Custom Saddlery?

[Pocket_Pony]

I tried to do a search, but of course everything with the word “custom” came up so I thought it easiest to start a new thread.

Does anyone have a Custom Saddlery saddle? What model do you have, what do you like about it, how is the company to work with, etc.?

We have a rep in the area whom I’m thinking of calling to come out for a new saddle for me. The shipping back-and-forth is a PITA and if I could have one person come out to me with a bunch of saddles, I think that would be the best way to go. I’ve gone that route in the past (with an independent fitter, that we seem to be lacking around here) and it was the best way for me to find something I like.

Thanks!

[netg]

I don’t know who your rep would be - I think there’s a Northern CA one who would likely go up there, or someone more local to you. I have worked with both southern CA reps and like them both a lot.

Like you, I don’t want to deal with the shipping back and forth and guessing, so I went with the brand who had a rep who comes out here and fits horses well, since we don’t have anyone local. I also like Sue from Limelite a lot (N2 saddles) and really liked how her husband, Graham, fitted my horses - though he’s not as socially adept which I can relate to, and has butted heads with more people I know of. Their trees were very uncomfortable to me, so getting N2 saddles wasn’t an option for me.

I have a Custom Advantage on my TB who fits in a typical saddle made for a medium width warmblood. He is very uphill with good saddle position and an easy fit. Alis from Custom was out and I think I tried about 15 saddles, and the Advantage was the first one she had me try. Every single person I have known trying a new saddle with her (10-15) has ended up in the first saddle she suggested - she is just GOOD at figuring that out. My gelding’s a poor fit for me size-wise, and saddles which are very comfortable put me in a terrible chair seat so I can’t ride him decently at all, and most others make my legs pinch somewhere. The Advantage with short blocks allowed me to ride with a shorter stirrup so I could have even contact with his sides along my whole leg instead of pinching anywhere. It’s also super narrow twist and Alis flocked it to encourage that - I refer to my preferred saddle type as a 2x4. I also hate a really deep seat as they tend to force me onto my crotch but need a high rise in front. This saddle has a big flat spot and high rise and just allows me to ride more easily by getting balance right and not getting in my way.

I have a Custom Advantage R on my Trakehner. She is narrow and a more ideal fit to me, so I had less difficulty finding one I would like. She has a more curvy back and is less uphill, so doesn’t fit as easily into just your typical generic warmblood saddle. The R has shorter points which help with her super long shoulders, and allowed freedom even when she was in a downhill growth stage. It still has the same seat with the high rise in front, flat spot, etc., but works better to fit her. I also have short blocks on this one - long blocks simply don’t work for me, they’re angled differently, etc. I think on her saddle which was custom made for me the blocks are not the standard short blocks for the Advantage, but from a different type of saddle - they are a bit narrower than the ones on my other saddle which I bought right off the truck.

As long as you have a good fitter, they will also be really good about standing up for you if anything is off during your trial period. They had to rebuild my saddle for my mare due to some problems, and I used the first one with extra padding until it came. My fitter took care of everything so I never even had to contact the company about it. I heard that my first saddle sold very quickly (to someone with a wider horse) because it was very pretty.

[NSC_Los_Angeles]

Custom is the dominant saddler in our area, not bad, though not necessarily the best. I have a Custom Star that I would call, “Ok but not great.” If I had it to do over again I’d probably not have bought this saddle. The thigh blocks are out of control on most of their models, the craftsmanship is weak across the board. They make some absolutely stunning saddles, probably the most beautiful on the market (the browns are to die for) but I don’t necessarily find their panel design or seat/thigh blocks ideal. If I were going to consider another Custom it would definitely be the one with more minimal thigh blocks (the Advantage I believe). I find Custom very salesy and focused on closing the deal. They also make no real effort to sell on your used saddles, I don’t even bother calling anymore and move mine through trainers. If you go with Custom I would suggest trying to bring a trainer for objective evaluation, as it’s easy to fall in love with one their gorgeous saddles and get sold something that doesn’t quite work for you and your horse.

[Badger]

I’m lucky enough to have an excellent Custom rep. I worked with reps from Custom, Black Country, and Helsbuelos (sp?) and ended up with Custom because they had more models that were candidates for my horse and me, have a great trial policy, I wasn’t going to be stuck with a custom order if it arrived and I didn’t love it, and the rep was fantastic. She let me ride in demos for five months until the one she ordered for me came in, then I got to ride in it for a bit to be sure. But I knew in the first ride that it was The One and my horse and I haven’t looked back. She was determined to find me a saddle that was clearly better than what I had and she did.

