Saddle Thoughts... M. Toulouse Brand

[JRT_Appy]

Hey Guys…
I recently had to sell my lovely saddle (Butet), because it did NOT fit my horse. I need a new one with a WIDE Tree.
I am looking at this brand and wanted to know if anyone has any insight.
Do you guys have experience with the brand ?
Do any of you guys ride in this Close Contact saddle?

FYI… I need to also make sure it is XL Flaps . I am very Tall.

Any info . Any help would be a big plus here. It seems to be in a great price range and top of the line for affordable saddles. LOL.

THANKS IN ADVANCE…

[mychestnutvalentine]

Lol I have the exact saddle your looking for right now for sale (: message me

[JRT_Appy]

Hi… How do I message you . Help … LOL.

[Dewey]

MToulouse is a brand with widely-varying quality. Look up some older threads on the forum–you’ll see a lot of complaints. If you’re looking for something temporary, and the saddle fits your horse well, it may be a smart move. I bought Toulouse Noelle about 8-9 years ago for my DD when we leased a narrow TB for her for a couple of years. It was a decent little saddle. But in general, people will tell you to steer clear. Lately I’ve read a lot of complaints about lack of quality.

I suggest contacting Smith Worthington. They have a lot of clearance saddles in their store (more than are listed on their site), they will work with you on fit, their quality is excellent, and their models tend to suit long-legged riders.

[Belmont]

I sat in a Toulouse at Dover, and I hated it the moment I sat in it. I felt like my pelvis was being ripped open. I highly suggest sitting in one before committing. I thought I would adore the MT, because so many people around me did. It was nice leather, looked great, and it was cushy. However, that twist was just too much.

[Spud_amp_Saf]

I have used both a Santa Cruz and a Richvale saddle (Candian brands), both of which are made in the same factory/on the same trees as the M. Toulouse brand.

If you can find one used or on clearance, they are not bad saddles for the money. The Santa Cruz Celine is great, versatile saddle with a pretty generous channel and gullet width, and flocked panels, so I’ve had decent success with them on the wider horse types. I have pretty long legs and I am comfortable in a 17.5-18" in these saddles. This site has some really good deals on the MT and Santa Cruz, and you could take advantage of the exchange rate. I buy from them online often and they are great to deal with.

http://www.pleasantridge.ca/index.php/saddles/new-english/close-contact.html

[OTTB2]

You get what you pay for in saddles most of the time. You get your best value in the used middle area IMO. I would never buy a brand new custom devocoux or the other big ticket brands but a gently used right in the middle absolutely. Despite everything I read I tried a devocoux and loved it. I ride my guy, plus others at the barn, plus the polo ponies at my job, and it fits all of them with the standard panel and the equi fit half pad. The limit for pads should be 1 not twenty like you may see. My point of view in the end a saddle that fits costs less than the treatments for a sore back. If I had around 1500-2000 for a saddle I would look for a used rather than a new “store” brand.

[HonestCheater]

I have the Toulouse Maxinne and I’m quite happy with it. Purchased it I believe summer 2013. I feel very stable in it, it’s very grippy and seems to fit a wide range of horses. Sits pretty well balanced on both wide and flat as well as lean and high-withered. When I was on the market for a new saddle, I went to Dover and sat in EVERY saddle they had there. The Maxinne was the only one that put my leg in the right place and I felt balanced in. It’s a hair deeper than I would prefer and I also ended up removing the velcro knee block (it’s got a rather large knee roll and I found the knee block wasn’t doing anything but creating too much bulk for me). Anyway to mimic some other posters, definitely go sit in some saddles and find what works for you. Most of my barn is in used Antares, but Toulouse’s are a close second in how many riders are in them. Personally I haven’t seen any quality issues but apparently some of them do come out less than perfect but I’ve heard they have decent customer service. GOOD LUCK!

[ParadoxFarm]

I’ve had two M. Toulouse saddles, the Annice and Celine. I never had any issues with the quality. I did sell the Annice recently only because it put me in a chair seat. The Celine works much better for me. So, really, it depends on the model as to whether or not it works for you.

