As anyone who regularly reads this list knows, I love my McClellans. I
have a Morgan (which was the original Calvary breed - therefore, more like
the horses these saddles were made for). My emergency back-up horse, Quark
the Arab, also wears a McClellan. It doesn't fit her quite as nicely, but
has not caused any soreness so far. She is a 14.3 hh Polish mare who stood
in a pasture for 6 years. As she has lost weight and built up muscle, the
fit has improved.
I wouldn't trade my McClellan for anything in the world, as long as it fit
my horse. As I plan on sticking with Morgans, the odds that it will fit
are better than average. Find someone in your area with one and try it out
for a week (or a month, if you can). Some people never get used to them
and others (like me) are comfortable the first time they sit in one. My
husband wasn't so sure at first, but quickly grew to like it (he said the
slit in the middle was very accomodating). We ride in the same saddle, a
12" McClellan. He is 6'2" and 190 lbs while I am 5'8" and 130 lbs so it is
very forgiving on fitting the rider. My other McClellan is 11 1/2" but I
can't tell the difference and go from one to the other without notice. One
nice thing is that all my equipment, everything!, only adds 15 lbs to my
weight.
Enough of a plug. I really like the saddle and pick up new ones whereever
I can. One place to find them is at used tack sales. Flea markets and
auctions in horse country can also supply one or two. Place an ad in the
local horsey newspaper. Lots of people have them and don't know what to do
with them...
Shannon Loomis and Quail Meadow Star