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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| So Martin sent me a 14" Crown C with an 8" gullet to try on my guy with the big shoulders - SO EXCITED! Never had better customer service. So I was wondering what you guys thought of the fit?
I think it fits pretty well - it's even pressure all the way underneath and has good clearance over his withers. He is downhill and the saddle rocked forward a bit so I put a "shim" under to see what it would do. When I rode in it my horse was more of a freight train than usual - SUPER free in his movements and for whatever reason, I could actually sit his trot (usually it's like riding a horse on springs, not in a good way).
Also had a question about what size seat everyone rides in? It was a bit weird riding in it - almost like riding on a big plate because it was so wide. Something to get used to but I'm thinking the 14" is too big, I'm 5'5" and 110lbs.
Sorry for the book! Let me know what you think!
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 Lucky5.jpg (86KB - 243 downloads)
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 Been Blessed
Posts: 7587
  
Location: Living in my Promised Land | 13 or 13.5 would fit you better. I really like my Martin. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
Location: Texas! | I didn't realize you could get a loaner! I am in the midst of getting with my tack store to order me one and was planning to send the stensil that I had done of my geldings back last summer. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| WYOracer - 2014-02-05 10:24 PM
I didn't realize you could get a loaner! I am in the midst of getting with my tack store to order me one and was planning to send the stensil that I had done of my geldings back last summer.
I didn't either! I thought I would have to pay for it in full in case something happened to it, then pay to have them ship it to me. The guy I talked to said give me your name and address and I'll have one to you sometime next week and when you're done with it I'll have my UPS guy pick it up. Crazy! Think I'll try a 13" just to be sure - will definitely be purchasing from Martin in the near future! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1118
Location: The South | I think it looks great with the shim! To me they run a half size smaller than other saddles. |
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 Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| I didn't know you could try one either! I was riding a JBN and while it doesn't move and my feet stay right below me so I can stand up quickly … I'm having to sell it (as soon as I get it together to get my ads up) and am trying my niece's Tod Sloan … really really liking that. However, before I buy another saddle, I want to try a martin. My niece has one also but she uses it, so trying it is a little difficult (plus its a smaller seat)! LOL. I may try that route. My only thought is that her Martin is heavy compared to the Sloan and the JBN.
To the OP: my horse's name is Lucky too! Thanks for the information! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 980
Location: Southwest Minnesota | It does sound like you will need a smaller seat. I just bought my daughter a Crown C also. The first thing she said when she sat on it was "It's so wide!". Now if it would just warm up so she could do a little riding. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| The adjustable Rigging is not in the most forward position.
This should be, and the saddle needs to move back more. The saddle should be placed behind the shoulder not on the shoulder. I would say your horse needs a bigger gullet, as the back end should not be off of the horses back.
The saddle seat the way Brian explained it to me as you should be in the centre of the saddle, not on your pockets, and they do want a little room behind you. Once you get to those big gullets they do suggest going half a size bigger then you usually take.
Also Brian believes that all martins will need to be shimmed, classic equine has shims that work great. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| cheryl makofka - 2014-02-06 8:43 AM
The adjustable Rigging is not in the most forward position.
This should be, and the saddle needs to move back more. The saddle should be placed behind the shoulder not on the shoulder. I would say your horse needs a bigger gullet, as the back end should not be off of the horses back.
The saddle seat the way Brian explained it to me as you should be in the centre of the saddle, not on your pockets, and they do want a little room behind you. Once you get to those big gullets they do suggest going half a size bigger then you usually take.
Also Brian believes that all martins will need to be shimmed, classic equine has shims that work great.
Thanks! I figured I would have to shim - just didn't want to buy the shims and figure out the saddle won't work. I'm wondering if the saddle is off his back because it was tipped forward without the shim? Ill be out tonight and try moving it back more. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| LuckyNGG'sGirl - 2014-02-06 9:28 AM
cheryl makofka - 2014-02-06 8:43 AM
The adjustable Rigging is not in the most forward position.
This should be, and the saddle needs to move back more. The saddle should be placed behind the shoulder not on the shoulder. I would say your horse needs a bigger gullet, as the back end should not be off of the horses back.
The saddle seat the way Brian explained it to me as you should be in the centre of the saddle, not on your pockets, and they do want a little room behind you. Once you get to those big gullets they do suggest going half a size bigger then you usually take.
Also Brian believes that all martins will need to be shimmed, classic equine has shims that work great.
Thanks! I figured I would have to shim - just didn't want to buy the shims and figure out the saddle won't work. I'm wondering if the saddle is off his back because it was tipped forward without the shim? Ill be out tonight and try moving it back more.
When Brian fit my horses he used both shims on all my horses with all the different saddles, I would say the shims equal 1 1/2" thickness.
If your horse has any atrophy in the wither I would suggest trying a bigger gullet.
My average horse is a 9inch gullet
I will see if I can post a photo of him so you can see his build
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Regular
Posts: 80
Location: Denton TX | I am so glad this post is up. I won one through D&G and get to have it built. Question is, my boy is 19 and I really don't see a point in having him fitted for the saddle. In cases like this how would I know what gullett to order? |
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Impressive!!
Posts: 1954
Location: Idaho | I think the saddle is too big... without the shims... if it rocks forward and tips, like it does in the first few pics, it is too wide and falling forward, it looks way better balanced with the shim. I think the seat is too big too, I ride a 14.5"an I am 5'6 165# ... so I think you could easily fit a 13-13.5" :) That is my non professional input |
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 Vodka for Lunch
Location: Lala Land | Some of the smaller girls I know (about your size) are riding in a 13.5. I have a 14 but have a bit of a ghetto booty  |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 411
Location: Smack in the middle of WA! | I have to agree that it looks much better with the shim. Love my crown c! This one looks identical and is the same gullet/seat size to one I sold in November! Same tooling, conchos and everything! Outta curiosity what's the serial number on it? My mare moved to a 9 inch gullet and my 4 year old also wears the 9. Hoping he doesn't outgrow it  |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| babybully - 2014-02-06 10:26 AM
I am so glad this post is up. I won one through D&G and get to have it built. Question is, my boy is 19 and I really don't see a point in having him fitted for the saddle. In cases like this how would I know what gullett to order?
Honestly I wouldn't go any smaller then a 9 for a full grown quarter horse. I have 2 horses that are only 5 which an 11 fits them perfectly. My normal looking gelding was fitted into a 9 |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| I think I would get rid of that super thick pad and put something thinner in it's place. I'd also move it back so the edge of the pad is perpendicular to the top of the shoulder. How big is this horse? If you have to shim it that much it might be too wide. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| hank520 - 2014-02-06 5:42 PM
I have to agree that it looks much better with the shim. Love my crown c! This one looks identical and is the same gullet/seat size to one I sold in November! Same tooling, conchos and everything! Outta curiosity what's the serial number on it? My mare moved to a 9 inch gullet and my 4 year old also wears the 9. Hoping he doesn't outgrow it
It's a test ride so it's probably not the one you sold. :) |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| brlraceaddict - 2014-02-06 6:03 PM
I think I would get rid of that super thick pad and put something thinner in it's place. I'd also move it back so the edge of the pad is perpendicular to the top of the shoulder. How big is this horse? If you have to shim it that much it might be too wide.
Honestly the pad isn't that thick - the edges are coming apart which makes it look thicker. It's less than a 3/4".
My horse is 15.1 and he'll be coming 6 this May. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 503
| I think part of the tipping/rocking forward is he is pretty downhill which could be why he's been such a nightmare to fit - I'll post some photos so you all can see him.
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