Tell me all about the mademoiselle CWD saddle. Pros/cons. worth the money, benefits vs their “traditional” saddle. etc…
One of my barn mates bought one to replace a 2GS she had. It looked beautiful, but for some reason she didn’t like the ride nearly as much. She ended up sending it back in exchange for another 2GS, which she is quite happy with now.
I am personally a little bit suspicious of this recent trend to market “female saddles.” They all seem to magically come in pink and be marked up $1000+, but hey if it makes you happy and you can afford it, go for it.
I’m pretty suspicious of pink marketing as well… but I will say I much much prefer the mademoiselle to the 2GS. I feel like it’s a little closer contact than the plain CWD saddle and most certainly then the 2GS. I like the flexible tree.
I don’t love all the piping and logos so I got mine with brown trim. I was riding in a plain butet,
but as I’ve started to jump a little bigger, I wanted a little more support. I find the mademoiselle to be a nice in between especially with the buffalo leather. It’s also not super heavy, which I appreciate.
I haven’t had it very long but so far I’m happy.
I’ve had numerous French saddle brands over the years and always come back to CWD. I had a rep come out almost a year ago to fit my growing 5 year old thoroughbred and I made the mistake of trying the Mademoiselle. I was torn between the SE03 and the Mademoiselle so decided to wait and look used.
A few months ago, I came across a Mademoiselle in my size/the panels my horse needed. It was like-new, at 1/2 the price I would have paid new. I scooped it right up and have no regrets.
It is full buffalo, so extremely grippy, much lighter weight than the other CWD’s I have had in the past, and my horse adores it. I am a huge fan of the twist on this saddle, it rides similarly to my old Butet. Super easy to get out of over the fences and very well balanced. I can’t say enough good things about it!
I was not the biggest fan of the Ivory piping, so I had a local saddler redo the piping to havana. It turned out absolutely gorgeous! Before and after: https://www.facebook.com/abby.yeager.5/posts/10155525519582456
I have a 2GS, but I have been lusting over the Mademoiselle. I think the narrow twist would be perfect for me. CWD/Delgrange are the only saddles that seem to work for me. I have tried lots of different Antares, and they are beautiful saddles, but it feels like I’m sitting on a square post. If I wasn’t winding down and just riding for fun, with what will likely be my last horse, I would definitely upgrade to a Mademoiselle in buffalo!
My friend and I were looking at the used CWD selection at Tryon a few weeks ago. She is saddle hunting and the reps of course were asking me what I wanted to sit in and I told them I was a Tad person, just there for moral support. The rep and were chatting and she told me she has converted many Tad people to the Mademoiselle. Looking at it, it looks nothing like my Tad and all the logos/stiching/piping is a bit much for me but it did pique my interest!
I like the closer contact feel of the flap vs the 2Gs, and the seat feels more like a Butet or Childeric seat, which I like, although I’ve gotten used to my super flat seat 2Gs. For my horse, the 2Gs is the better saddle…I just kind of wish I could take out the carbon in the flap and have a mix of the 2 models that way. For horses that I prefer my Childeric on but who may need a more modern gullet type, I think the Mlle would be a good saddle, except that I hate, hate, hate the padding on the skirt, which I find chafing.
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