I was not willing to go on blind faith that a custom-ordered saddle would arrive and be perfect. I’ve been burned by that previously. I wanted to ride in the EXACT saddle a few times before being committed to the $$$$. I was able to do that with Custom. Most other companies you can’t. My particular saddle is a Solo with the Icon short block, and shockingly it fits the 16 hh TB and 17.1 hh perch//TB as well as the 17 hh FEI Hanoverian I ordered it for. That’s lots of icing on the cake. It does not fit my Hol/TB cross that my old saddle fits.

A clinician who is sponsored by Custom sat in mine at the clinic and ordered one just like it because he found it so comfortable, and a friend with a Clyde/TB borrowed it and has just ordered one as well. All three of us are pretty tall (I’m 5’11"). You might need a very different model depending on your and your horse’s confirmation, but Custom does have a LOT of options.

[MissAriel]

I am currently riding in two Custom saddles. First is an older model VLX on my young 4 year old. It fits him like a glove and he moves wonderfully in it. It is also very comfortable and well balanced for me, although I wouldn’t mind having smaller thigh blocks. I love how quickly I can recover “center” when he acts up and just keep riding as if nothing happened. At this point, with a young horse, I am not quite ready to fork over for a made-to fit saddle when I have one that fits him so well.

The second I ride in is a Wolfgang Solo, I believe, and I am only riding once a week on a friend’s horse to help her out. It has the short external blocks, and while it felt odd the first ride, I have completely converted to loving that saddle. I am not sure if it is because of the different block configuration or also the fact that this horse is a TB and narrower than mine, but I really like the way I can let my legs hang down in this saddle - the blocks don’t hold my legs in place, but when I bump into them it is a slight reminder to lengthen down. The seat is deep enough to provide some support without feeling confining.

Both saddles are well made. The VLX is about 15 years old, and had probably been redyed before I bought it earlier this year and it looks as nice as the Solo, which is much newer. The billets had also probably been replaced at some point. I am basing this on comparison to a friend’s VLX of a similar vintage which I know has had billets replaced and the color is much more faded. Both saddles are buffalo, and I love the buffalo - definitely what I will be riding in from now on: so nicely grippy without feeling sticky.

[NSC_Los_Angeles]

Yes the buffalo hide is fantastic! If you have the option to get one in buffalo definitely do so, it’s really great.

[rothmpp]

I have ridden in a Wolfgang Solo with the long blocks for about 5 years now. I bought the demo - much like Badger I did not want to take the chance that a custom ordered one would fit exactly like the demo I rode in. I was not necessarily in the market for a new saddle, but the configuration worked awesome for both my horse and I.

I’m not in loooooove with my rep - I don’t think she’s the best fitter on the planet. She will do exactly what I ask for, but I’m determining the issues with the adjustments most of the time, not her.

What I did like was that she had a ton of choices to try - since their reps are supplied with demos I feel like they tend to have more available. Some other companies make their reps buy their demos, so often have less to try as they simply can’t afford to have the stock on hand. It helps that I’m a pretty standard size - usually a 17.5 and my horse is a MW. I probably sat in 10-15 saddles that day - some of them for literally a quarter of the arena at a walk and knew immediately it was wrong.

FWIW, she would have been happy to sell me a used one if she had one available. Again, I think it depends on your rep. I’m pretty sure they have protected territories so you get what you get.

[MysticOakRanch]

One of the NorCal reps just moved to OR!

I have had 3 of their saddles, one I bought used, 2 were new. I still have the 2nd new one and the used one- I think it is 8 or 10 years old now. I mostly ride in the Constanze , which is a flex tree saddle that fits short backed horses well. It is a flatter seat, which I prefer. My used saddle is the Coronado, also a flex tree. It has fit three different young horses well, so I hang onto it for that reason

My experience has been Very different from NSC. Of course they want to sell a saddle, all saddle reps do. But… They have a super generous trial period - 10 days before you commit to buying the saddle. I sent 2 saddles back because they weren’t right, and finally bought the demo saddle which was just right I could have just said no, they don’t work. At that point, all you pay is the initial fitting fee. I’ve also found their used saddle trade in policy is very generous ! And knee rolls? They have big and small, short and long. You get to pick your preferred configuration They also have the option for shorter panels if your horse has a short back . My first Custom, I sold after riding in it for 8 years. It still looked almost new!

