So. Indy's wide... Very wide. Her RP is too narrow. A Wide Albion dressage saddle is too narrow. Faith's superdooperextrawide saddle is too wide (can't win!).
I haven't managed to find a Wide or XW jump or GP saddle to try... there's a possibility that one of those will fit differently from the dressage saddle. Still, I don't forsee her getting any narrower, that's for sure...
One NZ stockist of Albions has not bothered to reply. The other has taken their sweet time, suggested she's not really an XW, told me the only W they have coming in is pre-sold and asked if I'd like to try her in a MW..........FFS! Did he READ my original email that stated the horse outgrew her MW Albion jump saddle a year ago? MORE THAN TWELVE MONTHS AGO. I have emailed back to ask what my chances are to get a trial W or XW saddle, the shipping timeframe and whether they would bring in both widths on the condition that I purchase one saddle from them. Who knows if I'll get any cooperation out of them though...
We've come to visit Michael & Breann in Khancoban, so flew into Melbourne. Mum's friend Neville kindly drove us out to Werribee Park to stop in at Mal Byrne's saddlery/workshop. Mal gets saddles made to his design over in England. Due to the exchange rate they're retailing for $3000 AUD... Still a fair whack in NZD, but I would get to choose everything about the saddle, and that price would include shipping to NZ (he usually offers the first fitting and re-flocking free as part of the purchase price, which would be a little difficult in my case ;)
I'm a little torn. If I had received better service in NZ I'd be gunning for an Albion, but I am not sure I want to support a company who doesn't reply to emails promptly and then can't read for comprehension. My other option is hoping Saddle4You can find something suitable, second hand...
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