Lynne Glazer and Ember
Endurance

I think so far the thing I love the best is the seemingly infinite adjustment possibilities the saddle has. I had my first ride in the RP saddle. I really like it. My horse seemed to like it, walked out and extended well at the trot. The workmanship is impeccable. We experimented with the fit for a while last night (in the dark) and again this morning. It's a perfectionist's dream in terms of the degrees of adjustment possible.

Imagine that your attachment points from the panels to the tree were able to be moved up, back, up and down. And that the thickness of the separation between tree and panels was adjustable by means of replaceable blocks. Very easy-the manual had good pictures and logic. The seat is comfy, a lot better than my Passier, but certainly not overpadded. I noticed while riding that my heel/hip/shoulder stayed aligned without effort. Legs curve naturally, knee stays in contact, along with the upper calf. The saddle is very close contact with the small blocks, which seem to be what my horse needs.

Ember and I are finally completely happy with our saddle. ;-) She's not only comfortable with the fit, but in how I'm riding in it-Does that make sense? I'm getting the sweat pattern I've wanted, it's been a seemingly long, inconsistent road due to our intermittent training schedule, but everything has come together now. It sure would have shown up in the last three days in a row of riding, if something wasn't right.

No breast collar seems to be needed either. In a combination-ride that included hills, the front edge of the panel is exactly 1" over the back of the scapula. By George, I think we've got it! I'm even starting to get good sweat from the hollow behind her withers, where she had gotten such horrible damage from the Passier's stirrup bars. The dry spot on the right is down to about 2 1/2" in a narrow band, and the left side is only quarter-sized! These used to be huge, palm-sized, from weight lost on one 50-miler.

Not that I didn't think we'd get a good fit eventually. My girl is an interesting fit-her front medium blocks are about 1/4" behind the leading edge of the tree, and about 1/4" above the bottom edge of the pocket. The rears are in the textbook "basic" position, with thin blocks and shims. A little did so much, with her, both in the right, and in the wrong directions. But when it's right, it feels worth it.

Another bit I'm happy to report is that with this saddle, I have no sensation of having ridden, the next day. A little of the pre-existing neck stiffness, but nothing at all in the lower body or back. Especially nice since the initial part of yesterday's ride was an "Outward Bound" go-by-ourselves exercise, which involved a lot of leg/encouragement, to leave home, and move with a purpose to meet friends on time. I have the pleasant sensation in my abs of having exercised, that's about it.

Lynne Glazer

Ontario, CA

Endurance

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