Tag Archives: Custom Saddlery

Competitions, Dressage, FEI, Products/Services

Top Riders LaGoy-Weltz, Matute, and Witte-Vrees Excel at 2017 FEI Nations Cup in Rotterdam

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Olivia LaGoy-Weltz. (Photo courtesy of www.socialcircuitequine.com)

Rotterdam, The Netherlands (June 30, 2017) — Custom Saddlery, crafter of tailor-made saddles for riders and horses of all levels, congratulates three elite competitors who had outstanding performances and top placings at the 2017 FEI Nations Cup CDIO 5* dressage competition in Rotterdam, South Holland. Each of Custom Saddlery’s “Most Valuable Riders (MVRs),” Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, Juan Matute Guimon, and Madeleine Witte-Vrees, demonstrated how important a personalized saddle is to each horse’s performance.

Custom Saddlery MVR LaGoy-Weltz and her 17.1-hand, 13-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, Rassing’s Lonoir (De Noir x Loran) competed for the United States team that won the Nations Cup Competition at Rotterdam with a final score of 446.442.

LaGoy-Weltz, an experienced rider and trainer who works out of Mountain Crest Farm in Haymarket, Virginia and Wellington, Florida, scored a personal best on Lonoir in the Grand Prix and finished third with 74.580 percent. “He is an exceptionally sensitive, athletic, and sweet horse,” says LaGoy-Weltz. “He loves his time in the field as much as he loves his work. In 2014, I started riding Lono in a Custom Wolfgang model with a long block. I love the fit of that saddle. It’s still one of my favorite models. I also ride in the Omni, the Advantage Mono Flap, and the Wolfgang Solo.”

LaGoy-Weltz is sure to keep Custom Saddlery a part of her winning strategy. “Custom has an extensive network of saddlers all over the country,” she says, “and now in Europe, too. So I have a great saddle support system no matter where I go.” This MVR will waste no time in putting this support system to use this summer. “We’re on to Aachen!” she said.

Dutch Custom Saddlery MVR and Olympian Madeleine Witte-Vrees claimed reserve title in the Nations Cup Grand Prix with 75.660 percent, riding Cennin, a 10-year-old KWPN/Oldenburg stallion by Vivaldi. No strangers to success down the centerline, Witte-Vrees and Cennin were the Dutch reserve combination at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, and they currently stand 22nd on the FEI World Individual Dressage Rankings.

Also successful at Rotterdam was Custom Saddlery MVR Juan Matute Guimon, a 19-year-old dressage prodigy who rides for Spain. His father is three-time Spanish Olympian Juan Matute, and the family lives in Florida. At Rotterdam, the young Matute won the CDI Under 25 Musical Freestyle on 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding Don Diego Ymas with a score of 76.015 percent – a personal best. The pair also took reserve in the CDI Under 25 Intermediaire II.

Before entering an arena for what has become a must-watch ride, Matute Guimon saddles up with the Custom Saddlery’s Advantage R model. “I love the Custom Saddlery saddles,” the young man said. “I ride with the Advantage R because it’s comfortable and precise. It fits perfectly to my horses’ backs and I feel as if my seat aid is uninterrupted. Nice leather, great seat, and comfortable for the rider and the horse. Custom has a huge variety of trees so they really make the saddle customized.

“Don Diego Ymas and I entered the arena with the attitude of a champion. We knew that if we wanted to win we had to give it our absolute best. We had a totally mistake free test and there was lots of harmony and power!” said Matute Guimon. The young Spaniard is looking forward to saddling up next at CHIO Aachen with an eye trained on competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Custom Saddlery MVRs know that quality tack and equipment are integral to bringing out the best in their horses. Other top dressage riders who agree include MVRs Heather Blitz, Patrik Kittel, and Steffen Peters. Custom Saddlery offers professional saddle fitting services with expert saddle fitters across the United States and internationally, and manufactures high quality accessories including stirrup leathers, girths, and saddle pads. Find a catalog of Custom saddles and an expert saddle fitter near you at www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

