Custom saddle tree shapes

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

I’m located in the great white north so trying to sort as much out on my own as possible - unfortunately no reps here.

I have a icon flight that fits my giant shoulder/wither flat backed horse perfectly. I also love it! New dilemma - baby horse is now 7 and has grown into a wide backed curvy type as opposed to flat. My icon flight is now unfortunately bridging on the baby.

Does custom saddlery have any models/trees that are made for a curvy backed horse? I could justify the splurge if it is as fabulous as the flight… But am not sure where to start.

I was really lucky with the flight as a friend rode in one and I was able to try hers before finding my own. Thanks in advance!

[MysticOakRanch]

Yes - I would recommend calling a rep to go over which trees might work. Not sure, but I think the Solo may be curvier?

[Lucassb]

I would say my Wolfgang Solo is definitely more along those lines, at least compared to my Custom Advantage. It’s tough though if you don’t have a local rep.

[netg]

The Advantage R is also more curvy than the Advantage (I have the R for my mare and the regular Advantage Monoflap for my gelding - my seat likes their seats, and my mare needed a more curvy saddle than my gelding.)

If you can’t get a saddle fitter to you, I can PM you the info for my fitter who I highly recommend for advice if you have to work on your own to figure it out.

[NJRider]

I am also interested if anyone has ever actually dealt with a competent, knowledgeable CS rep? Please PM a name. I called the factory to ask questions about recommendations for models similar to my older Advantage and no one could help me nor could they refer me to a rep that could help. The lack of customer service is a head scratcher.

[wildswan]

I don’t want to hijack this thread but I have the opposite problem. I currently own not one, but two Custom saddles that are built for more “curvy” horses. Unfortunately, my 7 yr old has grown into a wide, flat backed boy that goes best in the Icon Flight with the hybrid panels. I’m considering buying a Flight, but am not happy with the workmanship on the new Flight I have on trial. I’m meeting with the rep next week to discuss my concerns. Specifically, I am not happy with the raw leather edges at some seams, the way the leather puckers at the corners on the base of the cantle where the cantle meets the lower panels, and the way it puckers in the narrow strip in front of the knee rolls.

I’m wondering if this is typical of all new Custom saddles, just the Flights, just Flights with hybrid panels, or just this saddle in particular? I would really appreciate it if you could tell me if you have noticed these problems with the Icon Flight you currently own.

Thanks for any info you can share.

Sherry M
WildSwan Hanoverians

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

Sherry, we need to trade!

Current saddle is a flight and she grew into a curvy horse (still need the flight for my gelding). I love the flight and mine is immaculately made and gorgeous. It has also fit my gelding from 5 to almost 9 with several fitters agreeing it suits him very well. Now I just need to figure out a way to make the same thing happen for baby horse!

I will take pictures and tracings tomorrow. With those in hand I hope I can replicate a long distance fitting successfully! Worked the first time, fingers crossed for the second!

Thanks for everyone’s feedback, helps me narrow down the list on what may work! ??

[big_red_ottb]

[QUOTE=wildswan;8565920]
I don’t want to hijack this thread but I have the opposite problem. I currently own not one, but two Custom saddles that are built for more “curvy” horses. Unfortunately, my 7 yr old has grown into a wide, flat backed boy that goes best in the Icon Flight with the hybrid panels. I’m considering buying a Flight, but am not happy with the workmanship on the new Flight I have on trial. I’m meeting with the rep next week to discuss my concerns. Specifically, I am not happy with the raw leather edges at some seams, the way the leather puckers at the corners on the base of the cantle where the cantle meets the lower panels, and the way it puckers in the narrow strip in front of the knee rolls.

I’m wondering if this is typical of all new Custom saddles, just the Flights, just Flights with hybrid panels, or just this saddle in particular? I would really appreciate it if you could tell me if you have noticed these problems with the Icon Flight you currently own.

Thanks for any info you can share.

Sherry M
WildSwan Hanoverians[/QUOTE]

My Icon Flight from 2014 had all of these–particularly bad was the puckering at the cantle and in front of the blocks, the raw leather edges were less noticeable but there. I have a friend who had another Custom (Wolfgang Omni) that had the same cosmetic complaints.

I wound up getting rid of my Custom because it could not be made to fit my horse and the customer service (if you can call it that) was appalling.