We have several other custom brands in the area - dressage is big in Cali. I think Custom is most popular here for a reason. Their saddles tend to be comfortable, the leather wears like iron, and the trial period is wonderful. I know several people who have ordered from others (Brands not to be named) and been stuck w saddles that never fit right.

[GraceLikeRain]

Meh. I’m pretty on the fence with them.

Off the top of my head I know around 20 horses in fairly new Customs (less than 5 years old). One arrived with a twisted tree and another arrived with broken piping and some really sloppy stitching. One person ordered two identical saddles that rode very differently straight from Custom even after careful adjustment.

I love how many options are available and the fun coloring options are really appealing. However, nearly 20% from this one barn came with some sort of defect from the factory.

If I wanted a saddle with lots of options, a good demo period, and tons of bling options for a relatively low price I would definitely consider Custom. If there was another brand that fit my horse just as well I’d be willing to lose bling options for a bit more security about production.

[Magicboy]

I ride in a Solo monoflap and my trainer also uses various custom models on her horses. She has 8 customs in the tack room. Our rep is just wonderful and the service through her has been excellent. You really can change up the knee rolls, and everything else on their saddles. Trade in is terrific… I also admire the riders they sponsor so something good is going on their. I’ve had Passier, schleese, and bates saddles in the past. I love this one the most.

[redsoxluvr]

I did not have a good experience. I used Fred Taht and he did an excellent job adjusting the saddle initially. I think highly of the job that he did on a long distance fitting. However, the experience after the sale with a manufacturing problem was not good and I would not buy another one.

[normandy_shores]

I ride in a custom coronado monoflap, and love it. It’s worn very well over 5 years. I did not have it made to order, it was available and when tried it fit my then hard-to-fit horse.

it has now been refitted to fit new horse. I was recently in the market for a new jump saddle (I event) and a friend of a friend had a custom monte carlo available (monoflap jump). Both me and my pony love it. It’s 9 years old and wearing very well.

[phoenixrises]

I just got a Custom Everest R. They still haven’t called me to take payment. . .Even though I’ve called a number of times. But the saddle itself is lovely and they were quick (just under 6 weeks) and my fitter was great.

[Romily_Bernard]

I have an Icon and Monte Carlo. They’re wearing really well and Wonder Pony really likes them. My rep had a bunch of different brands and these fit her the best. Good luck! I hope you enjoy your new saddle!

[Pocket_Pony]

Thanks, everyone, this is encouraging. There is a fitter who is new to the area, probably who MOR is talking about. I sent her a note yesterday and it sounds like she’ll also do flocking for non-Custom saddles. I’m happy to have a fitter around who can help - I’ve been looking for someone around here for a while!

[exploding_pony]

I would definitely work with the NorCal rep, she is very good - bad for us if she’s left the state! I rode in an older one for years, but couldn’t get it right on one of my horses and had a really, really hard time getting the rep I was assigned to (different rep) to respond.

I gave up and bought a couple of Dresch saddles which are very similar. One of the old Custom reps is my Dresch rep and I’m happy with the service.

[lecoeurtriste]

I have a Custom Steffan Advantage with modified short canted thigh blocks in buffalo that I adore. I’m thinking seriously about ordering a custom Fleur de Lys jump saddle too. The only downside for me is that the local rep is so busy that she’s hard to schedule!

[ShannonLee]

My Customs have been great - the thing I like is that there are a number of trees to fit different horses well. You do need a good saddle fitter who knows Customs to recommend and try the right one for you and your horse though! I have a Star, and Advantage and a Icon Flight. And I love how they let my leg drape.

[atlatl]

I tired hard to buy a Custom saddle in SoCal several years ago. Spent 9 months, paid for shipping on 3 saddles each one fitting worse than the previous one and this was after meeting the rep twice so they could do tracings of my horse’s back. When I finally gave up, I got a snotty email from them.

I went with Trilogy and have been super happy.

[Ashleyw]

I have a custom Monte Carlo that I absolutely love! It is super comfortable for me and my horses love it too, they move so much better in it. I can’t wait until I am able to buy a dressage saddle from them. I do ride sometimes in my instructors custom dressage saddle and it’s great too. I’m not sure of the model though.