Actually, it does not gave shorter tree points. There is differences in the panel for the horse in the R models.
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If you have a Custom rep coming out ask to try the Gemini R. It’s made for a horse with a straighter back. I rode in one and loved it. My hips scream a little bit in the Advantage, but loved the Gemini. The pommel on the Gemini is lower and the seat is a bit flatter. The cantle also is a bit lower than the Advantage too. [ATTACH=JSON]{“alt”:“Click image for larger version Name: 20190121_083744.jpg Views: 1 Size: 16.7 KB ID: 10319533”,“data-align”:“none”,“data-attachmentid”:“10319533”,“data-size”:“small”}[/ATTACH]
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Ooooh, I don’t believe I tried that one. I will ask my rep about it. Did you try the Adv R or just the Advantage? They feel different from my experience.
My trainer has Steffen’s Advantage and Advantage. They seem to be the same to me as far as twist. The Steffen’s is also the first one that hasn’t hurt my h/j rider hips! And crotch. lol! Neither is great for my horse, though. One fitter suggested the Advantage R, but the Gemini looks interesting (horse has a straighter back).
Although my trainer has several Customs, she has not been thrilled with customer service from the brand recently and said she would not recommend buying one if she had to buy a new one now. Going to get some more input on brands to shop for for me and my horse from my fitter after she takes a closer look at the S. Adv. this weekend. If there are any interesting suggestions, I’ll report back!
If you’re looking for a Custom made for a broader back, try the Omni. I tried it for my very wide Cleveland Bay cross and it was definitely the saddle that felt the most stable on his back. I didn’t love it for me. I found the twist to be a titch too wide and I like a deeper seat. I ended up with an Advantage R and I couldn’t be happier with my decision for this horse. He has a wide back and a huge shoulder and a very short back. I ended up having the saddle built “off the point” so that it gave more shoulder movement and I had it made with pony panels to accommodate his short back.
My trainer has a Steffan Advantage and he loves the fit and feel of his. I do believe the SA is designed more for a man or a person with straight hips. I didn’t love the Steffan Advantage for myself. I felt that I wasn’t able to get my leg around my horse as much and I preferred the short exterior blocks vs the covered block. I have a long femur so the short block allows my leg to drape better and I can really get my leg around my horse while keeping my hips open.
Saddles are really a matter of personal preference and I really think it’s worth having a fitter out with a variety of models to try. My fitter had 26 options in her truck for me to try when I was buying. Of the 26 I sat in 9 that hit on most of my wish list for my horse and I.
Chantal, It was a plain Advantage.
Hey everyone, I SO appreciate your responses! This was all really cool and helpful. But then I realized I made a dumb mistake. :o
I was cleaning up my saddle to take some pics, and, welp, I discovered it’s an older Steffen’s Advantage in buffalo, not the “custom” Custom Advantage as I’d thought! Since my thread’s title is no longer relevant (d’oh!), I’m going to let this thread die.
I’m still going to hunt for a new saddle, and I’ll start a new thread in a bit with more specifics about my boy and I to see if we can get a good fit for us both. In any case, thanks for chiming in! 
I researched the Stubben 1894, and I like the price point. Several reviewers mentioned it was good for their horse with a curvy back, though. @gailbyrd, does your horse have a curvy back or a straight one?
She’s a bit straighter in the back, a bit rounder side-to-side over her spine as well. She takes a MW to W (stubben uses cm not width). So far the only issue is the saddle wanting to ride forward but that’s not a saddle problem, that’s a horse problem. Have the same problem with my other mare and she takes a M saddle. Function of their girth/shoulder area
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I saw both he Steffans and Wolfgang Solo in Dover Saddlery. I had their saddle fitter come out so I could try both on my horse. I bought the Wolfgang Solo, but realized after a few months, it didn’t balance be well either so I returned it. I actually ended up with a Smith Worthington Stellar. It’s narrow enough for me and the balance is better for me.
@tbchick84, I checked Smith Worthington and it looks like Stellar is the name of one of their lines(?)…Do you happen to know which Stellar model you got? SW has a nice rep, from what I’ve seen. And I like that some models have extended stirrup bars so you can really get your leg beneath you.
Thanks, @gailbyrd. My guy’s spine is more v-shaped side to side than round, but he widens out below. Usually takes a M or thereabouts, though it depends. Anyway, IIRC my only bummer about the 1894 is that it doesn’t seem to come in short flaps. 
I have a Hennig that sounds like it might work for you. It’s in a consignment shop at the moment. I used it on my mare that like your guy is more v-shaped, takes a M tree and is round (at this point VERY round) below. Hennig’s are one of those saddle brands that the saddle either works for you or it doesn’t. If you are in the Northern VA area I can PM you the info.
