What to do, what to do...

During the last week I've ridden Crispin two more times. On monday I took him outside and with the company of  Pilgrim and Daniela once around the "race track". Our first hack outside. Not really something I had planned for our second ride but the indoor was closed that day and it was not riding him at all or riding him outside. He was excelent outside.

The other ride was on friday. Another chance to start to establish some real steering and brakes. It went better than the first time but it's still rather chaotic. It is harder than I though, to contoll myself and keeping me from reacting like I would on an older horse because Crispin does not understand these signals yet. But steering problems aside, it is amazing (or stupid maybe ;-) ) how safe I already feel when I'm on his back! Don't get me wrong, we already had two tiny *ups* moments. Two little spook and bolts, but both times I could calm him down again very quickly even without any real brakes or steering.

On tuesday and wednesday I had two more saddle fitters out. No happy news to report. Again there was no saddle to be found that would fit Crispin for less than 2400€. My best shot was a semi-custom Vega.

When I decided to get a Welsh Cob I knew that finding a saddle wouldn't be easy and I am willing to go semi-custom but not quite yet. Crispin is not even really under saddle yet and I'm sure he'll physically "explode" this summer. If I go semi-custom now there is no guarantee that the saddle can be re-fitted in a year or two. And there is no way that I could afford another semi-custom saddle again in two years!

So, what am I to do now?

What I need is a cheap or used saddle that is a good fit to take us through the first year. After that I'd be quite willing to get a new semi-custom for Crispin. But even though the Tekna was not a bad fit it turns out that I really can't sit in it and it still is a tad too long for Crispin. I've already returned the saddle and am again without a saddle. There is one more saddle to try. A Kent & Masters:

http://www.kentandmasters.co.uk/index.html

The dressage saddle could be a good fit. They are changeable (gullet, flocking) and reasonably priced. If the Kent & Masters doesn't fit I really don't know what to do. I could try the Tekna in a size 17. It would probably work for Crispin but still wouldn't really work for me.