Custom Saddle (or maybe semi-custom???)

[LSM1212]

If you could choose any brand for a custom saddle, what would it be???

I'm thinking of treating myself real soon w/ a new custom saddle. My current saddle fits my guy just fine but doesn't fit me as well.

It's an older Beval LTD that I bought slightly used about 4 years ago. It was a medium tree but now is a medium-wide (tracings were done and saddle was sent in) as it was pinching him slightly in the shoulder area. It fit my previous mare perfectly but was just a hair too narrow for my new guy. It's a 17" seat. I think I need a more forward flap (I think my current one is a standard flap) as my knees are close to the edge and it also tends to pitch me forward a bit.

I'd love to hear what you all think might work better for me (and still work for my guy).

Here is a pic:

http://kentuckyrider.com/Gallery/June-2008/IMG_1677

Maybe it's just me??? I know I tend to swing my leg back a little but I'm starting to think the saddle is making me do that. Hmmmm....

Of course, I'd have to find a rep for each brand to come out to the barn. But figured I'd try and narrow it down a bit.

Thanks!

[Calvincrowe]

I am very happy with my County Innovation. The rep I had was great--I tried all the saddle styles, twice! Their saddles are very different from each other. I love the position the Innovation puts me in. I'd also try some of the high-end off the rack saddles, too, although my guy required a custom.

[LD1129]

I have a custom jumping saddle from Custom Saddlery (www.mysaddle.com) They were amazing to deal with and I love the saddle! Its just too bad I no longer jump and have a dressage horse :eek::eek::eek:

[marta]

i love it. my mare loves it. i also have two friends at the barn who have Albions and love them. i think even more than the saddle itself, i love the saddle fitter that worked with us. she's not solely an Albion rep. her name is kate athenas wilson and she's in port jervis, ny.

[LSM1212]

Guess I should have stated this in my OP. I'm looking for a close contact saddle. :)

2 girls at my barn have County saddles. One is more the eventing style and the other a close contact. Maybe I'll see if they will let me "borrow" one and see if they fit my horse and me!

Marta: Thanks for the info. Wonder if there is a closer rep than NJ since I'm in KY.

[Equus_girl]

If you like how Beval fits you, I am not sure you would like County.
I have a jumping Butet and love it dearly. However, when I was looking for dressage saddle I wanted to go custom and tried different companies, including Schleese, Custom Saddles, Antares and County.
As for the County they all were too wide for me (including a couple of jumping saddles I tried for comparison) and felt too bulky.
I ended up with off the shelf Beval Dressage saddle :) Fits me and horse perfectly, has a narrow twist and monoflap, thus giving close contact feeling.
Also, County rep said that my Beval fit the horse perfectly and she would not be able to get me and the horse a simular fit with their jumping saddles. So, before jumping custom try a bunch of off the shelves saddles. Try a Butet, same saddle fits two of my rather differently shaped horses perfectly.

[LSM1212]

Thanks.... Beval fits the horse fine. It's me that's the issue. Just might have to suck it up and deal with it. :D

But figured I'd maybe check out some options and see if there was a saddle style out there that fit my horse and myself!

[TheOrangeOne]

I know there are a lot of horror stories out there, and my saddle did take a while, but my devoucoux is worth it. I went to WIHS and sat in more or less every saddle there, and it was something like "saddle, saddle, saddle, saddle, OMG what is this thing?" Like goldilocks or something...love at first sit. Mine is a more obscure devoucoux, I got the oldara.

[Equus_girl]

I personally did not find County to be close contact, but am sure its a personal preference as I find that european saddles fit me better for some reason (more narrow twist for sure.)
From your picture it seems like you sit almost on the pommel of the saddle and if you notice you have a lot of space left behind you :) As my trainer says, "you paid for the whole saddle, not half of it, so use it :) "
I found that learning to open my hip angle (and still struggling with remebering to do it :) and keeping it open (on the flat of course, not over jumps :)) helps with keeping the leg where it needs to be.
Sorry for going through your other pictures, but look at this one
http://kentuckyrider.com/Gallery/June-2008/IMG_1740
See how much forward in the saddle you are? You are gripping with you knees and thighs and knees should barely be touching the rolls, and thighs should be relaxed. Sit up, girl! ;)

[hollyhorse2000]

Welcome to the world of saddle searching!

