Icon Coda For What Type Back?

[IdahoRider]

Okay, so my saddle shopping nightmare is ongoing. I am currently in California (away from home in Idaho for the last five weeks. I found a really nice Custom Icon Coda for sale near my location in California. I have gone to look at it and it is in wonderful shape and the price is amazing.I found it very comfortable, but I have not ridden in it (just sat on it).

So I contact the Custom rep who would make the tree adjustment and reflock the saddle if I purchased it. She has never seen my mare in person, but she has seen a picture of her. I have always thought the mare had a pretty straight back, but the rep said that the Coda I am lusting after would not fit my “curvy backed” mare, and that I would be looking at a sheepskin pad with shims even after adjusting the tree and reflocking.

My question is what should I do? I don’t see mare as all that curvy and I really like the saddle. I planned on having the tree adjusted and reflocked regardless of what Custom saddle I end up with, just to get the best fit.
Sheilah

[joiedevie99]

I would not buy a saddle you haven’t sat in on your actual horse. If the tree shape is wrong, no amount of flocking or tree adjustments will fix it.

[jaybird660]

Post conformation shots of your horse.

[IdahoRider]

These are the best I have right now. I have always considered her a horse with high withers and a fairly straight back.

She was very thin when I bought her. The middle picture is the most recent.
Sheilah
Sheilah [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: F3534469-B8E1-448A-8A62-E8A580941600.jpeg Views: 2 Size: 21.9 KB ID: 10172549”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10172549”,“data-size”:“medium”}[/ATTACH][ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: 769A8838-C940-400F-8751-BC3437E9572D.jpeg Views: 1 Size: 22.4 KB ID: 10172550”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10172550”,“data-size”:“medium”}[/ATTACH][ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: A57C897F-E890-4C78-AECD-21FFAEDFFCCF.jpeg Views: 1 Size: 26.7 KB ID: 10172551”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10172551”,“data-size”:“medium”}[/ATTACH]

[IdahoRider]

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10172559}[/ATTACH] Here is another picture, taken just a few days ago. Again, not the best angleSheilah

[kiwichick]

FWIW thats my definition of a curvy back too

[polkadotedpony]

I agree that horse looks like a curvy type back to me too. And honestly if a rep is telling you not to buy one of their products bc it won’t fit, I would believe them. It’s basically always in their interest for you to buy their brand whether it’s directly from them or not because it establishes you as a brand customer and puts you on the hook for for all the adjustments and extras from them.
The good news is with a curvy backed horse the world of lovely french saddles is now open to you. Hopefully that’s your thing.

[IdahoRider]

I wish I did like the French saddles, but I don’t. I have ridden in several Devoucoux over the years and they just don’t work for me. Nice saddles, just not for me.

The saddle fitter/ Custom rep told me last month that an Advantage or an Icon Flight would be my best fits. I can’t afford a Flight ( the used ones I have found are too small).

can I just say again how very much I hate saddle shopping? Especially on a budget.
Sheilah

[netg]

@IdahoRider

I wish I did like the French saddles, but I don’t. I have ridden in several Devoucoux over the years and they just don’t work for me. Nice saddles, just not for me.

The saddle fitter/ Custom rep told me last month that an Advantage or an Icon Flight would be my best fits. I can’t afford a Flight ( the used ones I have found are too small).

can I just say again how very much I hate saddle shopping? Especially on a budget.
Sheilah

I was going to suggest specifically the Advantage R as a possibility. For the more curvy back, the R models which have short points will likely work better. My mare is in the R, my gelding is in the Advantage monoflap.

The saddle fitter seems to know what he or she is talking about - and you can keep an eye out for used saddles online.

[joiedevie99]

@netg

I was going to suggest specifically the Advantage R as a possibility. For the more curvy back, the R models which have short points will likely work better. My mare is in the R, my gelding is in the Advantage monoflap.

The saddle fitter seems to know what he or she is talking about - and you can keep an eye out for used saddles online.

I have one in an Everest R that I really love.

[IdahoRider]

I have passed on the Icon Coda for the fit issues addressed by my fitter and everyone here. I currently have a hold on a new Advantage nearby me (thank God for being in California temporarily).

At least I finally got my own saddle sold and shipped. So I have some money now, rather than just a desperate need for something that fits.
Sheilah

[JLR1]

Most everyone at my barn has ditched their Customs for an Equipe. Joanna Dillon is a rep based out of Orange County and might be worth a try.

Joanna Dillon

949-945-3055

Joanna@equipeusa.com

[IdahoRider]

@JLR1

Most everyone at my barn has ditched their Customs for an Equipe. Joanna Dillon is a rep based out of Orange County and might be worth a try.

Joanna Dillon

949-945-3055

Joanna@equipeusa.com

Thanks for the tip! I have found a wonderful 3 year old Icon Flight 30 minutes away. My fitter has given her thumbs up, based on the copious photos I sent her. She is sure that she can make it a great saddle for my mare. And if I ever wanted to use it as trade in for a new Custom, it will hold it’s value.

I bit the bullet and sold my Black Country and shipped it out last week. I was dead set against shipping it, but there was just no market locally for a mid-priced used saddle in my area. Under 1,200? Sells within a couple of days locally. Over 2,000? It won’t go anywhere.

So my VinciX goes to a new owner and I get an Icon Flight that I found by accident while looking at an ancient Advantage that was on the rack below the Flight. I didn’t think I would be able to afford even a used Flight, so all my cold calls to tack stores down here were for an Advantage.

And the best part is I get to come home! After almost two months in SoCal I head for home on Saturday!
Sheilah

[joiedevie99]

Yay! Glad to hear there is an end in sight!

[IdahoRider]

Home at last. Mare was unimpressed with my return. But my gelding came in from pasture at a trot when I called his name. At least he missed me!
Sheilah