For more information, contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
cary@mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Awards, Dressage, JRPR, Products/Services

Custom Saddlery Crowns Most Valuable Riders across the Sunshine State

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Endel Ots wins the Custom Saddlery MVR Award at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (March 14, 2016) – When dressage stars shine brightly across the state of Florida, Custom Saddlery takes note. The company rewarded Brian MacMahon and Endel Ots for their excellence by presenting them with the Custom Saddlery Most Valuable Rider (MVR) Award at recent Florida dressage shows. MacMahon was recognized for coaching students and horses to excellent scores – as well as excellent scores himself – at the Twice as Nice Dressage Show 2 in Canterbury, Florida. Ots was recognized at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival for his international success with his young horses.

A dressage rider for more than 30 years, MacMahon is a jack-of-all-trades in the world of dressage. He competes, trains, breeds, conducts clinics, and is an “r” judge. Carlie Evans of Southeast Horse Shows, the management company for the Twice as Nice Dressage show, explained why MacMahon was chosen by the show committee as recipient of the Custom Saddlery MVR Award. “Brian was chosen because he is a great supporter of our shows,” she said. “He shows horses himself at all levels including freestyles, he brings students with him who show at all levels, and he has horses that he breeds and has sold competing at the same shows. He’s an all-around positive person in the world of dressage.”

MacMahon usually competes with as many as four horses and coaches five students at shows. At the Twice as Nice Dressage Show 2, his proudest moment was watching his working student, Mickensey Johnson, win all of her classes in only her second recognized show aboard Kalahari, a 15-year-old Warmblood gelding (Beaujolais x Katmandu, Columbus) owned by Eugene Abello and bred by MacMahon.

“I took my first riding lesson 30 something years ago when I got out of college, and that was that,” MacMahon said. “I love the sport. I think that when a horse is truly correct and on your aids, there’s nothing like it.”

MacMahon is based out of his Sword from the Stone Farm in Wellborn, Florida and will be beginning his “R” judge program this summer. Now that the Twice as Nice Dressage Show 2 is over, his upcoming goals are to get his students qualified for regional championships and his young horses qualified for championships, as well.

Endel Ots received the Custom Saddlery MVR Award while competing at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. He was presented with the award because of his impressive achievements over the past year. Ots became only the second American ever to qualify both a five-year-old horse and a six-year-old horse for the FEI World Breeding Dressage Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany. Ots qualified Lucky Strike, a German-bred six-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Lord Laurie x Heidi, His Highness) owned by Endel Ots and his father Max Ots, and Samhitas, a German-bred seven-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Sir Donnerhall I x Heidebluete, Abanos), owned by Canadians Gary and Jeannie Vander Ploeg of Pine Ridge Farm. He is continuing his success this winter season in Wellington, Florida, and hopes to once again qualify the horses for the world Young Horse Championship.

Ots is a Custom Saddlery sponsored rider, and competes in the Custom Saddlery Icon Coda model. “I like Custom Saddlery for their customer service,” he said. “They always get things done on time. When you hear you are going to get the saddle, you get it. There are so many saddles to choose from – you can have whatever saddle you want designed however you want it.”

The Custom Saddlery Most Valuable Rider Award is presented at major horse shows to recognize individuals who go above and beyond in the sport. Custom Saddlery, the Official Saddle of the U.S. Dressage Team through the 2016 Olympic Games, gave both MacMahon and Ots an embroidered Custom Saddlery saddle pad, bag, towel, and ribbon as the newest MVR Award recipients.

Custom Saddlery’s MVR Award is all about quality riders, just as the company’s saddles are centered on top quality craftsmanship and materials. Custom Saddlery provides professional fitting services and manufactures accessories to compliment the saddles, including stirrup leathers, girths, and saddle pads.