First off, if the saddle doesn't work for you, then while it may fit your horse, the overall package of you+saddle doesn't really work for him either. The saddle is putting you in the wrong place for some reason -- could be wrong twist, wrong flap, wrong seat size, wrong balance, wrong location of stirrup bars, etc. etc.

There are a number of good semi-custom saddles, including Black Country, County, Albion, Antares and others. These saddlers offer quite a few different options that allow you to pick and choose parts of a saddle that work for you and your horse.

I reserve the term "custom saddle" to a saddle that is built to measurements of me and my horse, from the ground up, by the likes of Stackhouse, Castelow, etc. Unless you have a lot of money to spend or an extremely difficult horse to fit, the semi-custom should work fine for you.

I have a Black Country Maelstrom myself. Whether or not you consider this close contact, I'm not sure. I worked with Trumbull Mountain saddlery long-distance and was quite happy. My Antares was also a nice saddle but ultimately, after spending $3K+, it didn't fit my horse.

Finding a good, unaffiliated saddle fitter or a saddle seller that represents several brands is a good place to start.

[Madison]

Once you sit in different brands/types and narrow down your choices, be sure to ask around about the fitters/reps in your area - the person doing the measurements/fitting for the order can make or break how it turns out. A custom order is only as good as the person doing the order, and I have seen firsthand how much that can vary even among reps for the same brand. Happy shopping!

[horse-loverz]

Linda I would say go to Rolex this year.. tons and tons of saddles to sit in and try, from County to CWD, to Deconcoux to Black Country etc, you can trial them for your fit and narrow your search down even more. It is an awesome chance to try several saddles back to back to see how they fit you.. then go from there to find the one that fits Stitch as well.

You know I love my Tad, and he will send you one for a trial if you need and Fran or Kelly could check out fit. Kelly works with Black Country a lot I believe he said.

[LSM1212]

I personally did not find County to be close contact, but am sure its a personal preference as I find that european saddles fit me better for some reason (more narrow twist for sure.)
From your picture it seems like you sit almost on the pommel of the saddle and if you notice you have a lot of space left behind you :) As my trainer says, "you paid for the whole saddle, not half of it, so use it :) "
I found that learning to open my hip angle (and still struggling with remebering to do it :) and keeping it open (on the flat of course, not over jumps :)) helps with keeping the leg where it needs to be.
Sorry for going through your other pictures, but look at this one
http://kentuckyrider.com/Gallery/June-2008/IMG_1740
See how much forward in the saddle you are? You are gripping with you knees and thighs and knees should barely be touching the rolls, and thighs should be relaxed. Sit up, girl! ;)

Oh, I know part of it is me. But I'm wondering if the saddle is attributing to me pitching forward????

And feel free to browse away...

Welcome to the world of saddle searching!

First off, if the saddle doesn't work for you, then while it may fit your horse, the overall package of you+saddle doesn't really work for him either. The saddle is putting you in the wrong place for some reason -- could be wrong twist, wrong flap, wrong seat size, wrong balance, wrong location of stirrup bars, etc. etc.

There are a number of good semi-custom saddles, including Black Country, County, Albion, Antares and others. These saddlers offer quite a few different options that allow you to pick and choose parts of a saddle that work for you and your horse.

I reserve the term "custom saddle" to a saddle that is built to measurements of me and my horse, from the ground up, by the likes of Stackhouse, Castelow, etc. Unless you have a lot of money to spend or an extremely difficult horse to fit, the semi-custom should work fine for you.

I have a Black Country Maelstrom myself. Whether or not you consider this close contact, I'm not sure. I worked with Trumbull Mountain saddlery long-distance and was quite happy. My Antares was also a nice saddle but ultimately, after spending $3K+, it didn't fit my horse.

