Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

Saddle Similarities (Devoucoux Socoa)

Hunter/Jumper
#1

I recently sold my Devoucoux Oldara which I loved but it shoved my leg so far forward that it became useless for my position on a majority of the horses that I rode. The Devoucoux rep suggested the Socoa for me originally but I politely declined :lol: well fast forward to present day and i’m kicking myself for that. I’m shopping for a Socoa now, used of course because $5,500.00 isn’t in my budget, so I have several questions.

  • Are there any saddles that ride and feel similar to the Socoa?

  • How does the Biarritz compare to the Socoa?

  • How does the Oldara compare to the Socoa?

#2

Why don’t you ask your rep these questions while trying some used saddles. Your Devoucoux rep should have lots of used models for you to try. No matter what people tell you about the differences between models, you really need to ride in them yourself to make a decision.

#3

Well… I know that people on here hate Toulouse saddles, but the Denice is built on the Dev. Socoa model. I’ve had both and the ride is the same.

#4

The SE 02 model of the CWD with a flat seat is built very similarly to the Socoa.

#5

A used Socoa maybe? Or, try to adjust your Oldara. I had a Socoa for quite a while, and I liked it, but the twist was too narrow for me and I was fighting being tipped forward, due to lack of inner thigh support. I have flat, man like, inner thighs. Then I moved to an Oldara…better twist, but, like you, it put me in just a liittle bit of a chair seat, because the stirrup bars were too far foward. I wound some vet wrap around the front of the stirrup bars, to push the leather back about 1/3". Voila, no more chair seat. I’ve been riding in this Oldara for several years now and I’ve learned when it’s time to renew the vet wrap…when I start having trouble standing in the stirrups without fighting balance at all.

#6

Any other suggestions? Tried the M. Toulouse, it’s an option. Would love to see if anyone has any other suggestions for saddles similar to the Devoucoux Socoa. The goal is to find a used Socoa of course but I already have two Devoucoux’s that I can’t let go, so I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on something used.

#7

[QUOTE=riot;7841139]
Any other suggestions? Tried the M. Toulouse, it’s an option. Would love to see if anyone has any other suggestions for saddles similar to the Devoucoux Socoa. The goal is to find a used Socoa of course but I already have two Devoucoux’s that I can’t let go, so I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on something used.[/QUOTE]

MD Tack Exchange always has a decent selection

High End Used Saddles - talk to Cori & find out what’s coming in

Fine Used Saddles

I Sell Tack, all of CWD, Voltaire, Dev etc have used saddles :slight_smile:
Just start riding in saddles that seem likely to fit horse & you.
Talk to Running Fox about Childeric

#8

CWD has a few:

http://used.cwdsellier.com/saddle/

I ride one horse in a Socoa, and the other in an Amerigo CC. I feel like they have a very same ride to them, but VERY different fit for the horse (which is why each horse has their own saddle).

#9

[QUOTE=HunterMolly;7743766]
The SE 02 model of the CWD with a flat seat is built very similarly to the Socoa.[/QUOTE]

The SE 02 is the semi deep seat. The SE01 is considered the flat seat, and the new SE03 is the flattest.

#10

[QUOTE=Credosporthorses;7841632]
The SE 02 is the semi deep seat. The SE01 is considered the flat seat, and the new SE03 is the flattest.[/QUOTE]

Hmmm… That’s not what my rep told me. Interesting!

#11

[QUOTE=HunterMolly;7841933]
Hmmm… That’s not what my rep told me. Interesting![/QUOTE]

I don’t know whose rep told you that, but the CWD website calls the SE01 the h/j flat seat, the SE02 the semi-deep seat, and the SE03 the flat seat CC, and you can see the difference in the pictures. http://cwdsellier.com/boutique/saddle I own an SE01 and tried a demo of the SE02, and the SE02 is definitely their semi-deep seat.

To the OP, I second the suggestion of trying some demos or used saddles as you won’t really know for sure unless you sit in it on your horse that you will be using it on. People’s impressions are very different, and it is so much of a personal preference kind of thing.

#12

Sent you a pm, I have a socoa for sale.

#13

I bought a Socoa to replace my CWD SEO2 because I needed to have a wide tree. I would say that they have a similar feel, but I like the Socoa better. My leg was a little far forward in the CWD, but is right where it needs to be in the Devoucoux. I tried the Oldara and Biarritz as well, but the Socoa was clearly the best fit. It is probably most comparable to the SEO1 with the flatter seat.

bluesaddles is a used high end saddle dealer and I saw quite a few Socoas on their site.

#14

Im considering this saddle but cannot understand for the life of me the CWD codes. I have a general idea I suppose.

SE01 - 18 T C 3 L
PA 715
205
305
07 12 30

So i’m understanding his is one of the flatter seats but thats about all. I see a L in there as well, perhaps this means “Long” but how long is a 3L?

#15

[QUOTE=riot;7849396]
Im considering this saddle but cannot understand for the life of me the CWD codes. I have a general idea I suppose.

SE01 - 18 T C 3 L
PA 715
205
305
07 12 30

So i’m understanding his is one of the flatter seats but thats about all. I see a L in there as well, perhaps this means “Long” but how long is a 3L?[/QUOTE]

3L means long and not very forward flaps. Usually they measure between 14 and 15" long, but vary by saddle so you should see what this one measures. In comparison, 2 flaps are considered “regular” and usually measure between 13" and 14" long.

If you need a forward flap, then you would need a C flap (with a 2 or 3 depending on how long you need the flap to be)

And FYI, the bottom number is the serial number and the 07 = 2007.

#16

Tried the saddle today … of course it’s not the right match. I never thought finding a 18" Socoa would be so hard!

#17

Could you put a photo up of how you vet wrap to put your stirrup leathers further back? Thanks!

#18

I have a Biarritz, and the main difference I felt betweeen it and the Socoa is that the Socoa has a much narrower twist. I have an old hip injury, and the slightly wider twist of the Biarritz helped stabilize me. But it otherwise has a nice, minimal feel while still being very secure feeling too. Small knee and thigh blocks.

If you’re okay with an older saddle, you can find a used Devoucoux for a reasonable price. Mine is maybe 15 years old and was around $1200 if I remember correctly. I had to wait a while because I needed a very long flap, but finally found one. The seat had been repaired but you can’t see that when sitting in the saddle.

I much prefer a used high end saddle to a lesser quality new saddle.

1 Like
#19

I love the Socoa. I have small thighs and my horse hollows out right behind the wither, so the narrow twist helps keep my leg close. I also tried the Biarritz. The Biarritz was so secure, but the twist and seat are wider and takes my leg away from the horse.

I am desperate to find a Socoa 16.5 flap 1, if anyone has seen it for sale. Or what model replaced the Socoa?

#20

I have one. PM me. Biarritz S Replaced the socoa

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $29.99 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse