Saddles similar to a Custom Everest?

[Mander]

I’ve been trying everything I can get my hands on in the barn, and we have decided a Custom Saddlery Everest fits him the best so far (bonus: it’s also very comfortable for me!). I think the model I’ve tried has pony panels, as they didn’t stick out as far behind the cantle as some of the other Customs I’ve tried.

I was hoping to enlist the help of the recommended independent saddle fitter in my area, but it seems she has retired. While I try to find a new one (or someone who will give me recommendations from afar), has anyone found something with a similar fit that is more consistently in the < $2k range used?

[Scribbler]

@Mander

I’ve been trying everything I can get my hands on in the barn, and we have decided a Custom Saddlery Everest fits him the best so far (bonus: it’s also very comfortable for me!). I think the model I’ve tried has pony panels, as they didn’t stick out as far behind the cantle as some of the other Customs I’ve tried.

I was hoping to enlist the help of the recommended independent saddle fitter in my area, but it seems she has retired. While I try to find a new one (or someone who will give me recommendations from afar), has anyone found something with a similar fit that is more consistently in the < $2k range used?

No real suggestions but the panels can differ a lot on the same brand of saddle depending on what the original customer ordered.

You are likely looking for “upswept panels” not “gussetted panels.” Maybe short or pony panels. But I think the basic difference is upswept vs gussetted. Used saddles in your preferred model could be built with either

[Mander]

@Scribbler

No real suggestions but the panels can differ a lot on the same brand of saddle depending on what the original customer ordered.

Yeah, I’m definitely noticing that. I think (mostly spitballing though because it seems to be like pulling teeth to get any actual clarification on the different trees and panels) “pony panels” are Custom’s version of “upswept”. So far my very sophisticated method of determining which panels are on the Custom saddles I’m looking at is “does it look like the panel ends roughly below the end of the cantle? or does it look like it got splrrrted out behind it like the filling of a squished oreo?” The latter usually ends up being too long for his back.

[Scribbler]

@Mander

@Scribbler

No real suggestions but the panels can differ a lot on the same brand of saddle depending on what the original customer ordered.

Yeah, I’m definitely noticing that. I think (mostly spitballing though because it seems to be like pulling teeth to get any actual clarification on the different trees and panels) “pony panels” are Custom’s version of “upswept”. So far my very sophisticated method of determining which panels are on the Custom saddles I’m looking at is “does it look like the panel ends roughly below the end of the cantle? or does it look like it got splrrrted out behind it like the filling of a squished oreo?” The latter usually ends up being too long for his back.

Yes that’s upswept versus gusseted!

All these high end saddles were each originally ordered semi custom by the first owner so they any brand and model can have a variety of panels or flaps or seat depth or of course wither width and seat size. Plus the panels are then flocked to fit the horse. So just funding one example of a saddle that you like doesn’t mean you will like other configurations of the exact same model that were built semi custom for a different horse and rider pair.

[Junebug125]

if you’re open to used, it’s definitely not impossible to find an older Everest in that price range! I recently found one and I’ve seen a few pop up in a Custom-specific facebook group.

[Mander]

It’s true - I’ve seen some here and there, although they seem to only go that low when they’re private sale and in a perfect world, I’d still like the option to trial it. That being said, if I had one for sale I probably wouldn’t let anyone trial it unless they were local either

I may yet go that route though.