Finding a good, unaffiliated saddle fitter or a saddle seller that represents several brands is a good place to start.

Thanks... just changed my title. I guess I'm looking for a saddle that fits me and fits my horse too. Don't need to start from the ground up as he's not THAT hard to fit. :D My saddle fitter loves the fit of my current saddle on him. But for me??? I don't think it works. I have always pitched slightly forward but it just seems that I do that more so w/ my saddle. Have ridden in other saddles (on other horses) and that hasn't occurred. But have ridden other horse's in my saddle, and I'm more pitched forward. Hence why I think it just doesn't fit me well. :) I'm looking for close contact as I don't want all purpose but I also don't want a saddle "too deep". I do Hunters and Eventing. I like the style of my current saddle... so if that helps. ;)

I can talk to my saddle fitter and see what he recommends I start with.

Linda I would say go to Rolex this year.. tons and tons of saddles to sit in and try, from County to CWD, to Deconcoux to Black Country etc, you can trial them for your fit and narrow your search down even more. It is an awesome chance to try several saddles back to back to see how they fit you.. then go from there to find the one that fits Stitch as well.

You know I love my Tad, and he will send you one for a trial if you need and Fran or Kelly could check out fit. Kelly works with Black Country a lot I believe he said.

Ahhhh.... Rolex. The bane of my existence. I try to avoid going as I know I will spend WAY too much money! LOL :winkgrin: But a great idea. Will just leave the CC's at home. :lol:

[jn4jenny]

If money was truly no object and I wanted the most picture perfect fit for me and a SINGLE horse, I'd get a Stackhouse.

If money was only sort of an obstacle (meaning I had maybe $3000-$4000 but not $4000-$5000), I would sit in an Antares, Amerigo, and CWD and decide between the three. Devoucoux has scared me off with their sucky customer service and the horror stories. Personally, I ride in an Amerigo Pinerolo CC and it will be pried from my cold dead hands, but we all have different butts and different horses. My one plug for Amerigo is that their rider-forward balance point is absolutely addicting--I've never felt anything like it in any other saddle, and I've never felt more secure. And I've ridden in plenty of other saddles that fit me just fine.

For example, I loved my former saddle, a Black Country Quantum. That would be my choice at the $2500 price point, and they are fully customizable from the tree upward. Black Country and County probably get my vote for Most Well Constructed and Durable Saddles on the Market (again, excepting Stackhouse which is the cream of the crop).

If you are in Kentucky, the cheapest and easiest way to narrow down the field would be to take a very thorough set of wither tracings, cut them out in cardboard, and take them to Rolex in a few weeks. Or work with a brand-independent saddle fitter to narrow down the pool.

[sspry]

Sorry- I really don't have any saddle info to share but.... having ridden in your saddle if you eventually sell it please call me first!!!! :) It is so comfy!

[LSM1212]

Sorry- I really don't have any saddle info to share but.... having ridden in your saddle if you eventually sell it please call me first!!!! :) It is so comfy!

LOL.... I know. I do love my saddle... it just doesn't love me! But you were nice and centered when you rode in it. :D

[hollyhorse2000]

Really, I'm quite the queen of saddle searching. In my 11 years of riding, I've had three horses and 10 saddles ranging from Crosby to Prestige to Antares to BC!!! And have sat in literally dozens! A saddle can have a definite negative impact on your riding -- and many people don't really realize it (or trainers either). So sitting in many different saddes to find what is in balance for you is really important. That said, the fit to your horse is important to your balance, too. A too narrow saddle, for example, will dump the rider back into a chair seat even if the saddle itself is otherwise fine for the rider. A two wide saddle will pitch you forward. So the two things are important in the equation.

I personally don't find sitting on a saddle on a stationary object to be very helpful in determining what works for me. It has to be on a moving horse. Most of the time, I know in the first 30 seconds at the walk that something's not going to work.

