/PXL_20230310_225804488.jpg) |
The saddle fitter has actually reduced her clientele and taken a full time job with Takt, but she still comes to my trainer's barn - lucky me! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6qXmTpuGuAISqk_Qh3KuqY9iO4tjvPTaPAOrhTcG5nLURHUXhxZpWD0PYJtxuxfbSdsyGhxz0V0Wc8_YvbD0oNeHbBHZEUaRyh-0HtsDShUGLZ9R6pdfnWTR6p7lxtWOrCuuwKmUtwBsP8dTZvSeaXlW2q3aVk_zH2Eceb6J4UqImu5dVIc4Eh0FbCQ/s320/PXL_20230310_225810341.jpg) |
I did still drool over some of the Takt saddles she showed up with though lol. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4XJ_thacuQ_6siCFn3MUd-xorDeWb8G5TKlTVNyCyG6lUTaVxDzId8FCJGvnvInkJ5zBSkgQ6wrp8VU_4wIJOuAIzsEpqt0Jg4W7slyPrIaRbpPfMvyEKrTf5UbYaphijsVzs8NnO6IBqUEuWcIitYv67UyCZAELzjeqyMll7iRbia12mu_O8UAgIQ/s320/PXL_20230310_230009713.jpg) |
"Jesus weren't we JUST here??" - Ruby, I'm sure, lol |
Ultimately the fit was still pretty good, but Ruby has put on some muscle since last year - she had been in the medium wide gullet (the Fairfax is adjustable using the K&M plates, bless), and it was starting to pinch her shoulders a smidge. The wide was maybe just a teeny bit TOO wide, but it gave her some room to keep growing that topline, so I'll keep using it with a half pad until the next time we see the fitter (or until Ruby expresses opinions about it haha.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWj-x0z_XUwer9gQ8QDBgjhFC-bJj4L5FQpSeM3u_BOOy9NL6JyLElBmzIvnaKkPX2GYGjCO7M2d-H4Cleub_RauNWWKJTrDYPtaNjdn_fJ3qUbhkGolVwLlHbVskbefSnD3G9hhSOJNwr5L-Rsv_I5P8twzMIoer0ZGVOxksJzp-GJpLPbdtRARe9bA/s320/PXL_20230310_230813857.jpg) |
Most of the barn rides in Customs and the fitter praised my Fairfax for being infinitely easier to adjust lol. Although a bit scary to watch her disassemble it! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh83UK9CHJ4uW3qoFoKGaIIidcxlZXEBFx8sn0OfhuJDtNC4cyiXKMY9yEAIrc5VeUp1qJZpfbaQJGEsu7Ovcu9nwOp_Ukl8iaaIxFEYEz3HxHx-kOTf0Mu_SVBouGDS8PmXDy3lVksV-iZdCL7iMjrnhFuub6axLO6Z4kkAkK-ugToqPlrjsN7ozD8wg/s320/PXL_20230310_230817614.jpg) |
We're friends on social media and she knows DH is fairly mechanically inclined, and she warned me to never let him screw in the plates and overtighten them - don't worry, I'm never letting him touch this saddle 🤣🤣 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDCIaDVKkUH9bgYhRDRqv_kbMeqMXFz1OYzin1hjGIxy0lDe4f8Y24PUkAHxsErrcJrIenXF2Sr7YMI21tFQbJifzfsxDrZsnzO6_HstZnuZrE9UEH0MtDyZWXZgae9Iqp502cnbHy1kt-1ZeNDfWtOJNc6P5bS96odX71ps9AUUMo2w62a6tR4QWOw/s320/PXL_20230310_230821328.jpg) |
I didn't get a picture but I also had her cut off the middle billet - I use the front and back ones and I'm tired of the middle one just flapping around! |
After she swapped out the gullet plates, it felt good, but not quite perfect. She watched me ride for a bit, then took it to her work station to add a little more flocking on the right. Voila! Riding on it after that felt AMAZING!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9cuhQsYoDeXomik1dqdMmIiHh4QDuN_7pehSOU2xjGk_La97iABU_wITTmS-PFLc8PqqFWcm6VDr2EIvlqWuywVDeNtyV5d_I3q7a7x6O5sUPgm2sfNeoxA3B8rgWHPTdx3J8qn1OZiV2yhRPD_5veOyrt5ChSDCX39Fn9DVdOpQp7GeHJ6WFzFtIg/s320/PXL_20230310_231111216.jpg) |
Ruby post-ride |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOPrfnnUH1OXLpONXeMjmk5u4sHk6-mgoyExodL4A3YVp9VrQ2u_uW0xvOmo_pJVLHSSjLV2uZ63qUiFhas9-pWcSAtfa8YBsqJ_caJFeRGF5oWrDwhjdXJ1svt9Lvut9uLsVfKtw781zL8Re5Wlur8lDJidzc6AUt38BZxQxDZCet2xaiXtIMglIWw/s320/PXL_20230311_012530536.jpg) |
You'd think Penny was the one having a rough day lol. |
I'm glad I was able to get up there and see her! DH grumbled a bit but the analogy the fitter used that I related back to him was it's like doing routine maintenance on a car - and we all know he won't let any of our vehicles miss an oil change, haha.
(Also secretly hoping now that it's wider I might be able to get away with using it on Ruby's momma too!)
I hope it fits Ruby's mom too. I do love a productive saddle fit session.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to toss it on her this weekend just to see! 🤞
DeleteAlways a successful saddle fit visit when you get to keep using your saddle! Lol!
ReplyDeleteYeahhhhh a new saddle is definitely not in the budget (just like it wasn't last year 🤣🤣) so very happy we could continue to make this one work!
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