...here they are...

...the pictures of the new saddle on Crispin. I'm not 100% sold yet but I also don't know if what I see is actually such a big deal or if there even is a better option out there (after all, I have been looking for a year now).

I 've had a lesson today, took off the saddle pad after that and put the saddle back on without it. The girth is tight but not "ready-to-ride-tight".

 

As you can see, the fit isn't bad at all. The panels are nice and short, the iron is wide enough (could be widened if needed). It sits nicely behind his shoulder and there is no slipping at all. BUT, I think the deepest point of the seat is juuuust a tad to far to the back. It should be in the middle of the seat or even better just a tad in front of that. Big deal or not?! I don't know...

Tarp Games

Since yesterday was a little more stressful for Crispin than the average day, being ridden twice to check the fit of the new saddle and free lunged before that just in case, I decided that Crispin deserved a fun day today.

We did some groundwork, playing around with some of the exercises from the "Gelassenheitsprüfung", his favourite being the tarp. Here's a little video from today: 

At the end he decides that he isn't quite finished with the tarp yet.

The Saddle

Yesterday was the big day. My saddle arrived (or better, the fitter was in the area, came by and brought/fitted the saddle).

He arrived late in the afternoon and once he was done fitting it was too dark to take any good pictures.

Since we're all girls, here's most important thing: The color is gorgeous! Not as orange as I though but a very, very lovely dark brown.

Even though the fitter had ordered the saddle with a 33 iron (the trial saddle was a 31.5) he had to widen it two more times (half a cm each time) and ended up with a 34 iron. He also did some changes on the flocking after the first test ride. So far it looks good, but I will not let my hopes get up too high before I haven't ridden in it a couple more times, though I really, really hope this is the saddle.

Pictures from now, taken in my living room:

The saddle is a Sommer "Diplomat" with "Espritkissen". 18"Seat, 33 gullet (widened to 34 already). The color is called "moro".

 ...looks like it'd fit a draft!

 It's almost level on my barrel shaped footstool!