Do you have a saddlefitter that carries a lot of used saddles you can try? Or a local tack shop that will allow you to bring them out to your barn to try? Or ride in friends' saddles. You're trying to figure out what is the common denominator of the saddles you like or dislike. A good saddlefitter (or seller) can make sense of the information you've gained and get you in the right direction.

I do really encourage you to call Trumbull Mountain and talk to Sarah. I found them incredibly helpful and knowledgeable for an extremely hard to fit mare (they succeeded BTW).

[Bearhunter]

From looking at your pic, you appear quite tall and long from hip to knee. I am 5'8 and also long from hip to knee and always assumed I needed a very forward flap on my saddles. This is not always the case and in fact it can completely throw your balance off more. I had a County Innovation made for me with a very forward flap and I have never felt more off balance in my life as when I had that saddle. Try lots of different saddles with both standard and forward flaps. Every saddle has a different balance point (and consequently will sit/ride differently on your horse.) Good luck on your search!

[LSM1212]

From looking at your pic, you appear quite tall and long from hip to knee. I am 5'8 and also long from hip to knee and always assumed I needed a very forward flap on my saddles. This is not always the case and in fact it can completely throw your balance off more. I had a County Innovation made for me with a very forward flap and I have never felt more off balance in my life as when I had that saddle. Try lots of different saddles with both standard and forward flaps. Every saddle has a different balance point (and consequently will sit/ride differently on your horse.) Good luck on your search!

Horse is 16.3hh. I'm 5'8" also. And yes, very long from hip to knee. My knee to calf is very short for my height (16.5" height from floor to back of knee... can't find tall boots, with my measurements...that's for sure).

Thanks for the input.

[Sebastian]

If money is not an issue - Antares.

Seb :)

[Hampton Bay]

If you are 5'8", are you sure a 17" saddle fits you? I am the same height, slim, long thigh as well, and I ride in a 17.5" that is too small for my leg. My dressage saddle is an 18.5", though it is a touch big.

My jumping saddle is a Bates Event, and I do adore it. Wish it were an 18", but it still allows me to sit up straight if I try.

[Peggy]

If you are going to be sitting in a variety of saddles, you might try to off the shelf Antares--Hampton Classic/Spooner (same thing). Comes in an three flap lengths. Might work.

[LSM1212]

If you are 5'8", are you sure a 17" saddle fits you? I am the same height, slim, long thigh as well, and I ride in a 17.5" that is too small for my leg. My dressage saddle is an 18.5", though it is a touch big.

My jumping saddle is a Bates Event, and I do adore it. Wish it were an 18", but it still allows me to sit up straight if I try.

Good question. When I really force myself to scoot back (instead of tipping on the pommel area), it seems the size is fine. Just the saddle is tipping me forward. And my knee placement on the roll is better. Someone else posted that I'm sitting more towards the pommel and have alot of space behind me.

But sizes are something I'll check out too when I go saddle searching.

[hollyhorse2000]

The balance point in the saddle is wrong for you -- that's why you're pitched forward. Just for giggles, what if you temporarily try shimming up the front of the saddle i.e. bringing the pommel up a bit? Ride and see, as an experiment, if it changes where you are sitting. Being pitched forward could mean the saddle is sitting too low on the horse.

[Equus_girl]

LSM1212,
The girl I ride with was trying a bunch of different saddles yesterday and I as I was watching I thought of your saddle issues :) Creepy, huh, although better than thinking about my horse spooking :)
Anyways, she rode in my Beval and immediately went forward and gripping with her knees, although she never did that in her own saddle (Antares, which fits her perfectly but her mare hates it.)

Apparently, the twist was in fact too narrow for her and it made her duck forward to stay in balance on the saddle, thus gripping and thightening her thighs.
She ended up getting L'Apogee saddle, it has a wider twist and she can stay perfectly centered in it, so try County, if you can, and let us know how it works out.

Hampton Bay, I think it depends on different brands. I am 5''11 with long legs and both of my Beval saddles (dressage and jumping) are size 17.

