Casually starting my saddle search & I really liked the
M. Toulouse Adriana model that the semi-local tack shop/saddle fitter suggested. I was a bit “star struck” by how the seat felt that I didn’t fully pay attention to all the features of the saddle. I do know it is brand new (first set of saddles finished production September/October 2015) & has 3 billets…a traditional v billet & 2 different options for the front billet. Whichever front billet you are not using is removeable as to be used with a traditional dressage girth. I can’t find the saddle online ANYWHERE & I’ve emailed Intec asking for some info to be sent, but haven’t heard back from them. FWIW, I am rehabbing a sharkfinned OTTB with a medium width back & am not opposed to a used saddle as I fully realize my sub-$2k budget is prohibitive. Just hoping that maybe someone has seen this saddle in person & has more experience than I & would be willing to offer an opinion!
An under $2000 budget can get you a much nicer saddle than a Toulouse.
In my opinion they are total junk. I have had two. The first one was a CC saddle that ended up having a twisted tree. It was a total nightmare to get Toulouse to even look at the saddle. In the end they claimed that the twisted tree was “within their standards for deviations” or some such nonsense. I had saved up for quite some time to get that saddle, and was out the money in the end. After talking to a local saddle shop that deals Toulouse saddles, quality control issues are well known with them, and that particular tack shop inspect every saddle from top to bottom for defects before putting them out on the floor.
The second one was a dressage saddle, I don’t remember which model, one of the ones with the large exposed blocks. I bought it used, but within a few months of owning it the top layer of calfskin had worn through to the bottom layer of cheaper leather. Not impressed at all. I have also had their leathers and they were looking pretty bad after only a couple of weeks of regular use.
I don’t think I am particularly hard on my tack either. My experiences also don’t seem very isolated. Search for Toulouse on this forums and you will find several not glowing reviews.
Have you thought about Stubben? You should be able to find one on ebay easily within your price range, and they tend to work for high withered horses very well.
I had a Toulouse CC saddle years ago right after they first came out. I really liked it–it was my first saddle, was comfortable, and seemed to fit a variety of horses well. I kept it for probably 3-4 years before I switched to dressage and (because they had raised their prices at that point) able to sell it for what I paid for it. However, it seems like their quality has continued to go downhill from then as I have heard nothing but bad things about them recently. Your budget should be able to get you something nice that is used. I bought my Custom Saddlery Solo saddle used (but in great shape) for between $2300-$2500 (I don’t remember exactly) and I love it! My CS rep for my area is independent and has other brands as well, so when I told her what I was looking for and what my budget was, she was able to bring out several for me to try (MUCH easier than ordering one and shipping back and forth until I found one both my horse, trainer, and I liked (; )
take the time to do a search on this board regarding toulouse saddles. i echo draftmare… had the same experience… ran a tack store… had to send back 80% of their stock because of twisted trees, uneven panels, crappy stitching and what we did actually sell was always returned within the month looking as if it had been ridden through a volcano and then dipped in a shark pit… pass, better spend your money elsewhere.
For $2K you can do much better buying used. The used market right now really favors buyers. I see many saddles selling for only slightly more than half of what they were new, so that puts a 4K saddle in the realm of possibility. You may not be able to buy the “trendiest” saddle, but you can get a really good one. I never buy new anymore and I’m riding in some saddles that were very expensive (to begin with) but which I bought for under $1K.