For more information about Custom Saddlery, visit www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

For more information, contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
cary@mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

Dressage, JRPR, Products/Services

Custom Saddlery to Award Saddles to Winners at U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions

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Steffen Peters (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (December 8, 2015) – Custom Saddlery, the Official Saddle of the United States Dressage Team and proud supporter of high performance dressage, will award Custom Saddles to the Grand Prix and Intermediaire I Championship winners at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. The December 9-12 competition will be held at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival show grounds in Wellington, Florida, and will feature the nation’s top horse and athlete combinations in the Grand Prix and Intermediaire I divisions.

Custom Saddlery will also be cheering on the company’s sponsored riders, known as Custom Saddlery Most Valuable Riders (MVRs), who will be competing in the Championships, including Steffen Peters and Cesar Parra. Peters will ride Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92, a 13-year-old London Olympic Games veteran Westphalian gelding (Laomedon x Furstin/Florestan II), and Rosamunde, an eight-year-old Rheinlander mare (Rock Forever x First Lady/Fidermark) who has claimed victory in a variety of competitions both here and abroad. Peters will compete both horses in The Dutta Corp./USEF Grand Prix Dressage National Championship. Parra will be aboard his own Blickpunkt 4 Cavallias, a 10-year-old Westphalian stallion (Belissimo M x Fascination/Fidermark) who placed in the ribbons at both Dressage at Devon in October and at HITS on the Hudson in September. Parra will compete in The Dutta Corp./USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship.

Custom Saddlery representatives will take part in the award ceremonies for both of the National Championships to present the winners with saddle gift certificates, so that the winning horse and rider duo can be expertly fitted for a saddle model that is perfect for them. With over 20 saddle models, Custom Saddlery’s team of expert saddle fitters across the United States is trained to meet all horses and riders’ performance and comfort needs.

The Grand Prix competition at the Festival of Champions will kick off on Wednesday, December 9 with the FEI Grand Prix test, then progress to the FEI Grand Prix Special on Thursday, December 10. After a day of rest, competition will resume with the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle on Saturday, December 12. The Intermediaire I championship will begin with the FEI Prix St. Georges on Wednesday, December 9 and will continue with the FEI Intermediaire I on Thursday, December 10. The Intermediaire I competition will culminate with the I-1 Freestyle on Saturday, December 12.

Custom Saddlery is proud to support the United States Dressage Team and the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions presented by The Dutta Corp. Custom Saddlery is committed to designing, producing, and fitting high-quality, customized saddles that are perfect matches for dressage’s most talented riders and their horses. For more information about Custom Saddlery and its variety of saddle models, visit www.mysaddle.com or call 1-800-235-3865.

For more information, contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
cary@mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

Community/Charity, Dressage

Custom Saddlery Awards Intercollegiate Dressage Association National Winners with “Advantage” Saddles

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Left to right: Johnson & Wales University team members, Francesca Edwards, Lauren Friedland, Jessica Mitchell, Madison Keys, Julia McNellis (winner of first level class and Custom Saddlery Advantage saddle), Coach Crystal Taylor, Grace Pratico, Tara Proulx. (Photo courtesy of IDA)

South Hadley, MA (May 7, 2013)  – Custom Saddlery, the official saddle of the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA), awarded eight Custom “Advantage” saddles to the IDA Nationals team and individual winners. One of this year’s winners, Julia McNellis, comments, “When I found out that I won my second National Championship title, I was ecstatic, but when I learned that the saddle I won was a Custom Saddlery Advantage dressage saddle I was completely over the moon!”

The 12th Annual IDA National Championships took place on April 27-28 at Mount Holyoke College Equestrian Center in South Hadley, Massachusetts.  On Team Championship Day, The Mount Holyoke College dressage team came away with the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) National Team Championship title at the MHC Equestrian Center with Johnson & Wales University finishing second and Delaware Valley College coming in third. Each rider of the winning team will receive a Custom “Advantage” saddle courtesy of Custom Saddlery.

