Custom saddle...what would YOU ask for?

[CassandraMarie]

So, I'm getting a custom saddle made for me. But I'm not really sure what to ask for? So I want to hear what all of you would look for in a custom! I ride in a 16" 5 year old Circuit Elite and never really rode in many other "nice" saddles. I mainly do the hunters, might dabble in some jumpers every now and again. And also, does anyone know how to measure your horses back? I've seen it done but I have never done it myself.

[rottngirl]

On a tip from a friend I got a little extra padding in the seat and the knee rolls :yes:

LOVE IT.

I could totally tell the difference as my former saddle was used as the model for my custom made.

Enjoy!! :D

[BAC]

I think you should contact several different custom saddlers, before making a decision. Some will work better for your particular horse, and you, than others. A saddle is a very personal decision, what appeals to you is not necessarily what someone else would choose.

If you want to ride in jeans though, then definitely think about getting buffalo, and not calfskin. Or to save money, get the buffalo seat at least. You will need to decide if you prefer narrow or wide twist, knee and thigh blocks, flat, medium deep or deep seat, etc, so ride in as many as possible and take your time making a decision.

[CassandraMarie]

Yeah, extra padding sounds like a plus :lol: Oooh. Yeah, forgot to mention that basically, cost doesn't matter. So don't worry about price. I'm helping someone else out, they're helping me out. Win-win. So that's why I want to know what YOU, as a rider and as an individual look for or want in a custom saddle. Thanks!

And also, what is the difference between the buffalo and calfskin, feeling wise? Sometimes I ride in jeans, sometimes breeches. Depends what else I've been doing.

[Void]

Buffalo is suppossed to be more durable then calfskin, I used to ride in jeans too but after getting my French Calf Antares I ride only in breeches (for another reason as well, being that I split like 2 pairs of jeans just mounting :/)

When I got my saddle I asked for a Medium Seat, with a slightly upturned cantle, and a shorter but slightly more forward flap (I am short) I also asked for a smaller twist with more padding in the pommel (I had a really awful riding accident several years ago involving unmentionable places).

[RockinHorse]

I would ask for a sugar daddy to pay for it ;)

[JinxyFish313]

It really doesn't matter what other people look for. You need to sit in (and ride in if possible) as many saddles as you can to see what feels right to you. Also keep in mind that a little lift here, a little lift there can make a saddle that feels mediocre feel like home.

[Renn/aissance]

Sit in as many different saddles as you can to get a feel of what you like, and look at your horse's shape as well. Saddles are one thing where everyone's mileage varies.

[JB]

Agree that it really doesn't matter what others like. But, at least in getting some responses, you might hear of options you didn't know about, therefore couldn't consider :)

Some people LOVE a "couch" saddle - extra padding in the seat and knee rolls - where others absolutely hate it. Leather is a touchy-feely thing - if you want an immediately broken-in feel, you'll have to go to a slightly less durable leather, though it doesn't HAVE to be calfskin. Black Country saddles have a printed buffalo that is quite durable but also immediately feels yummy.

Integrated panels can be a great feel for the rider, and often quite nice for the horse too. I can't imagine a horse *not* liking them, though can see it not making a difference to him.

How you like your knee and thigh rolls, if at all, all depends on your conformation and how you prefer your stirrup length. Pencil, triangle, higher/lower, all personal preference.

As for the horse there are also options that suit him best. CWD was the first I knew of, and now see that Prestige has a new saddle, where a slice is taking out of the front of the shoulder panels for a bit extra shoulder freedom - I'd do that in a heartbeat if available. Beyond that, it's all about how the horse is shaped - nothing much at all to do with your preferences. Rear panel gussests, trapezius gussets, upswept panels, leather panels or Serge panels, gullet width, etc are all about how to correctly fit the horse.

[CarolinaGirl]

And also, does anyone know how to measure your horses back? I've seen it done but I have never done it myself.

If you're getting a custom saddle then the rep should come out and fit your horse.. I wouldn't pay that much money and not have a professional out to fit the saddle to the horse and to you.

