I’ll be glad to hear that you received yours. You have an amaaing ablity to analyze things…will want to ask you some questions regarding your new saddle - AND, hoping its absolutly the best thing you and Sonny ever had between you!
I bought one today!
Just got back from the barn after the Devoucoux representative, Eric, came out to fit me for a saddle. I fell in love with the chiberta and ordered one! Thanks Lindsay for putting me in touch with Eric! I told him about how you helped me with the contact. Hopefully he will do something nice for you in return for the reference. Eric was great and spent time with me finding the right size. And he is very cute too! Maybe that is why they sell so many saddles…cute, french representatives! Anyway, they are that great! Thanks for all of the feeback on the saddle. Now I just need to wait for it!
I wonder if Eric was the same rep I had! He came from HITs when I was in FL and was a really nice guy.
[QUOTE=RunForIt;3146644]
I’ll be glad to hear that you received yours. You have an amaaing ablity to analyze things…will want to ask you some questions regarding your new saddle - AND, hoping its absolutly the best thing you and Sonny ever had between you![/QUOTE]
Almost! It is scheduled to get here on May 9th. Eric went over the prices with me when he fitted Sonny. Then, my mom talked to him on the phone and gave him the debit card number. We were a bit worried because the money had not been taken out of the account but then the amount we agreed on was taken out recently, and we got a message on the answering machine saying when it should be here.
I bought a used Chiberta at Rolex
I tried it out on Wednesday and didn’t give it back. Actually I had to take it back Sunday to have them ship it so I didn’t have to pay all the sales tax. So I can’t wait for it to arrive.
Cute French Men
Kiwi - wait until you meet Olivier, their French saddle fitter/adjuster!
I got at Rolex one of Phillip Dutton’s old Makila dressage saddles! I shipped it home, so I won’t be getting it until Thursday. I can’t wait to try it! I really hope it works out. It felt so perfect when I sat in it…
didn’t read the thread but mine is that great.
love it.
I am a better rider because of it.
I have lusted after a Chiberta for forever and finally sat one at Rolex. Ugh!! It put me on the very front of my pelvis. I felt for all the world like a HUS rider 
How disappointing! The Black Country Tex Eventer, however… that was a totally different story 
I have a few clients who had devoucoux dressage saddles, all three of them are selling the saddles the main problems are: lack of shoulder freedom, too tightly fitted to allow normal back movement, the lack of ability to easily refit the saddles as the horses change shape with age or training.
One clients horse just got new panels in his saddle, and it came back not even allowing one finger between the pommel and his back, needless to say, he was painful after one ride even with the pad the devoucoux rep sent to relieve the pressure. The result was resistance in the bridle, reluctance to engage his hind end and to come over his back into the bridle.
I cannot reccomend the dressage saddles, I do think that the jumping saddles are much better than the dressage saddles.
[QUOTE=kiwifruit;3113144]
Okay…I sat in my friends devoucoux today and can I tell you that I fell in love the minute my bottom touched the saddle. Very grippy and excellent leg position. I felt secure yet could get out of the tack when needed. I’m pretty sure it fit my guy as well. Lots of clearance by the withers, pretty level and equal. Much better than my Pessoa which I need at least two pads to ride in it. Just to be on the safe side, I ordered a test ride from VTO Saddlery 1. the amerigo vega monoflap and the new prestige monoflap event saddle. I rode in a Nona Garson Prestige saddle one time and really hated it so I’m not sure if the monoflap version will work. I really, really like the Devoucoux but just briefly searching the net for a used event model has been tough. Any thoughts on the vega and the prestige?
Thanks again for the insight![/QUOTE]
Kiwi!!! How are you!!
The vega is really unbalanced and i though i like the prestige, i’ve got to tell you about my secret unknown saddle!!! that isn’t near the cost of the Devoucoux!
I just bought an Albion Ultima Kontact!! and i absolutely love it … super super balanced, fantastic leather - OMG it’s great!! I would recommend it to anyone i know and feel super confidant backing my word on it. It’s a newer saddle to the states but has been used over in England for quite some time… I actually think Albion is now Sponsoring Leslie Law.
PM me for more details!
I have had a chiberta for the last few years that I like very much for myself, but I am not happy with the pressure it puts on the horses’ backs.
Devoucoux are thinly foam flocked and the foam has corners around the edges. My own horse - who it was made for - actually developed muscle under the saddle, confirmed by my vet. When he is wet you can see the perfect imprint of the saddle on his otherwise well-muscled back. The vet (who is a big upper level event vet in Area 2) told me she sees this fairly often in the all-devoucoux barns. They generate a lot of pressure on the horses’ backs, and the materials and balance do not ease it well enough.
No, they can’t be re-flocked for a new horse - they can be sent in and re-built. Devoucoux also has an aggressive trade in policy.
