I’m looking into an Equipe Ecarbon saddle. I don’t know much about the brand other than they’re comparable to all of the high end French brands but a lot cheaper. Do any of you have experience with the brand because I do love the look of their saddles!
Does anyone know anything about price or ease of getting a saddle since I don’t believe they have any reps in the US.
Thanks anyone for their imput 
http://www.tackcollection.com/forthehorse/saddles/equipe-e-carbon-26k
It appears this company carries them. They are in Colorado
Also in Texas - http://saddlestoreonline.com/saddles/
[QUOTE=gk1123;7418459]
I’m looking into an Equipe Ecarbon saddle. I don’t know much about the brand other than they’re comparable to all of the high end French brands but a lot cheaper. Do any of you have experience with the brand because I do love the look of their saddles![/QUOTE]
They’re actually more comparable to the Italian brands, particularly Amerigo. They’re even built in the same factory as Amerigo, but they are definitely a separate brand being built to different specs, and much of the Equipe tack has foam panels whereas Amerigo has synthetic wool flocking. The Equipe designs do tend to kind of lean in the French direction, but they’re recognizably Italian saddles.
In terms of quality, Equipe builds at three quality tiers. Their most popular products in the US, the Equipe Expression and Equipe Grand Prix, are built to a mid-range standard (to retail around MSRP $2500-$2800). The Equipe E-Carbon is a much nicer high-end product, more comparable to an Amerigo or CWD, and retails around $5000.
Be warned that Equipe brand has very low visibility on the US market, and the people who have heard about it are generally going to associate it with those mid-range products. For that reason, I would not envy someone trying to resell an Equipe E-Carbon on the US market. You would be able to do it, but you might really eat your hat in depreciation costs. Considering that’s a $5000 saddle, a used CWD 2G at roughly $4000-$4200 might be the better investment since that’s an easy resale on the US market. You might also consider shopping for your Equipe in Canada, where the brand has a slightly bigger presence.
I will hold my tongue re: cautions and advice when buying a carbon-fiber saddle, except to say that it’s not a technology I’d recommend buying until you’ve tried it on the specific horse you intend to use it with. Let’s just say that these very high-end carbon fiber trees, like the ones being used by CWD and Equipe, transmit the rider’s aids to the horse in “high fidelity.” They were really designed for pro, high-level riders who can only stand to benefit from that additional level of communication + an additional layer of movement freedom for their horses. But I’ve seen some horses become very fussy or “hot” in a carbon fiber tree because they’re frustrated with all the rider’s noise. (And to be fair, I’ve seen some horses who don’t really care either way; they go the same no matter what the tree is made of.) But the point is, you really should try it before you buy it, and you should try it “for real,” not just mincing around the ring at a light walk/trot with a brand-new saddle that the vendor is afraid you’ll scratch. This is another great reason to go with something like the CWD 2G, where you could really test-drive. JMHO of course.
I have an Equipe Extreme and have been very happy with it. The leather is great, and has much better grip than the smooth leather you see on some saddle brands. I would agree that it’s more Italian than French though - mine doesn’t have an overly curvy tree and the blocks are smaller than the model you mentioned, and the flap a bit less forward.
Their distribution model is through the tack shops for the most part, as you mentioned - Malvern Saddlery has them, and a handful of others.
I have an Equipe Grand Prix, and love it. I have the grain leather, and it’s still super soft and grippy.
They come in 4 ranges - the Emporio saddle, which is their entry level/cheaper saddle (all relative - still ~$2000 I think), the Theoreme line (the Expression fits in here, I believe. It retails for $2000-$2500 in Canada), the Platinum line, and the e-Carbon line. The Grand Prix is part of the Platinum line, and retails for ~$4000 (in Canada).
I ordered through a rep up here. I ordered in May, and it arrived in July. I agree with many of the comments above - the tree (on mine at least) isn’t very curvy. However, we tried a few different models on my horse, and some of them were definitely curvier.
There are definitely a few reps up in Canada.
I know of someone who just go one and she is in love. She got the eCarbon in buffalo leather, it is quite the beauty 
I can’t comment on the curviness of the tree, however I can say it fit her warmblood very nicely. If you tried it on first before you buy and are willing to fork out the cash id say go for it (:
About 2+ years ago I bought a brand new Equipe Extreme saddle from a store in New York State for $1,995.00. I had ridden in one before and loved it, so I knew something about the brand already. I can honestly say it has not in any way disappointed me. The quality is every inch as good as my Childeric, and the leather is holding up better. I love the saddle, and so does everyone who has ridden in it.
I looked on eBay when I saw this thread to see if that tack shop was still selling them. I saw a store in Canada with the same price on the same saddle and it was their last one in stock. Not sure why the price was so low, but definitely the best buy I could’ve ever made. The ones I see at Malverns are selling for $4200 or so.
I have an Equipe ECarbon and really like it. It is a super close contact feel and the leather is gorgeous. I would compare it to a Premium Butet in style/fit. As noted, though, price wise they are about the same as a Butet as well.
I had heard that Charlotte rode in the Emporio, but am not sure. Anyway, I’ve had mine over a year now and just love it. ??
I had heard that Charlotte rode in the Emporio, but am not sure. Anyway, I’ve had mine over a year now and just love it. ???
Sorry!! Can’t delet my post!
Sorry…old thread, and I can’t delete my posts!
I just rode in an Equipe dressage saddle (don’t know the model=monoflap) for the first time and was super impressed. Is there a rep on the US west coast? i have a really wide horse so don’t want to buy without assessment.
Thanks!
Any current comments on the Equipe Saddles? They have a new one out the California?
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