Made to measure custom saddle recommendations?

[tashcat]

After going round in circles over saddles for our boy, I'm completely at my wits end and ready to go custom.

I'm after a jumping style (possibly event?) saddle, that is comfortable enough for both the horse and I to participate in a lot of activities including hacking, hunting, beach and fun rides etc, in addition to being supportive enough to event up to BE novice.

I'm at the point where budget has been blown out of the window, so although I'd prefer to keep costs down, I'm open to any suggestions really!

We've had an accredited saddler out with no luck in finding a perfect fit, so this seems like the last option. Horse is apparently very symmetrical, and needs an 'M' but has a typical Banana back, or 'b tree' so needs something that can accommodate for his dippy back (essentially would need something labelled 'high withered' if bought off the shelf).

Has anybody had a custom saddle and loved it? Or hated it? And what sort of prices have people paid? I've been looking at black country at the lower end, and at the higher end Patrick saddlery, but really I'm in the dark.

Any advice would be so appreciated

 

[be positive]

I would be very cautious of spending too much on a saddle made to fit a dipped back, all the ones I have dealt with have lifted up considerably with a year or so of correct work with the saddle padded out to accommodate the dip/ lack of muscle which as they build up can be removed gradually, only once they have finished the main part of strengthening and building topline would I be happy having a custom made saddle, if it fits him now it will limit how much he can improve and may be damaging long term.

I have an older pony here that had been retired because his back had dipped, with advice from the vet, treatment by the physio and 2 years of steady work his back is no longer obviously dipped, he is in his 20's yet looks far younger than he did 2 years ago, the saddle we bought was padded out to allow for improvement, only trouble is that now he is so much stronger he does need a different one.

I have no idea of the history of your horse OP but do be careful that you are not going in the wrong direction looking for the perfect saddle now when the horse should change significantly on his journey towards BE novice.

 

[Mari]

I’ve had a Jeremy Rudge dressage saddle made to measure for my horse & a Black Country WH saddle made to measure for my pony & been delighted with both. However neither had a dippy back.

 

[tashcat]

I would be very cautious of spending too much on a saddle made to fit a dipped back, all the ones I have dealt with have lifted up considerably with a year or so of correct work with the saddle padded out to accommodate the dip/ lack of muscle which as they build up can be removed gradually, only once they have finished the main part of strengthening and building topline would I be happy having a custom made saddle, if it fits him now it will limit how much he can improve and may be damaging long term.

I have an older pony here that had been retired because his back had dipped, with advice from the vet, treatment by the physio and 2 years of steady work his back is no longer obviously dipped, he is in his 20's yet looks far younger than he did 2 years ago, the saddle we bought was padded out to allow for improvement, only trouble is that now he is so much stronger he does need a different one.

I have no idea of the history of your horse OP but do be careful that you are not going in the wrong direction looking for the perfect saddle now when the horse should change significantly on his journey towards BE novice.

Thank you, that is really good advice and not something I had thought of. I do hope the topline on his back will improve, and I think the past saddle has prevented this to an extent. He's an ex-racer tb and 12 so no more 'growing' per se, but definitely still very much strengthening to do. We're nowhere near novice now, but I want something he can develop into, and that would definitely be the top end of possible achievements!!

But equally I'm at a loss of where to take it from here as the saddler could find nothing.. and has ignored my calls since (weeks ago). I haven't paid him either as he said we'd settle it later.. very frustrating!

 

[be positive]

I would be getting someone who knows how to fit using shims to fill in where the muscle should be, I assume you have had a physio out and are working on the topline in general, a horse of this type with a racing background could change a huge amount over the next 6 months and continue to improve for another year or so, after that the changes will be more subtle but the saddle that fits him today is highly unlikely to last very long without putting pressure on him and preventing the build up you are trying to get.

Some saddlers really do not have the knowledge to fit for what the horse should be and the amount I have had arrive here with badly fitting saddles is fairly shocking, several have been really damaging yet recent checks had been done, one horse came with 2 custom made saddles and both had to be replaced fairly quickly as he gained a bit more muscle, he had been competing BE int so not in the hands of a novice owner.

I do most of my own now with a local saddler who comes out to tweak when required or bring out a few to try if we cannot source one ourselves.

 

[shortstuff99]

I would have a look at WOW saddles, fully customisable in any way you need it. And as they are modular it is very easy to alter them for changing horse shapes without spending a fortune each time or needing to buy a new saddle! I have one and it is the best thing I've ever bought!

