French Saddle recommendations and suggestions please!! UPDATE #55 decision made!

[SquishTheBunny]

I have a devoucoux Biarritz which I adore, calfskin 17". However, I do need an upgrade now and really there are no good devoucoux reps in the area and I have not heard the best things about their customer service.

I am looking for a sturdy saddle, something that wont wear out like the devoucoux did. I have heard buffalo is best for wear, but when I contacted Butet, they said that the calfskin was stronger???

I tried a buffalo Antares, loved the feel of the leather and the seat of the saddle. Not sure I loved the flaps (flatter than the devoucoux).

Pricewise, I am looking to stay around the $5000 range, which is why I tried Antares first because they are a little lower on the pricerange. I am considering other brands though and would love your suggestions! MUST not be grain leather, I need grip. Must have decent size front and back blocks - need something to hold me in lol. In a perfect world, I need a majikal saddle which will hold me in and never let me fall out. I would love to find one that feels like the devoucoux (bigger blocks, keeps me in solid position) but with buffalo.

I do 3’ and on occasion 3’6 hunters.

Saddle would need to be a standard medium tree, as I have 4 horses. Luckily, they all do have fairly similar builds.

Any suggestions on that majikal saddle would be appreciated!!! Also, opinions on calf vs buffalo

[keepthelegend]

Devoucoux makes buffalo leather. I have one and it’s fantastic and a lot of what you describe…I am not going anywhere!

Calf will wear out much quicker and takes more care - no jeans, etc. But it’s softer and breaks in faster.

If you really can’t get past the Devoucoux reps, County makes a good saddle. Antares could also put the blocks in that you need so it felt more secure for you. All of these saddles can be customized just to fit you and your main horse.

[chunky_munky]

Suggest looking into Delgrange.

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=chunky munky;7136800]
Suggest looking into Delgrange.[/QUOTE]

As far as I know, Delgrange does not do Buffalo leather? I am a little concerned with the calfskin leather not lasting long.

[Reminisce]

Love my CWD buffalo saddle. Granted mine is grain/buffalo, but you can customize the block size and knee padding. Lovely saddle, balanced, secure, and sturdy. I’ve heard enoug awful things about Antares I would never buy through them. Buffalo is much tougher than calf.

[SquishTheBunny]

What awful things did you hear about Antares? Just wondering, because the rep I have used was wonderful. I haven’t heard much negative, but then again haven’t been saddle shopping in a long time!

[Go_Fish]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;7136816]
As far as I know, Delgrange does not do Buffalo leather? I am a little concerned with the calfskin leather not lasting long.[/QUOTE]

I have an older Delgrange - maybe 12 years old now? It has a calfskin seat. I only ride in jeans. It’s held up beautifully. It’s just now showing some wear on the pommel.

I can’t say the same for my Tad.

I don’t like the Buffalo…too stiff.

I think Antares are over priced. I sat in a Prestige awhile back…nice saddle.

[Cabaret_SK]

I just bought an Equipe, and I love it - it’s from their Platinum line, so not the top line carbon fiber trees. But it’s gorgeous, soft, grippy, and oh-so comfortable!

[hb625]

Calfskin is prettier, more fashionable, softer and will break in very quickly. But it is more expensive and wears faster.

As for recommendations, all I can say is delgrange delgrange delgrange :yes: I bought an older, originally custom one used and I absolutely ADORE it. I LOVE it. Maybe a little too much not sure about wether or not they make buffalo leather models, but if not and you decide you want something more durable than calfskin, I’d look into doing what I did: look for an older one (not necessarily a stock model) used. Mine is nice, soft leather but it is not calfskin so it wears better.

[pds]

I bought my Devoucoux last year from Vincent. He is a good rep. Great fitting session and delivered as promised.

[SquishTheBunny]

[QUOTE=pds;7136873]
I bought my Devoucoux last year from Vincent. He is a good rep. Great fitting session and delivered as promised.[/QUOTE]

Do you have an email for him? Im not even close to SC, but I would love “my” saddle in buffalo and in 0.5" bigger. Not sure I would need a fitting session?

[supershorty628]

CWD! My saddles both have buffalo seats and grain flaps, they are fantastic! So grippy and they’ve held up really well over the years - aside from a gouge that one has that I put in it with a spur when I was falling off, you’d think they were new.

[EAY]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;7136897]
Do you have an email for him? Im not even close to SC, but I would love “my” saddle in buffalo and in 0.5" bigger. Not sure I would need a fitting session?[/QUOTE]

Sending you a PM.

[Reminisce]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;7136829]
What awful things did you hear about Antares? Just wondering, because the rep I have used was wonderful. I haven’t heard much negative, but then again haven’t been saddle shopping in a long time![/QUOTE]

Good friend had a rep out who was four hours late to the appointment, rep didn’t call to notify and then rushed through the fitting. Other friends saddle had a broken tree, lots of threads on here about Antares and their tree issues and customer service. They are beautiful saddles, but after doing my research before ordering my CWD- there is no way I would do business with them.

[fourfillies]

Love my buffalo Antares. 2007 model has worn like iron. Super sticky. BUT, wouldn’t risk buying another as several barnmates have been left high and dry with expensive “custom” Antares that don’t fit them or their horses and no meaningful recourse. I’m in Southern PA.

[kayteedee]

I have a Delgrange (PJ Light), 2 Prestige’s, a Butet Monoflap, and my old love, my flat-as-a-pancake 1982 Crosby Prix Des Nations. I need to stop buying saddles! Maybe I should sell one. But I love them.

Frankly, I love the Prestige’s best of all. There is something about the deep seat that makes me feel that NOTHING my jumpers can do will shake me loose. Coming from the PDN, I find the Delgrange a little too cushy for me (and it’s grain leather, no less). But the Prestige’s are comfy without being too cushy- one is an older Michel Robert, and the other a Jumper R (pretty much the same saddle but just sold in different markets and in this case, in different years).

Of course the Prestige isn’t French, rather it’s Italian…

[Va2Ga]

I second Vincent he will make sure you get what you want and take care of you. Great rep. I haves many clients that are very happy with him and the saddles. I think EAY probably have you his number if not let me know and I can pass it along. I just ordered my 2nd saddle this week!

[pds]

This is his contact info. Good luck with your saddle search.

Vincent Eddahri
(571) 233-6606 (cell)
v.eddahri@devoucoux.com

[alto]

[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;7136816]
As far as I know, Delgrange does not do Buffalo leather? I am a little concerned with the calfskin leather not lasting long.[/QUOTE]
From their website
Biarritz

Grained leather, calfskin or nubuck style buffalo leather.

Found one Canadian rep that lists the Biarritz at $5500

The Jean Luc Maurel saddles are lovely if you can find a rep (tree can be adjusted on these)

Childeric - definitely have a reputation for wearing better than the Antares etc but I expect you’ve already tried these

CWD - test ride for a couple of weeks to be sure its the saddle for you & your horse

Equipe makes some stunning saddles - Equi-Products in Calgary had the full range

L’Apogee saddles are very nicely made as well - not as well known so the Buffalo comes in at rather less $$ (US): well worth the call :yes:

Definitely try the new Dev saddles - as I recall, they’ve made some structural changes, so don’t assume a new version of your old saddle will fit the same.

[FineAlready]

I had problems with Antares trees breaking (twice in less than 3 years, with no trauma to the saddle at all - the second one snapped while I was walking around on the buckle). The company was not good to deal with. At all.