I’m on the HJ side with friends in big barns with lots of French saddles- nobody has had any issues but not many have the Antares or CWD, mostly Butet and Childeric.
I always get suspicious of anybody selling anything trying to convince me I need one or need to replace the one I already have before it actually breaks or needs replacement. That always seems to work out rather better for them and worse for me.
Ok, so, this whole thread has me worried…I love my Antares saddle. Do I need to worry about a 2009 manufacture date? Or just the mid 2000’s? so far so good! Thanks!
[QUOTE=Bogie;7702797]
Ouch!! I can’t imagine spending that kind of $$ on a saddle and finding out it didn’t last. I have a saddle that were made in the mid to late 70s that is still going strong. German brand. In fact, my County is probably pushing 10 and my Roosli is about 12. I have a couple of Kieffers that are in the 6-7 year range.[/QUOTE]
Right?! I couldn’t believe it when I read that post.
Just curious - what maker is your 70s saddle? Mine (Rheinfelden Engage) is also circa 70s and going strong.
[QUOTE=GutsNGlory;7703275]
Right?! I couldn’t believe it when I read that post.
Just curious - what maker is your 70s saddle? Mine (Rheinfelden Engage) is also circa 70s and going strong.[/QUOTE]
I have two Kieffer monoflaps. Kieffer told me those saddles were made no later than 1980, probably mid-70s. One had never been on a horse! The other is used but going strong.
I bought this one first. It must have been in a time capsule because it hadn’t been on a horse but it had been properly stored and was pristine.
http://equineink.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/kiefer.jpg
This one I picked up over the summer because it’s a MW and fits my draft x. Not new, but plenty of life in it.
http://equineink.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/new-kieffer2.jpg?w=450&h=338
I also have this saddle, which is from a Swiss custom saddlemaker. I bought it off eBay and it’s probably pushing 40 years old. Fits a ton of horses and is very nicely balanced (looks like a Roosli A/P but isn’t). My saddle fitter loves it :).
http://equineink.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/dsc02916.jpg
You can see that I have a slight problem with accumulating saddles :lol: but I do believe that a good saddle can last a very long time.
I wouldn’t buy any saddle for that much money if it was only meant for shows or occasional riding, a saddle is your most important piece of equipment and I want to use it every time I ride. My CWD (not a 2g) came with a lifetime tree warranty though, is that unusual?
[QUOTE=BAC;7704670]
I wouldn’t buy any saddle for that much money if it was only meant for shows or occasional riding, a saddle is your most important piece of equipment and I want to use it every time I ride. My CWD (not a 2g) came with a lifetime tree warranty though, is that unusual?[/QUOTE]
The tree may have a lifetime warranty but after a certain time period, labour is often not included (nor is shipping which may be to an overseas factory).
Antares would do better to just be forthright about the tree issues, I recently queried a major rep & he completely denied the broken tree incidents (insisting they were either stories of fiction or saddles had suffered catastrophic events) :sigh:
I’m sorry for those of you who have had these problems.
To say that a $7,000 saddle will break down if used regularly is like buying a $200,000 top-of-the-line Mercedes and being told not to drive it every day or the wheels will fall off.
If I can spend $400 for a Wintec and beat the crap out of it for years upon end with the tree unscathed (and warranteed anyway), for the amount of money you spend on a French saddle you ought to be able to drive over the damn thing. I’ve had OLD Stubbens and Kiefers (way older than me) that were still intact in every way. To have a tree break under normal use after just a few years is totally inexcusable. I can’t ever think of a time when I’ve heard of these types of persistent issues with English or German-made saddles.
I called Antares two weeks ago today about my broken tree. They offered to replace it for $1750, but I’m NOT interested in paying them another chunk of change. I asked if I could buy a tree and have my local saddle fitter install it (way less money). The customer service rep said he would see and call me back the following Monday.
No phone call for two weeks.
So I called today and he apologized for not getting back to me. Said he’d check with the company owner and they would not be willing to get me a tree, they would have to fix it themselves. He offered me the bargain repair rate of $1,250 and several months without my saddle. This is not a great resolution. I’m instead having the local saddle repairer weld and reinforce the broken tree where it is split at the pommel, I’ll have it back in a few weeks, and it’s costing $130. But that’s not a great option either for a high-end custom saddle: with a welded tree it’s going to be worth only a fraction of what it’s worth with a sound tree.
The customer service rep told me that “it’s not uncommon” for the Antares trees to break, “it’s a common problem,” and when I asked how often it happens, he said probably 2% of their saddles.
Wow. Just wow.
The company has only been in business for 14 years. If one out of every 50 saddles has had a tree break, I’m fricking astounded by the extreme lack of durability. Any Antares saddle is fairly young, if the company was started 14 years ago and ramping up production and sales the first few years, the VAST majority are going to be under 10 years old. And the customer service is saying that aproximately one out of every 50 has had a broken tree? From “posting and jumping”!!!:eek:
I can’t believe that the company hasn’t found a better and more durable tree source, isn’t standing behind their product more, finds this failure rate acceptable, and is charging a greatly inflated repair rate instead of making it right. What I asked for was a replacement tree (ideally at cost), not a new saddle, not a free repair, not reimbursement for equine chiropractor bills to address pain caused by the broken tree, or a loaner saddle to ride in while mine was being fixed.
Since 2007, I have worked with four different Antares reps. None of them are still with the company. So I can’t speak to anyone I’ve built a relationship with.
I hope others learn from my experience and that of the many other COTH posters that have written about their problems with Antares trees breaking, and spend your money with a company that cares more about producing a quality product that lasts, and cares about taking care of customers.
If you are saddle shopping, and care about durability and customer service, keep looking. Antares seems more interested in selling saddles and repairs than in making a durable product.
Bumping up an old thread, my apologies!
I am a college student riding 5-10x a week with enough money for a nice, used saddle that is going to last me. I found my unicorn saddle (I say unicorn because my horse is a w-xw with MASSIVE shoulders, and I am 5’2") and it was an antares and I was thrilled to find one within my price. My trainer is wary because she’s heard of so many broken trees, and a quick google left me extremely suprised. Yikes. I have enough money for a nice saddle. I don’t have money to spend on such a common tree issue. That said, several gals at my barn ride in and love their Antares and have had good luck, but they also have the money to fix it easily. I do not. Thanks COTH!
Love riding in my saddles but still disgusted with how horrible the Antares policy is about standing behind their premium product. Glad you googled so you can make an informed decision.
I hear of a LOT of antares trees breaking. Enough to make me never consider buying one.
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