LONGMONT, Colo. (KDVR) — For 10 years, Mary Ann Page has been working successfully in the hospitality industry.
“I actually worked in a five-diamond resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, as an event planner,” said Page.
Then one day Page got a burr under her saddle blanket. Figuratively, and maybe literally as well. She decided to switch careers. Now, Page is a certified master saddle fitter. And she will be the first to tell you one size does not fit all.
“The reason we want to have a properly fitting saddle on a horse is we want the horse to be comfortable as well as the human being on top,” said Page.
At Nemmers Performance Horses in Longmont, Page assisted client Heidi Melocco in fitting a brand-new saddle on a 13-year-old Appaloosa. Melocco is very much part of the process.
Page will tell you there are as many saddle styles as there are boots that will find their way into the stirrups. And a perfect fit is essential for a perfect ride.
It takes about 45 minutes from fitting to riding like the wind. And a good hand-made in the USA genuine leather rig will cost around $2,500 to $4,000. Melocco thinks it is worth every penny.
“I think it is amazing to have someone that just has that precise knowledge to come and take a look and really make sure that the saddle you are getting fits perfectly,” said Melocco.
We don’t think there is a burr under Mary Ann Page’s saddle blanket anymore.