Custom Saddlery?

[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.

[RedmondDressage]

I’ve got a Wolfgang Solo and I loooooove it. Mine also seems to have this magic ability to fit many kinds of horses relatively well.

Is your area rep Anja or is there someone down in OR? I bought mine used from a friend but she has fitted mine and had good experiences. I’m actually due to have her out soon cuz my dude has really muscled up.

[Reynard_Ridge]

I’m in the process of buying a custom saddle (the Coda). In my case, it’s part laziness. I’ve purchased used saddles my entire riding career and am finally in a place where I am more concerned about getting a saddle that is going to be right for me than I am concerned about getting the most bang for my buck. My trainer likes the local Custom fitter, so we had her come out. I rode in a dozen saddles and found one that genuinely put me in a better position. The saddle was ordered, and I am using a loaner saddle while mine is being made. I’m clear that the saddle that I am waiting for might not work for me, so I am prepared to buy the loaner if “mine” does not actually fit when it comes in (the loaner is the wrong color!).

But, it’s an expensive process. There are quite likely less expensive saddles out there that would have met my needs. As others have pointed out, the quality of the saddle is not necessarily in keeping with the price; at the end of the day, my sadddle will,cost more than twice what I paid for my horse. I’m paying for expediency as well as the guarantee.

[Dressage_Strider]

I have a really old Custom, and it is extremely comfortable, with smaller, softer thigh blocks. Had the saddle fitter replace the billets last year, and she said the frame was sound and the saddle was safe, so at least the older ones were made very well

[Duckz]

I have an off the rack Steffan Advantage in buffalo hide. At the time I got it my horse and I were in Aiken and the rep there came out with a whole stack of used and demo saddles for us to try. Helps that they have a warehouse in Aiken. Anyway, I fell in love with I think the Wolfgang with external blocks, but my horse fell in love with the Steffan Advantage. Luckily it was my second favorite, so horse and I agreed that it was The One. It was a demo so I got a few hundred knocked off the retail price. That horse has since been sold, but the saddle fits both of my current horses and just about anything else I care to put it on. People have offered to buy the saddle but I can’t part with it, it’s so useful. Absolutely 100% go with the buffalo leather. And just in my opinion, try to buy a saddle that you can ride in first vs. having one made. Avoids some of the pitfalls mentioned above.

Btw, I tried the Custom jump saddles last year and there were just ‘meh’ to me. In my opinion Custom does a great job of making a dressage saddle and is hit or miss on the jump saddles. That said, a friend has a Monte Carlo and adores it.

[Tyrus_Mom]

This is an old thread, but I thought I’d put in my two cents. I got a used Wolfgang Solo and I LOVE it. Amazing seat!!! I feel so much more secure in it than in my old Stubben. I have a horse who needs a lot of work with his canter and when he was on two different leads (front and back) it was jarring and difficult to sit for the time it took to stop and restart him in the Stubben. Once I got the Custom saddle I was able to be more confident and secure in my seat when asking my horse for canters. That helped the training process tremendously.

[purplnurpl]

I looooove my Flight.
and I looooove our local rep.
She does put efforts into selling used saddles.
And she does work on non Custom saddles.
She redid a Stubben jump saddle for me. Put long billets on it and redid all the flocking.

She had a demo Flight that was made for me. I’m 6’, all leg but also not a string bean. Size 10ish.
The saddle is a 19" seat with an 18.5" flap. It’s brown with a super dark brn seat.
It’s amazing.

The Flight is their model that has a curvy tree. It’s the only one that fit my horse.
It also has a twist that will insult most riders. It does not have a flat spot for you to sit in. I can feel the twist all the way past my bung holio.
The twist splits my body into two. I wiggle back and forth until it splits up my butt cheeks.

It also has the long thick block. Which looks like a 1/2 block paired with my leg.

It’s down right effing amazing.