In addition, on Individual Championship Day, four riders took home the National Individual Championship title along with winning their own Custom Saddlery “Advantage” dressage saddle. Winner of the IDA Nationals First Level division, McNellis of Johnson and Wales University, comments, “I have always dreamed of riding in a Custom Saddlery saddle, and now I am a proud owner! Thank you Custom Saddlery and their representative, Andrea, for making my first Custom fitting easy and super enjoyable!”

“The Intercollegiate Dressage Association is proud to be sponsored by Custom Saddlery as the official saddle of the IDA. Custom Saddlery brings an incredible quality product that is appreciated by riders and coaches,” said Beth Beukema, IDA president and director of Equine Studies for Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island.  “Custom Saddlery saddles are known throughout the industry as being beautifully crafted and balanced, and will be a lifelong memory for our winning riders.”

Mount Holyoke’s team members to win a Custom Saddlery “Advantage” saddle include the following: sophomore Taylor Dickinson who won first level and ranked as reserve high point rider of the day with scores above 72%; senior captain, Rachel Berlage, who placed fourth in the Upper Training division; junior Carey Lang, placing sixth in the Lower Training division; and junior Emily Murch, who rode into third place in the Introductory division. This year marks the fifth IDA championship win for Mount Holyoke since 2002, more than any other school in the league.

The 2013 IDA National Championships hosted more than 100 riders from more than 20 colleges and universities throughout North America. Custom Saddlery is proud to have sponsored the event and promote the dressage sport among the Nations up-and-coming dessage athletes.

Custom Saddlery’s deep history of support to its dressage community has resulted in various sponsorship such as recognizing “Most Valuable Riders” throughout the prestigious Florida winter circuit including the Adequan Global Dressage Festival and Gold Coast Dressage series.

For more information on Custom Saddlery, visit their website at www.mysaddle.com.

For more information contact:
Custom Saddlery, Cary Wallace
www.mysaddle.com
1-800-235-3865

*Featured/Spotlights, Community/Charity, Dressage, JRPR

University of Vermont Dressage Team Coach Bonnie Timmerman Wins New Saddle from Custom Saddlery

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Bonnie Timmerman not only won the IDA National Coach of the Year Award, but she also won a new Steffen Advantage Custom saddle from Custom Saddlery. (Photo courtesy of Bonnie Timmerman)

Morristown, VT (June 4, 2012) – Bonnie Timmerman, the coach of the University of Vermont Dressage Team, had a lot to celebrate during the Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) Nationals at Centenary College in New Jersey. Timmerman not only won the IDA National Coach of the Year Award, but she also won a new Steffen Advantage Custom saddle from Custom Saddlery, makers of handcrafted custom-fit dressage, jumping and event saddles.

Timmerman, who has been coaching the UVM Dressage Team for eight years, was thrilled to win both the award and the saddle. “What is so wonderful about receiving this award is that I was nominated by my team as well as other coaches and team members. They were so kind in the letters that were sent in to nominate me,” Timmerman said. “I am also very excited about winning a saddle from Custom Saddlery. The Steffen Advantage Saddle is well known for being a great saddle.”

Continue reading University of Vermont Dressage Team Coach Bonnie Timmerman Wins New Saddle from Custom Saddlery →

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, JRPR, Products/Services

Steffen Peters’ Amazing Equine Partner Ravel Featured in “Find Ravel” Contest on Custom Saddlery’s Website

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International dressage star Steffen Peters rides his equine partner Ravel in a saddle by Custom Saddlery. (Photo courtesy of Sheryl Ross)

Aiken, SC (April 26, 2011) – World Equestrian Games Bronze Medalist Steffen Peters calls his equine partner, Ravel, his “horse of a lifetime.” Ravel, a 13-year-old KWPN gelding owned by Akiko Yamazaki, has helped Peters win more medals and awards than most riders could dream of during their career.

