butet - new panels? wool? and who ya gonna call?

[Saskatoonian]

I know there’s a contingent of die-hard older Butet owners out there.

Looks like time to address the panels on mine - they’re a little hard and a little flattish in spots, and the horse is now starting to say it’s time (still going great, but has a little bump after I take it off, and while it doesn’t bother him and goes away after 5 minutes, it’s clearly a sign and I’m not waiting for it to get bad). The thought of letting someone modify it is giving me an ulcer, and on top of that there’s the question of what to do. A friend had hers converted to wool and loves it, so her guy is already on the list. What have others done? And who’d you use? It’s a monoflap if that matters. Thanks!

[L00kAtMeN0w]

I know several people that converted their Butets to wool (as well as new seats, new billets, etc) and were extremely happy, but I will say it was maybe 8 - 10 years ago. They all used the Beval store in Gladstone for the work, which is pricey but knows the saddles like no one else: http://www.beval.com/repairs

[btswass]

Beval doesn’t sell butet anymore so I’d be hesitant to take it to them - especially since beval isn’t really beval anymore with the new owners

[DMK]

I’m not much help because two people have worked on butet and neither of them are around any more… But that said, I had my '98 butet converted to wool in 2002 (those early years had really crappy foam and it compressed in about 2 years) by one guy and around 2010 I had the panels, billets and seat replaced by another. Both were master saddlers and had seen work done by both before they touched my saddle (aka “precious”) so have some comfort in that experience

That said, I am a huge fan of my foam-converted-to-flocking saddle, but I seem to think it is something you can only do with the older models?

[Saskatoonian]

Maybe more help than you think, DMK, since pretty sure my saddle’s of the same vintage! Yup, the foam is hard but I learned a long time ago to listen to the horse, and if he says it’s fine, to leave it alone. Did the conversion change how the saddle felt? I kissed a lot of saddle toads before finding this prince!

btswass, had no idea Beval had new owners - good to know.

Thanks, all! And the quest continues…

[Against_All_Odds1]

Butet Canada sends all their repairs to Paramount saddlery in northern Ontario. With Canada’s crappy dollar I’d send it up there and save 40% in exchange rates!

[btswass]

@Saskatoonian

Maybe more help than you think, DMK, since pretty sure my saddle’s of the same vintage! Yup, the foam is hard but I learned a long time ago to listen to the horse, and if he says it’s fine, to leave it alone. Did the conversion change how the saddle felt? I kissed a lot of saddle toads before finding this prince!

btswass, had no idea Beval had new owners - good to know.

Thanks, all! And the quest continues…

They’re closing at least on of their CT stores in the near future. Things are not looking good for them. Which is why butet is no longer selling through them. At least that is what I’ve heard through the grapevine

[173north]

I hear excellent things about Dutchess Bridle & Saddle and they could definitely convert your panels to wool for you. Expensive, but not as expensive as a new saddle!

[touchstone]

I also need the answer to this question! My saddle needs new panels too, and I am not sure where to go now that Beval no longer does Butet. Butet connected me to a sales rep in Virginia, but I am not sure who they use for repairs or what it will cost.

Suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[Saskatoonian]

Got another referral to Dutchess for general saddle work from a friend, but she hasn’t used them for a Butet (or a conversion, for that matter). Oh my end, looks like I solved the bump problem with padding, at least temporarily. I’d love to hold off sending it off til winter!

[Elementgrl2]

Butet has a USA repair center. Sending you a PM

[farmgirl]

Elementgrl2, could you share that information with me, as well? Thank you, fg

[mvp]

@btswass

Beval doesn’t sell butet anymore so I’d be hesitant to take it to them - especially since beval isn’t really beval anymore with the new owners

Beval will work on any saddle and does lovely work. Last I checked, however, their repair shop was in their New Canaan, CT store, not the Gladstone, NJ branch. I’d start there. If anyone knows the intricacies of Butet saddles it will be the saddlers who work at Bevals.

[mvp]

@Elementgrl2

Butet has a USA repair center. Sending you a PM

Even better!

One thing to consider: The conversion from foam to wool isn’t easy. Most of the time, wool-filled panels have gussets in them so as to provide a 3-D bag of a particular shape for the wool to fill up. If your saddle doesn’t have these, I’m not sure you can use the existing, unshaped, one-piece-of-leather panels to do the job.

[Saskatoonian]

thanks, mvp, that’s just what I was told. In fact, the person who works on my saddles told me she won’t even do the conversion anymore because she’s not satisfied with how they come out. I’m just going to go with foam.

[BAC]

Just because Beval is under new ownership and no longer sells Butets doesn’t mean they no longer work on them. Their repair staff was always excellent with years and years of experience working on Butets, I would try them first.

[EyesUp]

I had my Butet repaired by Beval last summer. They did a great job!