 

[tashcat]

I would be getting someone who knows how to fit using shims to fill in where the muscle should be, I assume you have had a physio out and are working on the topline in general, a horse of this type with a racing background could change a huge amount over the next 6 months and continue to improve for another year or so, after that the changes will be more subtle but the saddle that fits him today is highly unlikely to last very long without putting pressure on him and preventing the build up you are trying to get.

Some saddlers really do not have the knowledge to fit for what the horse should be and the amount I have had arrive here with badly fitting saddles is fairly shocking, several have been really damaging yet recent checks had been done, one horse came with 2 custom made saddles and both had to be replaced fairly quickly as he gained a bit more muscle, he had been competing BE int so not in the hands of a novice owner.

I do most of my own now with a local saddler who comes out to tweak when required or bring out a few to try if we cannot source one ourselves.

Yes, physio out regularly and a wonderful instructor helping us build him up who comes weekly. He's 12.. he has had time off in the field and probably done less since than most exracers his age, but certainly not just off the track! The past year we've had him he's definitely changed shape but its also been a process of gaining weight and keeping it really chilled and enjoyable with lots of hacks. But you're right that he could still change shape massively - I've been hoping he'll put more topline on and we've really got our bums in gear with a renewed focus on schooling this summer, and hopefully finding him a less restrictive saddle - all pointing to him changing!

But I feel a bit like a ping pong ball trying to take on lots of varying advice over the past month or two with saddles, and really struggling to find something that will work! I don't need a made to measure, but I rather naively hoped it would fix my problems of finding something to fit!

The saddler we're *trying* to use is part of the Society of Master Saddles and has a royal warrant.. if that means anything at all!

 

[tashcat]

I’ve had a Jeremy Rudge dressage saddle made to measure for my horse & a Black Country WH saddle made to measure for my pony & been delighted with both. However neither had a dippy back.

I would have a look at WOW saddles, fully customisable in any way you need it. And as they are modular it is very easy to alter them for changing horse shapes without spending a fortune each time or needing to buy a new saddle! I have one and it is the best thing I've ever bought!

Thank you both for your suggestions! I really like the BC saddles, so could get a secondhand one for the time being and reassess as and if he changes.. and a Wow saddle definitely sounds like a good option!

 

[ozpoz]

I'd also suggest a saddle that can be easily altered to fit a changing shape, Solution Smart saddles or Wow both do that and there may be others.

 

[DirectorFury]

I had a Ryder saddles Virage model made for my mare 2.5 years ago. It fit perfectly out of the box and still fits perfectly now . She was tricky to fit as quite flat and wide across the withers but slab sided so with a 'normal' wide the points would stick out. It cost me £2200 inc the rep driving from Hampshire to Swansea to take a template and whatever leather (calf, buffalo, etc.) and colour configuration I wanted. The only negative is that it's not a fashionable brand and so their saddles don't hold their value second hand - if I came to sell mine I think I'd struggle to £500 for it. I'm looking for a dressage saddle at the moment and want to go back to Ryder but the lack of resale value is really putting me off - I'm seeing of an off the shelf popular continental brand will fit first.

 

[sbloom]

Could you post photos as per https://www.ahsaddles.com/photos-for-a-new-saddle-fitting, I see dippy backs fitted with high withered saddles too often, they end up too curvy with the front too high rather than fitting a saddle that keeps the cantle close to the horse. I tend to recommend a flatter, shorter tree wherever possible and a short or even curved (no rear gusset) panel. The flatter tree means that as they improve and lift their backs you don't end up with pivot.

I generally recommend people to go off the peg as often as possible, even if a brand isn't fashionable the very nature of a custom saddle means they lose more value and can be harder to sell. Plus your legal rights as a customer are much fewer so you're reliant on good will if something goes wrong.

 

[tashcat]

Sorry to resurrect this a few days later - I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for your advice and opinions!

sbloom, I've sent you a dm

 

[buddylove]

I too would say a WOW could be the way to go, fitted to both you and the horse, a good fitter is key, but the adjustability is fab, I would not go back to a regular saddle now.

 

[jj_87]

i know they are like marmite on here but I would look at a sue carson.
The air flocking can be adjusted for a dipped back. Some second hand out there.

 

[Regandal]

Have a look at Lavinia Mitchell saddles. They are fitted with expansion of the back muscles in mind. Love mine.

 

[sbloom]

Have replied, definitely has a proper wither and the back isn't that curvy . Wow indeed might be worth a look if you have a really good local fitter (so much seems to depend on that), I've made some other suggestions and some are indeed custom.