Peters rides Ravel in a dressage saddle made by Custom Saddlery and said the talented horse thrives under the saddle. Following the duo’s victory at the CDIO Aachen, were they swept all three classes, the Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle, Peters told a Custom Saddle fitter that “It was all the saddle!”

Thanks to their long-standing partnership with Peters and Ravel, Custom Saddlery is now letting the gorgeous gelding help his fans make it to the winner’s circle by taking part in Custom Saddlery’s “Find Ravel” contest. Photos of Ravel can be found on the Custom Saddlery website (www.mysaddle.com) and each person who correctly emails in the page names where Ravel’s photos can be found will be entered to win a pair of DSB Dressage Sport Boots, designed to provide excellent protection as well as comfort for the horse.

Continue reading Steffen Peters’ Amazing Equine Partner Ravel Featured in “Find Ravel” Contest on Custom Saddlery’s Website →

Community/Charity, Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, JRPR

Steffen Peters Fans Can Enjoy an Intimate Moment with the Dressage Star Thanks to a Custom Saddlery Video Interview

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Carol Cohen interviews Steffen Peters during the first Custom Moment. To view the “Custom Moment” video with Peters, visit www.mysaddle.com. (Photo courtesy of JRPR)

Wellington, FL (February 3, 2011) – Fans of World Equestrian Games Bronze Medalist Steffen Peters can now enjoy an intimate moment with the dressage star thanks to a “Custom Moment” video by Custom Saddlery. In the video produced for Custom Saddlery, makers of handcrafted custom-fit dressage, jumping and event saddles and an official sponsor of the United States Dressage Federation, Peters is interviewed and shares everything from what he eats for breakfast to whether or not he likes dogs.

Shot on location at Carol Cohen’s Two Swans Farm in Wellington, Florida, Peters shows off his sense of humor during the “Custom Moment” interview with Cohen. The video appears on the Custom Saddlery website, www.mysaddle.com, and on the Dressage-News.com website, www.dressage-news.com.

Cohen, who admits to being a Peters fan, shows her knack for interviewing and gets the dressage star to laugh and enjoy the moment. “The Custom Moment really is a personal look at the lives of our famous dressage riders,” Cohen said. “Interviewing Steffen was a great experience and he was really fantastic, relaxed, funny and completely approachable. Steffen has been coming to my farm to teach clinics for many years and I always enjoy the time I get to spend with him.”

Continue reading Steffen Peters Fans Can Enjoy an Intimate Moment with the Dressage Star Thanks to a Custom Saddlery Video Interview →

Contributors/Press, Disciplines, Dressage, JRPR, Products/Services, World Equestrian Games

Custom Saddlery Sponsors Dressage Rider and WEG Competitor Tina Konyot

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Tina Konyot, who represented the United States at the 2010 World Equestrian Games, rides her Dutch stallion, Calecto V, in the unique Icon Coda Mono Flap Dressage Saddle from Custom Saddlery.

Wellington, FL (December 16, 2010) – Custom Saddlery, makers of handcrafted custom-fit dressage, jumping and event saddles, is proud to announce they are sponsoring dressage rider Tina Konyot. Known for being a gifted rider, teacher and trainer, Konyot represented the United States at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games aboard her stallion Calecto V.

While talent, hard work and dedication are all part of Konyot’s winning style, her style also includes riding in a dressage saddle from Custom Saddlery. “Tina is riding in our Icon Coda Mono Flap Dressage Saddle,” said Cary Wallace, President and Master Saddle Fitter at Custom Saddlery. “The mono flap is unique and gives the rider very close contact with their horse. Tina will find she has increased communication through her seat due to our revolutionary tree.”

Wallace said the saddle is custom fit for Calecto V, and it features the Polyflex Tree that gives the ultimate flexibility for the horse. “The Polyflex Tree will also give Tina comfort and stability as well as increased flexibility and movement with Calecto,” he said.

Continue reading Custom Saddlery Sponsors Dressage Rider and WEG Competitor Tina Konyot →