Saddles...Schleese Let’s Dance/ProLight, County Epiphany, others that feel like a Custom Icon Flight with short blocks?

[fordtraktor]

I have a Custom Saddlery Icon Flight I adore, but I have come to the realization, through saddle fitting hell, it isn’t going to ever fit my horse and is making her sore. I am looking for a saddle that gives the same close but supported feel, with more fitting options for the horse. I need something relatively short front to back (she is compact and I need an 18).

anyone ridden in any of these saddles or others you might suggest? I am so bummed as I just love my saddle, but if it doesn’t fit us both it doesn’t fit.

just based on looks these two look similar, but I haven’t ridden in either. I have very long legs, so like the support of the short blocks that don’t hold my knee back too far.

[Goforward]

We have 4 ProLights and a Quartet in our barn. One of the ProLights has the Let’s Dance seat. They’ve made a huge difference in our horses comfort. The horses move bigger and softer and straighter.
Riders are super comfy too!

[joiedevie99]

I ended up in a Custom Wolfgang Omni (flatter tree) with pony panels and Icon Short rolls. I love it. I’d be super interested to hear what people think of the Epiphany. It sounds great!

[fordtraktor]

@Goforward

We have 4 ProLights and a Quartet in our barn. One of the ProLights has the Let’s Dance seat. They’ve made a huge difference in our horses comfort. The horses move bigger and softer and straighter.
Riders are super comfy too!

any shortish backs? I do think they look like they don’t extend back like the Icon Flight I have. The Icon Flight pinches her shoulders and sits on her ovaries (and she is 16.1 so not small). It just isn’t fixable.

i also like the concept of the changeable panels as she changes, as she will with time.

[fordtraktor]

@joiedevie99

I ended up in a Custom Wolfgang Omni (flatter tree) with pony panels and Icon Short rolls. I love it. I’d be super interested to hear what people think of the Epiphany. It sounds great!

Ack, sounds like you have a great fitter. Mine fitted my Custom saddle in June and said it was great, I have had problems and haven’t been able to get her back. Done with that nonsense. I would LOVE to get a Custom that fits but I need someone responsive. My mare has been fighting this saddle for months. I don’t want to name names because my mare is 5 and has been changing but I was worried about it being too narrow from the start. She said the wool under my hybrid panels would settle but it got worse and worse. I waited for it to settle at first, then it was outside the fix window, then I can’t get an appointment. Enough.

[fordtraktor]

@no.stirrups

When faced with a short back I reach for Harry Dabbs or Black Country. Both have options you might like. Both are fully customizable so if there is something you want to change (flap length, block position, etc.) you can. Both are available on a variety of trees to fit loads of different horses. Both are less expensive than the options you listed above.

Thanks for these suggestions. Don’t think I have any local fitters for either. I am in NW Indiana.

[joiedevie99]

@fordtraktor

Ack, sounds like you have a great fitter. Mine fitted my Custom saddle in June and said it was great, I have had problems and haven’t been able to get her back. Done with that nonsense. I would LOVE to get a Custom that fits but I need someone responsive. My mare has been fighting this saddle for months. I don’t want to name names because my mare is 5 and has been changing but I was worried about it being too narrow from the start. She said the wool under my hybrid panels would settle but it got worse and worse. I waited for it to settle at first, then it was outside the fix window, then I can’t get an appointment. Enough.

Ugh. That is awful. I had a similar experience with my old Custom fitter. She custom-ordered a saddle for my young horses and it wasn’t right from the day it arrived. I finally cut my losses and sold it, then found a second-hand Black Country Vinici from the consignment store that fit her perfectly. Happily, that fitter is gone and I haven’t had issues with the new one.

[sheltona01]

Do you have a picture of your horse’s back? When I am not exhausted, I will try to think of other saddles that fit similarly to the rider. The first that comes to mind is the new Fairfax World Class.

You might have been caught in a little bit of a rep reshuffle. One rep in your area is retiring and the other is giving her business to another rep because she wants to travel less. Feel free to pm me if you want more details.

[fordtraktor]

@sheltona01

Do you have a picture of your horse’s back? When I am not exhausted, I will try to think of other saddles that fit similarly to the rider. The first that comes to mind is the new Fairfax World Class.

You might have been caught in a little bit of a rep reshuffle. One rep in your area is retiring and the other is giving her business to another rep because she wants to travel less. Feel free to pm me if you want more details.

@sheltona01

Do you have a picture of your horse’s back? When I am not exhausted, I will try to think of other saddles that fit similarly to the rider. The first that comes to mind is the new Fairfax World Class.

You might have been caught in a little bit of a rep reshuffle. One rep in your area is retiring and the other is giving her business to another rep because she wants to travel less. Feel free to pm me if you want more details.

@sheltona01

Do you have a picture of your horse’s back? When I am not exhausted, I will try to think of other saddles that fit similarly to the rider. The first that comes to mind is the new Fairfax World Class.

You might have been caught in a little bit of a rep reshuffle. One rep in your area is retiring and the other is giving her business to another rep because she wants to travel less. Feel free to pm me if you want more details.

@sheltona01

Do you have a picture of your horse’s back? When I am not exhausted, I will try to think of other saddles that fit similarly to the rider. The first that comes to mind is the new Fairfax World Class.

You might have been caught in a little bit of a rep reshuffle. One rep in your area is retiring and the other is giving her business to another rep because she wants to travel less. Feel free to pm me if you want more details.

thanks, I don’t have any pics right now and am traveling, I will try to upload on this week. Mare is round with smallish withers. Saddles tend to roll side to side and constrict her shoulder, and she is compact.

[no.stirrups]

@fordtraktor

Mare is round with smallish withers. Saddles tend to roll side to side and constrict her shoulder, and she is compact.

It sounds like you should further narrow your search to companies that have a hoop tree.

Black Country and Harry Dabbs still meet your criteria, and saddles can be shipped…

[fordtraktor]

@no.stirrups

It sounds like you should further narrow your search to companies that have a hoop tree.

Black Country and Harry Dabbs still meet your criteria, and saddles can be shipped…

She isn’t THAT round! I have one that IS that round…she has withers, just not TB withers.

i am not good enough at saddle fit to do it myself or order something to be shipped. Whatever I end up with needs to be able to be fitted onsite by a professional which so far is looking like County or Schleese. (I know many people have had a bad experience with Schleese but my local fitter has many happy long term clients so I feel pretty good about that.). I also don’t want to have to ship the saddle off every time it needs a small adjustment.

[no.stirrups]

Hoop trees and withers are not mutually exclusive! The comment about rolling side to side and constricting shoulders indicates she needs something to sit around her body rather than perch on top. No independent fitters in your area? Try
Camille Smith
Manhattan, Illinois
Contact: Camille
Tel: +1 815 685 8624
Email: camillesmith444@gmail.com