Hi! So, I’m interested in getting a used CWD as my first saddle.
I was wondering if anyone could tell me the general price range that CWD’s run on the used market if I were to try saddles directly from the company.
Also, any complaints about the brand?
(I originally wanted to go with Antares since the owner of the barn I ride at is sponsored, but after doing some outside research and hearing about a lot of bad experiences through users on COTH, I decided against it.)
I wouldn’t pick just one brand, try a few before picking one. There are a few brands that all run around the same pricerange for used ($1500-$3500 depending on style and age).
CWD, Bruno Delgrange, and Voltaire are all more “current” brands that have been reported to have excellent customer service and more updated styles.
Theres about 10000 saddles available, but if you like CWD I wouldn’t hesitate to keep those other brands in mind if they come up at a reasonable price. All of them I believe are of good quality and have a good customer service should you need it.
Right, that’s a good idea to keep in mind.
I have ridden in several Antares, and a couple CWD’s and one Bruno Delgrange. When I was first figuring out the company I wanted to order from, I called both Antares and BD. Antares rep in my area was quick to respond to emails and such while BD on the other hand never returned my calls when they said they would do some research into what I wanted as a saddle. I’m trying to take the quick route to getting a saddle since I’ve gone 6+ months without one. Riding in schooling saddles is really getting old, especially when you can’t equitate right.
Currently, I’m in the process of selling an Antares which my mother bought me that ended up not working. I’ll probably get $2,000 out of it and then go from there…
All I can say is I cannot wait to be riding in something comfy that doesn’t give me the rubs or make me feel unbalanced and my leg not on.
[QUOTE=SquishTheBunny;7421182]
I wouldn’t pick just one brand, try a few before picking one. There are a few brands that all run around the same pricerange for used ($1500-$3500 depending on style and age).
CWD, Bruno Delgrange, and Voltaire are all more “current” brands that have been reported to have excellent customer service and more updated styles.
Theres about 10000 saddles available, but if you like CWD I wouldn’t hesitate to keep those other brands in mind if they come up at a reasonable price. All of them I believe are of good quality and have a good customer service should you need it.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=anyanicholson;7421173]
I was wondering if anyone could tell me the general price range that CWD’s run on the used market if I were to try saddles directly from the company.[/QUOTE]
CWD Used “Store” - it is either reasonably up to date or not at all :lol: depending on who you believe
Also, any complaints about the brand?
About the same as any saddle company - none are perfect for every body every time 
Antares may have gotten some bad rap stories on COTH but I know some pretty awful CWD stories too <shrug>
You need to just ride in the saddles - start making that happen :yes:
Saddles fit every horse and rider differently. I would be hesitant to spend that kind of money unless I rode one horse and knew who it was going to be. I tried all types of saddles on my OTTB and finally found one that was not a popular brand but fit us both very well… I would try everything I could get my hands on. I have a L’Apogee jump saddle and a Passier dressage saddle… Different horses and different saddles… The one thing I have learned is that I will never buy a saddle with foam flocking again. The lack of adjustment capability of the foam vs the wool is a winner for us. Our Passier came with another horse and because it could be strip flocked it worked for our current guy if not I would have had to buy a new saddle as my jump saddle no longer fit and there was no way to adjust it. I tried having the panels replaced to wool and that was a fiasco… So I had the original foam ones put back on…now it sits on a nice saddle rack at my house…JMHO
I agree with that! Definitely trying to ride in different saddles. Like I said in an earlier reply I’ve ridden in several Antares, a couple CWD’s and one BD which I can barely remember.
I have yet to contact reps from different companies to come out so that I can be fitted and find out what I like from each company.
The main reason why I haven’t scheduled any appointments with reps is because I’m selling a saddle right now and I want to have the money before I start trying saddles in case I find something that first me perfect.
On the subject of fitting horses: I don’t own so I’ve been told by a lot of people to invest in a Pro-Panel.
[QUOTE=ivy62;7421381]
Saddles fit every horse and rider differently. I would be hesitant to spend that kind of money unless I rode one horse and knew who it was going to be. I tried all types of saddles on my OTTB and finally found one that was not a popular brand but fit us both very well… I would try everything I could get my hands on. I have a L’Apogee jump saddle and a Passier dressage saddle… Different horses and different saddles… The one thing I have learned is that I will never buy a saddle with foam flocking again. The lack of adjustment capability of the foam vs the wool is a winner for us. Our Passier came with another horse and because it could be strip flocked it worked for our current guy if not I would have had to buy a new saddle as my jump saddle no longer fit and there was no way to adjust it. I tried having the panels replaced to wool and that was a fiasco… So I had the original foam ones put back on…now it sits on a nice saddle rack at my house…JMHO[/QUOTE]
A couple of things to note … if you want to buy new with most of the big name french saddles, you can generally trade in your used saddle for a credit toward the new saddle - and it might be more than 2,000 depending on the age and shape of your Antares.
