Is there any difference between County dressage saddles and Custom dressage saddles?
Very much so. They feel completely different for the rider. They also fit different types of horses with some overlap.
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Two totally different companies? Two totally different saddles, made in different facilities?
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Yes, county has their own tree and manufacturing facilities, as far as I know.
Last I knew County saddles did not come w/ adjustable trees. Custom saddles are adjustable. My County Perfection with special panels worked very well on my old high withered TB and I personally liked the saddle. Warmblood mare, ordered new County and though it âfitâ supposedly, it really did not work for her. Custom Icon worked MUCH betterâŠWhy? among other things it had point billets. It was also different in the gullet; she had not just a high wither but a long one (front to back). It fit me OK. Current Lusitano with his short back and no wither, goes very well in a Custom Wolfgang short paneled saddle. II like it for me also.
I will say that the County was a good quality saddle; Iâve been less than 100% thrilled with leather quality on the Customs.
I never met a Custom that I liked until recently when my trainer suggested I try the one she had taken on trial to buy for herself. It suited my long legs well because the knee blocks are set back slightly from the front of the flap and are almost completely vertical instead of angled like they are on most saddles. Iâd want/need a narrower twist if I were to buy one for myself but I was impressed overall by how the shape promoted a good position despite being about an inch too big in the seat. And I agree about the billeting system. Whatever model it is (I forgot to check) doesnât have sweat flaps so you got the same contact you might get from a mono flap without all the girthing issues mono flaps cause on my horse.
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I think you might be talking about the Avantage. The one I had was a mono flap. I have a different Custom now, and a Hennig. I like the Custom better. It has more clearance for the withers and spine.
I have not been around County saddles for a long time. That said, Iâll offer some âwords to the wiseâ and you guys can take what you like and leave the rest.
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IMO, County designs a saddle to fit low and close around a horseâs back and withers. Some horses like that, some (like my old gelding) do not. I think some Custom saddles look and feel shockingly high above the horseâs back. I think the shsllower-no gusset-in-front âpony panelâ option works well for lots of horses and riders who want a closer fit. You and the horse really and truly have to try them both on, preferably with a good, established fitter in your area.
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I believe that County will guarantee the fit for the horse, but not the rider. Custom has a 10 day trial period for the saddle you order. If you change your mind, I donât think you get your money back, rather, I think they would have you put that toward another saddle.
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You are buying service as well. Has the fitter who is selling you the saddle been in business for a long time? Nothing is worse than a revolving door for saddle fitters. After all, you will need someone to reflock your expensive saddle from time to time. I just discovered an independent saddle fitter with a good reputation for reflocking that will not work on my Custom Icon Coda because of the way youâd have to take down the panels each time to do a good job.
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Some thoughts on adjusting trees. I believe both Custom and County use variations on the same technologyâ the traditional birch, steel and webbing Spring Tree. Both have steel heads. I think saddle fitter âadjustingâ this kind of tree is just putting the saddle on a tree press and widening or narrowing the points of the tree. And that means bending the steel. How many times can you flex the metal like that without breaking anything? I donât know. But that is why some manufacturers will not recommended adjusting trees and others wonât guarantee their trees because they know someone, somewhere will do that anyway.
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And on ordering vs. buying. Custom has had a bit of a reputation for inconsistency in its manufacturing. Lots of people recommended buying the saddle you actually ride in rather than ordering the same. I donât know anything about Countyâs production standards.
I hope this gives you some questions to ask. I do think thereâs no way around paying a rep from each company to come out and give you a fitting. But by the time you have done that (and, I hope, found other people in your area who have used that rep and ridden in those saddles), you will know which saddle and which company you want to do business with.
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I also felt that Custom had a lot of saddle between me and the horse,and when I demoed saddles at Rolex the twist was way too wide. What I didnât like about County was that their flaps were all so straight my knee did not fit. I ride shorter than classical dressage length, and Iâm a short rider with a long thigh, so none of their flaps fit me.
Interesting about the flaps @enjoytheride because I just got a County Ephiphany, the flaps are more forward (I am built like you, short with long thigh and canât do too straight) and I absolutely love it. Fits me and my horse like a glove.
I have ridden in Customâs also and liked them, but I think their leather is âlessâ than County. I donât know of any reps around me either, so if I had gone that way it would have been trial and error on my part. My County rep is a gem and has helped me immensely.
