Saddle Woes, or Whoa

I gave Sadie and Allie the saddle for Christmas.  

"It's a saddle Mimi, it's a saddle.  For what?"  Allie is so cute.  For Clyde of course. 

Saturday, the weather was beautiful, temperature in the 60's and no wind.  Allie and Sadie came over to ride Clyde in the new saddle.  It fit Clyde and I even found a 28 inch girth.  But the rings were pretty rusted and it was difficult to get attached.  The problem was more of the stirrup length.  This is as high as I could pull up the fender and as high as the holes could be punched. 

And it is a good 12 inches too long for Allie.  I did use the over the horse stirrups but they slid back and forth a little too much for my liking.   

But I think Allie appreciated having a horn to hold on to.  

However, she still did not want to trot.  

I don't know was was wrong with Sadie.  I think she was getting over a cold and not feeling her best.  She was being very contrary.  I told her it looked like she was trying to sit in a recliner.  But you can see the stirrup issue.  

The over the horn stirrups also set their legs too far forward.   By the time they get big enough to reach the stirrups they will have out grown Clyde.  

I even got on to try out the saddle.  I am pretty sure I could lower the stirrups enough to ride, but the stirrup is too small for my boot.  I have options.

1. return the saddle and try again (not a problem as I got it locally from a friend that said bring it back if      it doesn't work)

2. just continue to use the over the horn stirrups

3. teach them to ride without stirrups.  

4. remove the fenders and replace with more of a hunter type strap and stirrup.  

I may try option 4 before option 1.  But with the temperature now in the teens, I don't expect to do too much riding for a few days.