I am interested in a Custom Everest for my big shouldered, broad backed horse. He has some withers but not much, and a very broad spine. The website says it fits a wide variety of horses, but I don’t believe there can be a one size fits all saddle. I’m wondering if anyone has firsthand experience with this saddle on a broader variety of horses. Thanks!!
I do! I LOVED the everest, it worked wonderfully for my high withered gelding, but when he retired and I got my new youngin’ who has a super round barrel and no withers to speak of and the saddle would never stay in the middle of her, despite several re-flocks. So we switched to the Custom Advantage which works well for her.
I did also use my Everest on a horse I leased who was shorter backed than my gelding but built very uphill, and it worked well for him. I think the only time you’ll run into trouble with the Everest would be on a round horse with no withers, and honestly those are (coming from experience) tough to fit well in general!
I just bought an Everest and both of us love it, and it sounds like our horses have similar builds. Custom saddles have trees that are adjusted to the horse, so no more narrow, medium, wide, etc. It’s not a one-size-fits-all saddle, but a customizable one. My Custom rep came out with a lot of different models for us to try, and each felt very different. A barn mate didn’t like the Everest on her horse, but love the Icon.
This is true!! He tends to be on the rounder barreled side… I’m almost tempted to try the Fryso saddles (designed for Friesians) on him, but I love the way the Custom Everest and the Icon Coda both ride and am desperately hoping one will work on him as well. I’m crossing my fingers.
Custom is now making a hoop tree. Not sure which models it comes in (Icon Echo for sure).
[QUOTE=islandhorsegirl;8940776]
Custom is now making a hoop tree. Not sure which models it comes in (Icon Echo for sure).[/QUOTE]
I haven’t heard about the Echo, I’ll have to look it up… I know the Santa Cruz R is a hoop tree. The specific reason I’d asked about the Everest is that there is one nearby for sale used for fairly reasonably priced, and with the claim that they made that it fits a wide variety of horses, I was hoping for some anecdotal evidence that will help decide if it’s worth a shot. There is also a Coda around here for sale for about half the price of new that is in lovely shape. If I have to bite the bullet and buy new, I will, but used would be lovely.
