Claire
Location: Puget Sound, Washington
Post Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2006 5:15 pm Post subject: Anyone own a Custom? The search for the
perfect saddle continues for many of us. I've narrowed my search down to Albion and Custom and am
interested in feedback on the Custom. My budget can only handle a semi-custom Custom-
possibly the Steffan's Advantage SV or Victory. My horse is medium-wide with moderate withers and
I'm very short with short thighs and a larger rear-end than I'd like (18" seat). I have Buffalo on my Stubben
and like the feel but not the look. I would be working with Mills Tack Shop in Bellvue, WA., and hope to be
able to convince one of their fitters to come to the islands to see what my options really might be.
I'd greatly appreciate any and all feedback on Custom saddles. Thanks.
Nadia
Location: northern Ca
Yes... Custom Saddlery puts out a great product. I own 2 and love them. Several of
my friends have sat in mine and ordered their own. Several different tree styles make
it possible to fit different types of horses.
blueyedrider
Ebony10
My trainer has both Albions and Custom Saddlery saddles for all her horses. First I got hooked
on her Albion SL and ended up buying one for my horse, but I never rode in the Custom (VLX)
model at the time. Now I have ridden in her Custom VLX a bunch of times and I must say I LOVE
the buffalo leather sticky seat. I may have to upgrade to a custom and sell my Albion unless I can try
an Albion that has a similar Sticky leather which I think some of the SLK Ultimas do come with a
special leather. I have found I have to avoid riding in her CUstom Saddles because it makes my
Albion soo much harder to ride in when I go back to riding in it after a few rides in the custom.
AAAAHHH I was soooo very thrilled with my Albion until I started trying the Custom. Darn it.
Taylor515
Location: CA
I have the Custom VLX. Love it. I have 4 other people that have seen the quality and fit of my saddle, and ended up calling Cary, and ordering a saddle. They are all thrilled with their saddle. The customer service is fantastic. I was gun shy about ordering another saddle, as I had a horrible experience with another well known saddle maker, but I have to say, Custom Saddlery, and especially Cary, exceeded my expectations!
Savannah
In Training
Andalucian
Greenie
I bought a used Custom Saddlery Victory II (apparently discontinued - it has the exterior knee roll)
several months ago on eBay - for a mere $900. It was custom made a few years ago for the seller's
QH gelding; I happen to have Andalusians. I have no idea what possessed me to buy this saddle.
At the time, I was desperate to find something to fit a very picky stallion I had (very, very wide back
and broad shoulders, but also had a high wither, and he refused to go in anything he didn't find comfortable),
and this saddle just looked like it was worth a shot.
Said stallion liked the CS Victory II reasonably well, though he ended up preferring an Albion Legend 5000
I found used and had fitted to him. I found the two saddles rode fairly similarly, so that was fine with me. I love
them both.
The big shock, however, was when I put the CS saddle on my Andi gelding. I'd had a County fitted to him,
and he liked it well enough. On a whim, I tried the CS. This guy's about as different from my mental image
of a QH as you can get - very uphill, neck long and set rather high, incredibly round when he's in motion,
leggy and a tremendous mover. He's actually a saddleseat horse; I use the dressage saddles for schooling
and show hack.
This particular horse fell in love with the CS saddle. It's the first saddle I've used on him that he'll actually
relax and walk on out in. As elegant and athletic as he is, I never thought he'd be able to compete in dressage
because he had so much trouble relaxing. That melted away as soon as I switched to the CS saddle. I can't
bring myself to use the County on him anymore; it's been passed on to another horse. I don't know what works
about it, but something definitely does.
Just in case you still have reservations about getting a Custom Saddlery saddle that isn't, in fact, custom...
This is the saddle of choice for most of my horses, including several with drastically different builds from
the gelding I described. If I find myself saddle shopping again, I'd definitely buy another!
Los Angeles, CA, USA
My trainer rides in a Custom, and I've used it a few times on my new horse. I love it! I just had my
Schleese refitted to my new horse, but it doesn't give me nearly the support that the Custom did. I
particularly notice that it's much harder to sit my horse's big medium trot, and he offers me far less as a result. I'm planning on having Cary measure my horse at Cool August Nights so I can buy a saddle, probably an Advantage. Not sure yet whether I'll go with full custom or semi.