A good used CWD will likely run you from $2,700 to $3,300. Another saddle you might want to look at is Devacoux. My experience with both is they are comparably priced and the Devacoux tend to have a deeper seat (depends on the model).
Reviews of the companies … I recently purchased a new CWD (it arrived a couple of weeks ago). When it arrived I was concerned about the fit - particularly as it was a custom saddle, but I jumped in it for the first time today (albeit fairly low) and am really pleased! My horse seems to be moving well, and, eventhough it has a really flat seat, I felt totally secure. On top of that, CWD has been really good in dealing with my concerns, going so far as to ship a stamping kit to Ocala so that the saddle fitter can put the correct stamp on my saddle when I get down there in March.
Like Alto says, there are good and bad reports about EVERY company. For me CWD was good whereas the initial calls with Devacoux and Voltaire were a bust.
Like a few other people said if your going to spend that much money on a CWD you definently need to bring out a saddle fitter. My CWD was $3,500 and I absolutely love it! When I first got my saddle I was riding one horse mainly but sometimes rode others so make sure you worry about how it fits you more than the horses you ride because you could always move barns if something happened or new horses can come. Luckily enough I ended up leasing the horse I usally rode and he was one of those horses who almost all saddles fit him, so I was in luck but I really like CWD and I have never had a problem with mine and I’ve had it for almost 4 years and it still looks brand new due to my obsessive cleaning.
I just sold a 2006 CWD for 1600… had to fire sale it privately because i needed the cash to buy a new one, which i found for 2500 (a 2011 CWD). You can get them less if they are older. I just bought one with pro panels and i will say it’s the only saddle of a dozen that we tried, to fit our horse. Very happy with it!
I would contact a few good saddle reps and have them come out to fit you and your horse - even if you don’t plan on buying new; sometimes they have demos for sale or could make you a good deal on a new one that you could afford with a trade in.
The saddle brand really depends on how you like your saddle to feel and how your horse is built.
I think the saddles to keep in mind to try are:
CWD
Butet
Devacoux
Voltair
Tad Coffin
Meyer
Comments based on my personal trials and horses:
Butet- I have ridden in other riders saddles and found the seat and twist to be one of the most comfortable saddles I have ever sat in. They run narrow for the horse. I purchased one and how it was a lovely saddle; with one of my growing horses it got too narrow for him and I sold it.
CWD - I have also ridden in other riders saddles and they are very balanced saddles. I purchased one and it fit my big horse really well. It was fitting my current horses but they both grew out of it. It’s such a beautiful saddle I don’t want to sell it but I wont use it. The CWD leather is quality - I have the full calf and looks brand new after 6 years of use. I do think compared to other saddles they can be a bit heavy.
Votair - I demoed a few and was surprised I didn’t like the feel. A wide twist and the stitching was a bit cheap looking.
Devoucoux - Great saddles. I have ridden in other riders saddles and had a rep come out. Almost bought one. Rides similar to the Butet if you like a narrow twist. Butet is a bit more cushy in the seat which I appreciate.
Tad Coffin - Ridden in other riders saddles. I think they are very nice. I have ridden in older ones so they were a bit hard and flat. But I’m okay with that. They have been around for years and have upgraded with the French saddle market going on.
Meyer - I have to mention this one because after a lot of saddle shopping this saddle is excellent for the very wide back/spined horses. The leather is soft and grippy. Twist is perfect and I love the balance. The first day I sat in it it felt broke in already.
County - I have seen them at horse shows. Never ridden in one. They looked kind of big/bulky to me. But probably because I like a smaller, lighter saddle.
I’m sure there are more companies but these are the ones I have seen at horse shows.
And if you read any threads here about saddle shopping; it usually is not always an easy event.
Thread is two years old and I’m pretty sure the OP quit riding and went to college.
lol I didn’t see that
[QUOTE=Mayaty02;8729122]
lol I didn’t see that[/QUOTE]
HA HA HA - I didn’t either. Oops.
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