[Haf N Haf]

Which maker are you using? I ordered my custom Stackhouse about a week and a half ago.

The biggest factors for me were a seat size and flap length that fit me, as that has been my issue with all saddles I've tried off the rack. As well as finding something to fit my pony, as everything I tried has bridged.

But, I am getting the cush-iest seat they can find along with 1" thick knee pads, 1.5" knee block and a thigh block. I got to pick my leather color "old brown" with cream stitching and black piping.

Now I just have to wait another 5-7 weeks!

Good luck and have fun designing it and making your choices!

[JB]

If you're getting a custom saddle then the rep should come out and fit your horse.. I wouldn't pay that much money and not have a professional out to fit the saddle to the horse and to you.
Abbbbbsolutely.

That way, it's on THEM if it doesn't fit right - they're the professional, they're doing the right measuring, you expect.

Nothing worse than to measure yourself, get the custom saddle sent, find it doesn't fit, and have them say "well, we made it to your measurement, not our fault, so sorry"

[CassandraMarie]

Thanks everyone. JB got it right, there's a LOT that I don't know about saddles so that's why I'm asking what other people look for or prefer over something different. Like I said, I bought my Circuit at the time because it was all I could afford and fit me and my horse well enough at the time. I haven't tried anything else since then. And I'm used to riding in a barely there exercise saddle other than my own so comfortable for me is anything more than that!

As for the sugar daddy reference, it's an Australian saddle maker who does a lot with racehorses (how I've been introduced) and offered to make me an English saddle. He wants to try to break into the American industry and instead of spending thousands of dollars on advertising, he's trying to go with word of mouth recommendations. Which is also why I won't be able to have someone come out and measure for me. Like I said, win-win situation.

Probably stupid question, but the blocks are underneath the saddle flap correct? I know my Circuit has them, but I never really notice and the padding on my knee roll isnt very thick either. Does it help to keep your leg in the proper position?

[norcalammie]

There are web sites that explain how to measure your horse for a saddle so that might be a starting point for you. I think you should try riding in as many saddles as you can to find what you like and what you don't like and make notes of both noting also the saddel size, tree width, features. You can measure the saddles you like and make notes which will help the saddle maker. Much can be learned on the saddle fitting web site.

Another idea would be to have a saddle fitter out to measure you and your horse. An independent should be able to do this for not too much money and could do the wither tracing for you, and give you an idea of what would work best which you can then translate for the person making your saddle.

I know I have knee blocks, no thigh blocks, the County XTR leather which holds up well, wool flocked, skid row panels, etc. on my saddle and I love it. Each saddle maker has different names for leathers, blocks, panels, etc.

Good luck.

[BAC]

Which is also why I won't be able to have someone come out and measure for me. Like I said, win-win situation.

Probably stupid question, but the blocks are underneath the saddle flap correct? I know my Circuit has them, but I never really notice and the padding on my knee roll isnt very thick either. Does it help to keep your leg in the proper position?

If it doesn't fit properly, no one wins. You should still ride in a variety of saddles, with and without blocks, different seats and twists, etc., to find out what is most comfortable for you before you order. All those small details can make a big different to your comfort.

[hollyhorse2000]

Wow! I sure wouldn't have a custom saddle made based on my measurements. I don't even measure my own windows for curtains, for Pete's sake. :-)

Hire a reputable saddle fitter to do the measurements of both you and the horse. Have the saddle fitter bring some used saddles for you to sit in and sit in any saddles you can beg, borrow and steal. You cannot tell a saddlemaker what you want based on riding on one sadde . . . A saddle fitter will also be able to tell what you need and like i.e. you like Saddle X, which has a narrow twist, etc.

Let the saddle fitter also recommend what your horse needs in terms of special gussetts, say, like wither gussets.

Good luck. Sounds like a great deal, but only if the right homework is done upfront.

[meupatdoes]

How is the person making the saddle going to fit it to you and your horse without meeting both of you?

It simply is not custom if it isn't made to your measurements.
There is a reason that another way to say 'custom' is 'made to measure'.