[ElementFarm]

I have never owned one, but a barn mate got one 2 years ago and I was not impressed. Since then I’ve seen several and ridden in one. The M. Toulouse seems to be a brand that looks nice and is modeled after some high-end brands, but the leather quality is not good, and the craftsmanship/durability was not impressive.

coming from a Butet, I think you’ll be disappointed. I’d recommend saving for something used and higher end.

[mvspencer]

I saw one where the stitching that held the PANELS and the rest of the saddle together came apart. The panel was flapping around! It didn’t look like it suffered any major accidents or was super used. Just poor workmanship.

I’ve also seen older ones, and the leather gets real hard and slippery. If you are coming from a Butet, I agree that you will be disappointed. Shop high-end, used if you can.

[BigBlackDog]

I have a Premia that fell into my lap. It came without a Genesis tree, watch out for those, they tend to “adjust” themselves. I really like it and the leather is nice and grippy. It’s got a nice cushy seat and the knee rolls/thigh blocks that came with it were the perfect size, not too restricting. The only negative thing I’ve noticed is that my saddle does not like water. At all. If it’s raining when I ride, I immediately have to wipe off my saddle and condition it. But I would try to sit in one for sizing. I ride in a 16.5 with forward/long flap and it’s perfect for me, I was very surprised.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

Good for the interim, but not for long term.

[JRT_Appy]

I am agreeing with OTTB. I am now going to stay clear and search for a higher end saddle in the Used condition. After talking with several Pro’s , they too told me to stay away from them. I know there are several sites out there for good quality used saddles. Now the process. Thanks guys, I love the honest opinions here. !!

[PaintedHunter]

Used to have one, and the stirrup bars were faulty and resulted in a couple unplanned dismounts.

I thought I liked the saddle until I got my used Albion mono flap. I’ll never look back.

[jn1193]

Finding a saddle that’s comfortable for you is a very personal thing. (Which is why I never let one of my students buy a saddle without me going with them to look, getting one that feels the best to them in the store on trial for a week, and watching how they ride in it.)

That said, I’ve been teaching and training for (ack!) more decades that I care to admit on a public forum - and more lessons than I could ever count. By far, the most comfortable and popular of the lesson saddles I own and use is a Toulouse. As a result of riding in this saddle in lessons, more than a few of my students - again over a period of years - have chosen a Toulouse as their own personal saddle.

My recommendation is that you do NOT buy on brand name only. Sit in many saddles - ask your friends or your trainer if you can try theirs. Go to more than one tack shop and sit in as many as you can. Then decide which one(s) to try.

Even if you can only afford a used saddle, make an appointment with a knowledgeable saddle fitter and listen to what they have to say about your position and how a particular model affects that position. They can help you find a used saddle too.

Then confer with your trainer on what he/she sees.

Look, this is a big investment. You’re going to have this saddle for years. So take the time to do it right.

[Lusoluv]

Also, as a saddle fitter and Toulouse (as well as other brands) saddle owner, there are different saddle trees used in different models of Toulouse. Some are well-balanced and some that put you in a chair seat. Choose wisely…

[TequilaMockingbird]

Toulouse saddles have major quality control issues. I bought one brand new with the adjustable tree. The more you widened it the more the angles from the left side to right side didn’t match. Basically one side widened more than the other. I even took tracings of the tree that showed how far off it was. Toulouse refused to replace it, said it was within the “normal deviation range.” I’d ridden in it 10 times.

Your best bet is a higher end used saddle.

[Belmont]

[QUOTE=PaintedHunter;8580578]
Used to have one, and the stirrup bars were faulty and resulted in a couple unplanned dismounts.

I thought I liked the saddle until I got my used Albion mono flap. I’ll never look back.[/QUOTE]

Agree. I bought a used Albion as a last ditch effort after trying just about everything. I never want to sit in anything else.

[butiwantedapony]

I’m riding in a Toulouse Annice at the moment. My horse is terribly difficult to fit as this is working, with some padding, for the moment. I find it comfortable and well balanced. Leather is nice, but there are several areas of loose stitching and I’ll need to invest some money into repairing it to keep it going.