I am currently shopping for a new dressage saddle (ugh) and tried the Antares monoflap. Both me and my horse loved it but someone told me “they had heard” the foam in the Antares does not hold up well over time and I was wondering what COTHers experiences were. I would be looking for a used one since the new ones are bit more than I can justify.
Anyway, any thoughts appreciated!
The problem with foam, or so I have heard, is that you can’t re-flock it or adjust it like wool. That’s problematic for dressage horses as they can and do change pretty dramatically over time. Not that hunters/jumpers don’t - but saddle fit seems a bigger thing with the dressage crowd - JMHO.
The only issue I’ve seen with an Antares monoflap is the fixed position of the billets, since they come directly out of the bottom of the flap. If that alignment doesn’t suit your horse… oh, well.
If you like the feel and balance of the Antares you could also look at a used Hermes, Childeric, or l’apogee. They’re all French saddles and have similar traits. I have a Hermes and my horse and I both love it. Had it for a year and my horses back is wonderful. All I use is a Success Equestrian square dressage pad under it. The latex conforms to my horses back.
There have been a lot of Antares with broken trees. I know of several jumping saddles, but I don’t know if it affects dressage saddles too. The company does NOT stand behind their product. I was told by the company that my broken tree was caused by posting. Seriously! Like that was an inappropriate way to use a jumping saddle? And the only solution they offered was a very expensive repair. I have two other friends that also have had trees break in their Antares. Inexcusable. Plus a number of people who have posted about it on COTH. I love riding in them but for the company to have a serious flaw in trees and to not stand behind them means I can’t recommend them. Bummer, because I am shopping for a dressage saddle now and Antares will not get my business.
well, crap, Badger. That is exactly the kind of thing I was worried about.
Thanks for the other feedback as well. The billet placement seems to be fine for my horse but that won’t matter if the tree falls to crap.
I HATE saddle shopping.
2 Likes
Read 'em and weep:
[QUOTE=Badger;8858095]
There have been a lot of Antares with broken trees. I know of several jumping saddles, but I don’t know if it affects dressage saddles too. The company does NOT stand behind their product. I was told by the company that my broken tree was caused by posting. Seriously! Like that was an inappropriate way to use a jumping saddle? And the only solution they offered was a very expensive repair. I have two other friends that also have had trees break in their Antares. Inexcusable. Plus a number of people who have posted about it on COTH. I love riding in them but for the company to have a serious flaw in trees and to not stand behind them means I can’t recommend them. Bummer, because I am shopping for a dressage saddle now and Antares will not get my business.[/QUOTE]
Wow! That is horrible, Badger.
[QUOTE=Badger;8859010]
Read 'em and weep:
:([/QUOTE]
:eek::eek::eek:
wow. just. wow.
I think I will weep now. Not just because that is terrible but because I had found the perfect used Antares and thought I was done saddle shopping. Back to the drawing boards :no: I hate saddle shopping
[QUOTE=bambam;8862795]
:eek::eek::eek:
wow. just. wow.
I think I will weep now. Not just because that is terrible but because I had found the perfect used Antares and thought I was done saddle shopping. Back to the drawing boards :no: I hate saddle shopping[/QUOTE]
The impression I get is that Antares has more than the usual problems with broken trees, with saddles that don’t last well, and with poor response to customer complaints. After reading this, I certainly would not go out and specifically seek an Anteres. Still, I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of Antares saddles last for several/many years without any of these problems.
If the saddle appears to be in good shape, fits your horse, you like it, and the price is right, I would not rule it out because there is a chance that you will have problems with it years down the road.
