Good afternoon

Went to Auburn this morning to the Used Saddle Connection and took a look at the Solstice that was there.  It's marked as a "N", but the gullet looks like a medium.  They let me take it home with me and I'll put it on Farley to see how it looks.  It's an excellent price ($850), and the leather is in very good condition.  It doesn't have wool serge panels like my last one, but the leather is in better condition.  I'm very hopeful that it works.  OK.  To be honest, I'm completely ecstatic I found one in such good condition for such a good price and I cannot WAIT to take a spin in it, and fully expect to be all teary eyed and emotional the entire time for that first ride.  And if it doesn't work, a friend found another local one on craigslist for just slightly more money so either way, *MY* saddle is waiting for me in the eminent future. 

I had a trim appointment this morning and took pics of hooves post-trim to post, but I just can't bring myself to.  I'm happy with her feet and my trimmer, and I feel like posting pics only opens the floor to criticism that I don't necessarily need or want right now, so what's the point? 

So, instead I'm posting a body condition photo.  I'm super happy with her weight.  We are 6 weeks or so post Tevis.  The Barn owner is really really good about about monitoring her weight and is constantly adjusting her feed up or down depending on work.  She's been too skinny in the past so this 5.5/9 BCS makes me really really happy.  She still doesn't have the muscling, especially in her rump, that she had when in regular work, but overall very happy.

(So yes, I'm totally editing this post after it posted the first time :).  Realized I forgot 2 thoughts...)

Forgotten thought #1: How do you like her mane?  It's half grown out and I'm trying to decide whether to roach again or let it grow out?

Forgotten thought #2: My first solstice I found for a really good price probably was still for sale when I found it because it was mislabeled in the ad. The seller had (incorrectly) measured and reported the seat size as a 16".....but the picture she posted had the info stamped into the flap that clearly showed it was a 17".  16" seats are a lot less popular than 17" :).  My gain.  This solstice is stamped as a N, but it really looks like the actual gullet size is a medium (M). It's a possibility that this saddle started out as a narrow (which I can't find that they ever manufactured a narrow, but hey - not everything is on google right?) and was adjusted to a medium.  In the world of fat broad-backed, big barrel arabs, mediums (and wides) are a lot more popular than narrows. Again, I find a "mislabeled" saddle whose price is a good deal. My point is, if you are trying to find a certain saddle and barely have the funds for what they seem to be "going for", it may pay to closely look at the ads and see if a good deal that isn't the right size, may actually be the correct saddle for you!