Bruno Delgrange help

[Meadow36]

I’ve looked at some old threads but I’m still not sure. I know the flaps come 1-6; is the most forward version X? What order do the letters go from straightest to most forward (A,AA, etc)?

I don’t have the longest femur (5’7") but my horse is only 15.3 so I tend to hike up my stirrups. My current saddle (that I love) is a 1997 BD original and there is no letter to indicate forwardness of flap, but it’s 12" across and I definitely need more. I found a used Athena that is a 5X. Trying to decide if it’s worth trialing or if it’s going to be too forward!

[Backstage]

[QUOTE=Meadow36;8415123]
I’ve looked at some old threads but I’m still not sure. I know the flaps come 1-6; is the most forward version X? What order do the letters go from straightest to most forward (A,AA, etc)?

I don’t have the longest femur (5’7") but my horse is only 15.3 so I tend to hike up my stirrups. My current saddle (that I love) is a 1997 BD original and there is no letter to indicate forwardness of flap, but it’s 12" across and I definitely need more. I found a used Athena that is a 5X. Trying to decide if it’s worth trialing or if it’s going to be too forward![/QUOTE]

I don’t know all the details, but I did try a few Delgrange saddles before finally purchasing one. My saddle has a 5A flap, which is forward. Comparable in my experience to something between ‘A’ and ‘AA’ in the Antares. I didn’t find the saddle I tried with the ‘X’ flap to be as forward, though it was a 4X rather than the 5A I bought. I would just call Delgrange and ask!

This link doesn’t address this aspect of flap size, but I found it quite useful when shopping and looking at the various brands: http://www.highendusedsaddles.com/saddlebrandinfo.htm

[Rescuer]

[QUOTE=Meadow36;8415123]
I’ve looked at some old threads but I’m still not sure. I know the flaps come 1-6; is the most forward version X? What order do the letters go from straightest to most forward (A,AA, etc)?

I don’t have the longest femur (5’7") but my horse is only 15.3 so I tend to hike up my stirrups. My current saddle (that I love) is a 1997 BD original and there is no letter to indicate forwardness of flap, but it’s 12" across and I definitely need more. I found a used Athena that is a 5X. Trying to decide if it’s worth trialing or if it’s going to be too forward![/QUOTE]

As far as I know, the most forward flap is the X. The regular flap won’t have a letter I don’t believe. So the numbers are the length of the flap, and the letters define if its a straight flap, forward flap, or extra forward flap. 12" across sounds like a straight flap to me. You said the new one you’re looking at is a 5X - what seat size is it? That will make a difference! The X is definitely an extra forward flap but the 5 could indicate that it is a long flap if the seat size is on the small side…

The chart that was referred to in a post above on the Used Saddles site shows how the “standard” flap length number is different for each seat size. So, MY understanding is the shortest flap with the smallest seat size is a 1. With a forward flap in the same seat size it would be a 1A. With an extra forward flap in the same seat size it would be a 1X. So the bigger the seat size, the bigger the “regular” length flap number. Then add a letter on to the to indicate forwardness.

The customer service at Bruno Delgrange is amazing. Contact them for specific questions. They will be MORE than happy to help.

I just got my new Virtuose 18" 5A flap from them in September. I love it. The rep was great. And even before I had a rep come out to see me, I was bugging them with questions through their Facebook page and they answered them all.

Just as an FYI - I’m only 5’4 but the length of my femur led me to an 18" seat and a forward flap and my position on the flat and over jumps has never been better. LOVE my Delgrange.