If it doesn't fit you or your horse, it will be worse than an off the rack one that does.

It is the same thing I don't get with people who get all excited about buying used custom saddles on ebay. Woo hoo! This was made for somebody ELSE! They spent a lot of money getting it to fit them, not me! Yay!!

:confused:

[luise]

Get a good saddle fitter to come out, take measurements, and make a template of your horse to send to the saddle fitter. He/she can also advise you on what you might need to have the saddle fit you better. For example, I ordered a Black Country jump saddle. My saddle fitter (independent person) did the tracings, watched me ride in the demo, and helped with making changes in the flap length to fit me. What you should do is get a bunch of different saddles to ride in to see what you like. I like riding in a monoflap, and I like the knee and rear blocks. I like calfskin. I like a very narrow twist. You should also get some of your own measurements (i.e. femur length, etc) to give the saddle maker. I think that Black Country has a nice worksheet you could use.

[CassandraMarie]

Thanks guys. I didn't think about having someone come out to fit and measure if I wasn't going to be ordering from them. But I imagine if they get paid for it, they'd do it.

[Void]

Antares came out and measured my horse and me. Awesome saddle, awesome customer service.

[mvp]

This might not be so win-win.

The key to a good saddle for you (and your horse) is combination of 1) the saddle's design (tree, panels, flaps) all being suited to you and your horse; and 2) the fitter's and saddle maker's skill at taking measurements and translating those into a 3-D shape.

They key to promoting a saddle line in the US is 1) very nice materials; 2) getting into a high-end network via shows and/or lots of money dropped into advertising; and 3) good customer service.

All this means that it will be best for both sides if this dude builds you a saddle comparable in look and quality to a CWD, Anteres, Devoucoux, or Butet. These aren't the only brands out there (nor even the very best quality), but they do set a bar for many people venturing into the high-end saddle market.

But the tough thing is that he'll need to a build a saddle that fits you and your horse from a distance. I don't know how he'll be able to do that well enough to allow you to promote his line of saddles to friends. JMO. Still, I hope you and your saddle maker can find a way to make this work for you both.

[PonyPenny]

I had Antares measure me and my horse at a horse show. They also let me ride in some of the demo saddles to see what type of seat I liked. I prefered a deep seat. I also had to go custom as I have a big butt and short legs. My daughter got a used CWD that she was allowed to ride in it before we purchased it. Both companies and reps were excellent.

[sweetpea]

I mean this because I have been through sooooooo many saddles and now I have a Custom Saddle by Richard Castelow. I can say now after all the garbage I have gone thru , I truly understand what having a real custom saddle means to both rider & horse.

It sounds to me like you have a great opportunity to have a nice saddle, but you are vulnerable to the uneducated fitters that have arisen. If you can do it call Richard Castelow.
He is honest no salesman I would say!!! But he knows what he is doing and he makes your saddle here. Great saddle -- honest craftsmanship.

[CassandraMarie]

Just read the last couple posts. I met with Richard at KHP last year I think, I loved his saddles. Moving soon, so when I get settled I'm going to look into having someone else come out and get the measurements for me. Go sit in a bunch of saddles, see what I like. Like I said, I'm used to a teeny tiny exercise saddle so I'm not quite as picky as most show people are. And also, since I dont have to pay anything for this, it's not like I'm losing if it's not exactly what I want or whatever. All I have to do is tell him. Thanks for those who gave helpful advice about the actual things I should be considering when planning this saddle.

[Justice]

A free custom saddle? I'd say that's worth taking a chance on. I personally like a medium deep seat, front and rear blocks, integrated panels, and the shape of the knee rolls that comes out before it goes down (like CWD, Devoucoux, Antares). Love the Devoucoux Biarritz, would have loved owning it more if the seat was squared in the back instead of rounded (random personal preference).

I've never had a buffalo saddle, but like full calfskin. It didn't wear great, but I am not a fan of grain. I also like the pretty fancy stitching down the side of the flap. I know no one else notices it, but I was always glad it was there!