I would say by all means get a top of the line jumping saddle - you’ll be amazed at the difference. But look at several brands. I’ve switched to Amerigo and am very happy with the saddle, the service, and the knowledgeable sales manager. The construction (and the fit theory) is very different than the Antares, Dev, and Butet “french” saddles. Call World Equestrian directly and get the info on the saddle from the top - it’s an interesting story.
Albion and Black Country are wool flocked and great fit and quality, but the balance point of the seat is too far back for all but the longest-legged riders, so save your time unless you’re tall.
For other brands, I have several students in Prestige Nona Garsons and Prestige eventers, and they are great for them. Similar balance and forwardness to the Devs. for much less $.
But I suppose I’ll be putting my Chiberta on eBay soon…
I always thought I wanted a Devoucoux jumping saddle, but last year at Rolex I got a great deal on a Godignon Jump In Connection saddle. Still pricey but a wonderful fit for me and my (hard to fit) horse.
I LOVE it and it is incredibly well made. I don’t know if they will be there this year, but they have lovely saddles and the rep is extremely nice and helpful.
I rode in my trainer’s Chiberta and I LOVED it. It fit my horse well and he absolutely HATED it. He was refusing to go forward, kicking out, etc. I figured he was just having a bad day and I decided to go ahead and get one. I contacted the rep, who said she would get back with me when she was going to be in the area. That was 5 months ago and I have still heard nothing. About a month ago, I decided to check out BC, and I am now waiting for my Tex Eventer to arrive. Based on what I have read about Devoucoux, I am glad that the rep never called me :yes:.
[QUOTE=SparklePlenty;3992478]
I just bought an Albion Ultima Kontact!! and i absolutely love it … super super balanced, fantastic leather - OMG it’s great!! I would recommend it to anyone i know and feel super confidant backing my word on it. It’s a newer saddle to the states but has been used over in England for quite some time… I actually think Albion is now Sponsoring Leslie Law.
PM me for more details![/QUOTE]
I don’t think Albion is new to the States as I got mine almost 10 years ago and my coach, Jim Graham, was sponsored by them for many years (starting as early as the 90’s). I just think that they don’t advertise as much as the larger name-brands. Its like a really good secret. Those who know, KNOW and those who don’t, look at other brands 
You will have to pry my Legend 5000 out of my cold, dead hands!!! Best saddle!!
[QUOTE=tx3dayeventer;3993110]
I don’t think Albion is new to the States as I got mine almost 10 years ago and my coach, Jim Graham, was sponsored by them for many years (starting as early as the 90’s). I just think that they don’t advertise as much as the larger name-brands. Its like a really good secret. Those who know, KNOW and those who don’t, look at other brands You will have to pry my Legend 5000 out of my cold, dead hands!!! Best saddle!![/QUOTE]
Doh!! I mean that model is fairly new to the states. The Kontrol has been around for a while, but my understanding is the Kontact is new!
But i do LOVE my saddle!
Yup, they really are that great
Have a Devoucoux Chiberta and, yes, it really is that great.
I have heard similar around here about it being a rider’s saddle, not a horse’s saddle. There was a Devoucoux craze here a few years ago and then apparently a lot of people got rid of them when they started causing problems with the horses’ backs. The craze after that has been CWD. I have heard also about the problem for the horse with the recessed stirrup bars. Take it with a grain of salt since I have not owned a Devoucoux myself. I did however buy a different foam-flocked saddle which was again perfect for me but ended up being terrible for my horse. I would not buy another foam-flocked saddle.
[QUOTE=eventrider;3112854]
I am having serious problems with my Devoucoux because it does not fit any of my horses, and fits the horse it was made for the worst.[/QUOTE]
Christan, did you ever get this whole ordeal worked out???
WHY if it fits so great, are you using a sheepskin half pad? Why not just a baby pad??? Sounds like the saddle is too wide.
[QUOTE=EventMore;3992793]
Albion and Black Country are wool flocked and great fit and quality, but the balance point of the seat is too far back for all but the longest-legged riders, so save your time unless you’re tall.[/QUOTE]
I definitely disagree with this sentiment :winkgrin: I have an Albion Original Comfort dressage saddle (short flap) AND a brand new Black Country Quantum. I have SHORT STUMPY legs. I’m 5’1" on a very good day. And did I mention I’m stumpy? These saddles fit me and my horse very very well.
(And I definitely would not consider myself long from hip to knee - the majority of my leg length is from my knee to foot…exact opposite of what a rider SHOULD be :lol:).
I think the best way to determine saddle fit is to actually SIT in the saddle you intend to buy!
I didn’t get through this entire thread, but I had seen a thread here not too long ago on how difficult reps for the company had been to deal with, which shocked me especially when I found out how incredibly expensive they are. OP, I’d check out the thread I’m referring to (do a search) before investing.