[LSM1212]

The balance point in the saddle is wrong for you -- that's why you're pitched forward. Just for giggles, what if you temporarily try shimming up the front of the saddle i.e. bringing the pommel up a bit? Ride and see, as an experiment, if it changes where you are sitting. Being pitched forward could mean the saddle is sitting too low on the horse.

Yep... I tried that. Got a Mattes correction pad and shimmed the front. It helped me a little (I was set back more) but pissed my horse off (he got sore in his wither area). So the saddle does truly fit him. Just not me. :(

Equusgirl: Thanks for thinking of me! A girl I know at the barn has a County she's going to let me try. Maybe this weekend if we can coordinate it. :D

[MILOUTE55]

I'd say CWD of course.
Granted they're the best saddles, but you also get to deal with the best customer service.... me :D :D :D
Seriousle, try different brands and make your own opinion!
Too bad you can't really search for feedbacks on CWD since most search engines don't work with 3 letter words :no:.... I promise they're great!

[Renn/aissance]

The CWDs that I have sat in are very nice. I have an Antares myself (I have had two of them; feel free to contact me for information re. fitting and customer service if you want :) ) and am quite fond of it. Devoucoux are lovely but I have heard horror stories about their customer service and would never buy from them, although I would buy one used if my saddle fitter approved. I might call Beval and describe your saddle and ask how the Butets compare to the LTD in terms of fit; I don't remember the feel of an LTD well enough to tell you that myself. (For the record, I had the same problem as you in an LTD re. the balance point.) Other brands you may want to consider include L'Apogee and Amerigo. I personally dislike County as I have never sat in one that didn't throw me forward but your mileage, of course, may vary. :) PJ saddles (Bruno Delgrange) are not custom but they do have some semicustom options and the cut of the flaps and seat often tends to work for long-legged people. Off the top of my head, though, in that brand you might want a wide tree.

My best advice to you though is just to go around and sit in absolutely everything you can, custom or not. That will give you a good feel of what saddle options you like (blocks? Wide twist? Padded flaps? Deep seat?) and what you dislike. You might also have the "Goldilocks" reaction someone described above. Hopefully that will be in a saddle that can be made to fit your horse!

You and I seem to be built similarly--long from hip to knee and knee to ankle. You will be looking for a long/forward, possibly long/extra forward flap. I am 14" from hip to knee and 20" or thereabouts from knee to ground, and I ride in a 3A flap in Antares. Depending on the horse I can work with a 2.5 or a 3.5 in Butet. I don't recall what my flap size is in Devoucoux. If you are going to look at used saddles I would recommend calling the relevant company with your measurements and asking what flap size they would recommend.

[Peggy]

Have to say the one and only CWD I ever sat in was a lovely experience. It was on the horse it was fitted to (other amateur didn't show to ride her already-tacked up horse so I got to hack him and figured I may as well satisfy my curiosity about the saddle). Don't know if it was that, the inherent nature of CWD's, or the fact that it was made from this divine "sticky" buffalo leather that sort-of sucked me into the saddle (the right part of the saddle, being that it fit the horse). Noticeable difference b/w riding that horse with my saddle. Ah well, can't afford one, and not likely to win the flat challenge class that awards one since it involves riding against hard-body lithe teens:sigh:.

[Not So Practical Horse(WO)man]

RICHARD CASTELOW'S ARE INCREDIBLE AND I WOULD GIVE MY RIGHT ARM TO HAVE ONE!!!

[Not So Practical Horse(WO)man]

But I am also kind of sorta definitely in love with my CWD.

[May the FORCE bwu]

I have a custom dressage saddle from Custom Saddlery and love it! It is seven years old has held up beautifully. I delt with Fred from the NJ store and he was great - measured me and my horse and the saddle fit perfectlly when it came in....HIGHLY recommend them.

[Big Day]

Stackhouse hands down. David makes an amazing saddle and it fits the horse from the tree up. Love mine to death and quite frankly it was worth every penny to not have to worry or hassle with endless ill-fitting saddles.