Does anyone ride in a Hermes saddle? Thoughts? Particularly looking at the Vivace model. Looking for all and any information!
Tall, slim rider with narrow hips and long femurs. Horse is a flat backed WB with longer wither and big shoulders. Typical jumper really!
I had one made for my horse. The leather quality is gorgeous of course and they did a great job fitting it to him. That said, he had a pretty easy to fit back.
I would say though for a long wither and big shoulders, I would feel less confident it their saddles would fit the horse. They don’t have a lot of tree options and you’re going to want that for a long withers. You might have more success with an Amerigo, Renaissance or gosh, the anti-Hermes, a Stubben?
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piggy backing here. I’m thinking about pulling the trigger on a Vivace. Similar build to Bella. I struggle with the feeling and fit that many saddles come in now (Voltaire, Antares etc). They feel too bulky and put me in what I would describe as a chair position. I like the close contact feel of the older saddles, you could feel the horse, and had to have strong legs to keep a correct position.
How does the Hermes stack up for people who like that feeling? Any insights?
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They still feel amazing if you like that feel.
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This is exactly what I am seeking also!
Greys, are the tree points long or short do you know?
I was interested because they’re one of few saddle makers left in that style for the rider that actually have several tree options. Couldn’t get anyone to call me back, sadly, but they’re about as custom as you can get in that genre for horse fit.
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Several years ago, I tried Hermes. The fitter was spectacular. He had a demo that worked well for both my horse and me. I tried to buy it, but he couldn’t sell it. He used the gadget that took something like 98 measurements. The new saddle came in and did not fit either my horse or me. He looked at it and said “Hmmm… I told them I needed a saddle to fit a petite woman and a big shouldered horse; they sent me this???” He gave me a choice between money back or another try at the saddle. I asked for my money back.
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I feel like the markup on Hermes saddles seems way lower than the markup on the handbags and the (lol) saddle soap, and I wonder if that is because they are making the saddles a (comparatively! relatively!) good value or because all the other saddles are insanely overpriced?
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I think all saddles these days are criminally overpriced for the leather quality and “customization” realistically available. Hermes does seem to actually have handmade saddles with exceptional leather quality, which is why I’m not mad at their pricing.
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This was my feeling too. Compared to the markup on other goods, it’s quite good value and the service is great. @bella I believe the tree points were short.
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I think Antarès is the next closest. I know off hand there’s at least 3 different tree shapes (from flat to curved), and trees from narrow to extra wide I believe. My rep says the leather comes from the same tannery as Hermes, too.
The Hermes saddles are beautiful, but I assume the pricing is ridiculous…
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Yes–love them. The newer saddles are a little wider in the back and probably more suitable for a modern warmblood. For TBs with real withers, I go for the older/truly old school Steinkraus type models. I have not yet figured out–if you were buying new–what you would ask for for a TB with big withers. But that should not be an issue for you. Very comfortable from the get-go and I am built like you described
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Thank you Greys!
I’m currently in a Voltaire Palm Beach which is lovely to ride in but it just feels too bulky though the hips on a big horse like my tank of a fellow
I have a Voltaire Palm Beach as well, but prefer the Hermes in general. The Voltaire fits my TBs a little better than the newer Hermes though. I would generally choose the newer Hermes for the warmbloods in my barn
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Comparable to most new French saddles. Maybe 1000 more? Which I felt was fair for the leather quality and more customization. Less than the top level CWD.
Bending, im specifically interested in the Vivace saddle, which I think is one of the newer models? I prefer contact and freedom rather than deep and supportive like many French brands
Yes, I like a true close contact–I don’t like a lot of the other brands because they are built more like “all purpose” saddles when I was a kid. The Hermes are true close contact IME
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Don’t forget the square pads for $600. 
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Amerigo with a long iron head (I have a TB with big withers).
Harry Dabbs does fit well too. I just felt better balanced in the Amerigo vs. the Harry Dabbs. TBF, Harry Dabbs will go out of their way to customize. Maybe if I’d been able to ride in a demo saddle closer to what I needed fit-wise I would have made a different decision.
