Perhaps this is just for you West Coasters, but Saddle Candidate #2 for me and Pear-Sausage-Wheelbarrow horse might be an N2. Pro friend of mine who has/had Custom Saddlery saddles also liked her N2. And I think the twists might be a tad wider in these.
Any experience with these saddles to report?
They look otherwise very similar in fit-n-finish and price to Customs. Maybe they are built in the same Walsall factory?
They are a Custom spin off. Basically the same saddles.
I don’t have one but a friend does and really likes it. I don’t know about the twist but will ask
I tried one before I settled on a Custom. I felt that the rise was VERY high and immediately jumped out of it. Also the N2 owners can be very difficult to deal with (so I’ve heard from many people). They never even got back to me, despite numerous attempts to give them my money for a test ride when I was saddle shopping (the one I tried was used, from a woman desperate to be done dealing with the company).
They are beautiful saddles though.
N2 Saddles is owned by Graham Newell. He was a rep from Custom and was fired a few years ago due to a large amount of customer complaints. His spin is that on custom orders, Custom Saddlery was basically churning out crap saddles and not making them to his specifications and hence he was the fall guy. I know in AZ, plenty of people were less than thrilled with his fitting and reflocking skills on off the rack Custom Saddles. I’d worry about purchasing an N2 in part because of the the resale value, it is an unkown brand with bad press surrounding one of the owners.
Several folks I know ride in N2s. They are beautiful and the leather quality is fantastic. I’ve not ridden in them, but I’ve given a couple of them the deep-cleaning treatment and they are well constructed. The twists on the ones I’ve handled are certainly wider than the saddles I’ve been riding in in recent years (Hennigs and older Albions) but I’m not sure how they compare to the average Custom.
Graham has made routine flocking adjustments on my own saddle (not an N2), and I’ve been perfectly satisfied with the results. I am willing to entertain the idea that his departure from Custom was precipitated by saddle orders that were poorly filled by Custom – I have seen riders in other regions who ordered bespoke Customs through other reps have issues with not-as-ordered saddles. But I can also see how his personality could also have turned some customers off – it’s not a small one.
I agree with @JLR1 that they are a bit of a risk as far as resale value, being a smaller and younger brand. But it would still be a brand I’d consider if I were shopping – they seem to be fine saddles.
Thank you all for your input and warnings.
I will say that the pro who sent me to Custom said she’d only buy a saddle she had ridden in… no ordering one to be made just like it. And I think she also bought the N2 she rode in.
Forewarned is forearmed… even though I want some special thises and thats. I’ll try to keep a lid on it. This would be the largest saddle purchase I have ever made.
I have two N2 saddles - the Vincitore and Cardhu. I’ve been happy with the saddles themselves, but less than enthusiastic about the availability and quality of fitters.
We are in the same corner of the country, where it can sometimes be hard to get fitters that check all the boxes. So let me ask some questions, tactfully. PM your reply if you wish.
Is your fitter Sarah?
If so, do I basically need to do my own saddle fitting?
Thank you.
I think you mean “knock off”?
Spin off implies that the Custom company is involved with the N2 product/brand.
A good question. The top half of the saddles look the same, but for a seat that’s wider up near the pommel. Are the trees the same?
A fellow boarder has an N2 monoflap, which is lovely. However, unless they have many trees to offer, her horse is the polar opposite of Pear-Sausage-Wheelbarrow so I would be sure to investigate thoroughly.
I recommended N2s to you on your other thread because what you described needing was opposite what I do, and the N2s I tried were all NOT what I needed - definitely wider twist than my Customs.
I got along well with Graham and my horses loved his fitting - but he is definitely not for everyone, and many personalities clashed with him. He’s very blunt and outspoken, not always right, and that tends to not always go over well. MVP, I think you’re the type of personality who would get along with him, though, based on your online personality. 
Really, there are many saddle brands of varying sizes who are nice saddles (including N2s) and I’d be talking more to NATB and others in your area about saddle fitter visits. Availability of fitters I will use is why I ended up in Customs when N2s didn’t fit me well.
Thank you, netg. I know who I am as a consumer, so I don’t mind someone doing his job of selling me his saddle. I just need to learn enough that I can make an intelligent and informed decision, using the right criteria.
And the Pear Sausage Wheelbarrow does present some unusual engineering problems. Right now, I simply take the best saddle I have ridden in and ask if the next one is better than that. I don’t think I have yet reach Nirvana.
I’ll let you guys know what happens.
It would be cool, too, if I could find a rep for Black Country out here in the PNW-- someone with a whole smorgasbord of saddles in a trailer.
My understanding is the people behind N2 worked for Custom for a long time then had a fight with owner and then started their own brand.
Was personally very unhappy with the service performed…know of several others unhappy as well. Actually most in my barn have dumped their Custom saddles and have moved onto Equipe.
Unhappy with service from Custom Saddlery? Or unhappy with customization on an N2 saddle? PM if need be. Thank you.
Check with Ilene Nessenson of Holistic Horse Bodyworks in Beaverton, I believe she’s a BC rep/fitter. I’d assume from your sausage description that you may need a hoop tree, which they do offer on at least some models.
Thank you! Yeah, the mare has Sausage… but also Pear! So maybe not a hoop tree… or a hoop tree and Kaye Panels?
The only problem with that fitter and BC is that she carries just two models of their dressage saddles and, while Black Country will make you whatever you want, once you order that it’s yours. I like and admire that company as I test-drove a close contact saddle for a gelding I had when I was in New York.
I think this fitter says she can do fittings with the saddle or just the tree. That would be great-- to see a BC tree on this mare’s back first.
I have N2 saddles for both of my horses and I love them. They are both the Vincitorie line and fully custom. I have never had an issue with either Graham or Sue and they have always been very accommodating. I have purchased 5 saddles from them and one of the fantastic things is they give you a very acceptable trade-in value. I am fortunate to be located in SoCal where they are based so saddle fittings have never been an issue. I have though heard due to availability outside of California it can be challenging depending on where you live.
My horses do very well in these saddles, one of mine was historically ridden in a Custom which was also fine but not a good enough fit for me at the upper levels. The different styles have different tree widths and the width can also be altered as well.
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