Custom Icon Alpha?

[Pocket_Pony]

I’ll spare the long story but the short story is that I’m back to saddle shopping and tried Custom saddles again even though last time I thought the saddles just wouldn’t work for me.

I said eff it with regard to budget and looked at everything that could/should fit Pony and I. Fitter came out yesterday.

Well lo and behold there is a newish model that w asnt out last time, and I really like it.

The Custom website doesn’t have a description and I had to skedaddle to work so didn’t have a lot of time to chat with the fitter about the details of the saddle. I think she said it is a little wider mid-back for horses like Pony.

I really like it. I have it on trial for 10 days and then if I still like it I’ll buy it, even though it has bling that I don’t like.

Anyone ride in this saddle? It was one of those aaaahhh a-ha moments where it just fit.

[soloudinhere]

I have one. Just came in last month.

[sheltona01]

I really like the model for certain horses. It is made for a curvier horse with some width to their back. If your horse is too angular, it will tend to rock side to side. Most riders are suprised about how it feels, but seem to like it. It is their newest model and even now some of the fitters do not have one. You may not get a lot of people responding because they have never seen it.

[trafalgar]

Any more opinions?

[AptitudeDressage]

I have one on the way as a sponsored saddle. Sat in it and fell in love. I had an Icon Flight that was destroyed in our fire, and they redesigned the seat in them several years ago. Can’t wait to get the new alpha.

[AADressageRider10]

Anyone with experience on the Alpha mind sharing a little info on how the Alpha compares to the other Customs? Similar to the Star? Coda? Wolfgang? sheltona01 noted most riders are surprised how it feels … how so? I also noticed the two comment of good for a horse with some width to it’s back … like a Lusitano? Tried a Custom Matrix for that reason but I didn’t love the seat. Any information about the tree? I love most Custom saddles but believe the tree points might be too long for my horse which is causing issues no matter what model we try. Wondering if they are different in the Alpha. Would love to know more about the Alpha from anyone willing to share!

[sheltona01]

It does not necessarily ride how it looks. I also find riders tend to like a smaller seat size. It does tend to ride bigger.

Is your guy flatter or curvier? Feel free to send me pictures and I will be more able to help you. Lusitano come in so many different shapes and can be very tricky to fit.

The Wolfgang line does sit a lot different than the Icon line. The Icon line is for the riders that like to sit forward in the saddle. For me who tends to go forward, I prefer the wolfgang because it let’s you sit futher back and gives me a place for my bum. However that really is your anatomy and personal preference and you really do not know what you like until you ride in it.

[exvet]

Sorry to hear that you’re back in the saddle search jungle. I hope this saddle works for you both. I’m fortunate that their sire’s saddle still fits PFP’s brother reasonably well though with his increasing muscling/changing development I’m not sure how long this ‘grace period’ will last. I don’t know about ‘sis’ but Junior’s back has seen the most rapid development with the increase in collected canter work we’ve been doing.

[LPG]

@Pocket Pony did you go with the Alpha? If so, how do you like it? I have the Coda and LOVE it but it’s just not fitting my guy as well now. He’s needing a bit of a curvier tree so I’m going to try the flight and the alpha.

[SerenaGinger]

@AADressageRider10

Anyone with experience on the Alpha mind sharing a little info on how the Alpha compares to the other Customs? Similar to the Star? Coda? Wolfgang? sheltona01 noted most riders are surprised how it feels … how so? I also noticed the two comment of good for a horse with some width to it’s back … like a Lusitano? Tried a Custom Matrix for that reason but I didn’t love the seat. Any information about the tree? I love most Custom saddles but believe the tree points might be too long for my horse which is causing issues no matter what model we try. Wondering if they are different in the Alpha. Would love to know more about the Alpha from anyone willing to share!

My daughter has an Alpha and loves it. She’s been riding in it for a few months now, I think since November. Her pony is super wide, much wider than my Lusitano. I believe the tree points are shorter in the Alpha than other older Custom saddles.

With her previous pony, she rode in a Wolfgang Solo and she feels like the Alpha rides similarly enough. The Wolfgang wasn’t going to fit this new pony as his first, middle, and last names are “Wide!”

She isn’t comfortable in my Custom Everest (has a hard time posting and getting out of the saddle, feels like it sucks her in) , and I have trouble not getting shoved forward in her Wolfgang. I haven’t sat in her Alpha (I don’t think). I have also sat in an Icon Flight and Obrigado and both didn’t work for me. Just to give you some idea of how the Alpha rides.

[soloudinhere]

@LPG

@Pocket Pony did you go with the Alpha? If so, how do you like it? I have the Coda and LOVE it but it’s just not fitting my guy as well now. He’s needing a bit of a curvier tree so I’m going to try the flight and the alpha.

I’ve had two different Alphas (nothing wrong with the saddle, my position changed and I needed a different block) over the past year.

Not the poster you addressed, but I can try to address questions. My guy is oldenburg with an athletic wide wb back. I find the Alpha to be the easiest Custom saddle to sit down into, at least for my conformation.

[LPG]

@soloudinhere That’s good to know that you like it and it’s easy to sit down into. That’s exactly what I’m looking for, some of the others I’ve tried make me feel like I’m perched on top of the horse. Fingers crossed it works!