What are your experiences?
Which model do you have?
What do you love about it? Dislike about it?
How does it fit your horse? Fairly true to size?
How is the quality?
Thanks in advance! 
We just bought one, a Palm Beach demo model. My husband had been looking for an upgrade from his current saddle, and we made the mistake of sitting in the Voltaires at their booth at the Royal. 
It truly fits as though it was built for him, and his horse is very happy under it as well - we lucked out! I would say the saddle is true to size, and seems to be very good quality. I was very happy to get the demo model, as itās very nicely broken in (it was being used by the repās barn) and shows a bit of āgoodā wear. Itās nice to know itās been well used and the flaps didnāt fall off or something, and the demo price was a nice break as well.
I should also add that the Canadian rep was great to work with - he didnāt know my husband and I from a hole in the ground, but was happy to let us take the saddle home to ride in, then return later in the week to finalize the sale. They made it a very pleasant experience!
I have the Palm Beach (I use for Hunters), Stuttgart (I use for Jumpers), and the Adelaide (Dressage saddle) as well. My friend has the Lexington (mono flap) and she events. I am a total convert!
The tree design is unique to Voltaire, and makes every horse Iāve put my saddle on VERY happy! It fits a range of horses as well. Iāve yet to meet a horse who didnāt like a Voltaire saddle. Very true to size in my opinion.
Iāve had my Palm Beach the longest and once it gorgeously broke in, it stayed that way. I know a few years ago people didnāt like the short longevity of the leather - but I believe that issue is resolved based on how my PB is doing. I ride 2-3 horses 3-4x/week in that saddle and itās doing great! If you maintain cleaning and greasing the saddle as needed it almost feels new!
PS - The stirrup leathers are to die for as wellā¦ worth the splurge
THank you!!
I have owned two Palm Beach saddles and loved them both. The first was a 2010 model in Buffalo/grain leather and the second a full buffalo 2013 second skin model. Both awesome saddles. I found them to sit a bit small, which was the only reason I upgraded. Their buffalo leathery is to die for and the saddle made riding feel effortless. The horses liked it too. If the saddle would have fit my new horse, you never could have gotten me to part with it. The new guy is looking like he needs more of a hoop tree shape, otherwise Iād still have it.
I currently own a Palm Beach Second Skin and am in the process of upgrading to a 2015 model.
I was not in the market for a saddle when I tried my first one in 2012 but when I sat in it, I knew I was in trouble. It does indeed make my riding feel effortless and my āprincess and the peaā of a horse has loved it since day one.
It really is so subjective, saddles. It depends on you, your horse, so many things.
Quality wise - my saddle looks great for being three years old. I take care of it regularly but not religiously. Leather is soft and beautiful.
I would agree that they may run a tad small like Devoucouxs do but that might depend on the model.
But the customer service is really second to none with Voltaire in my experience. Which makes it easy to be a repeat customer as well as actively endorse their productā¦
Love Voltaire saddles! The lease I had over the summer had a Palm Beach made to fit her so I got to ride in one for a few months. It was buffalo hide and the most comfortable thing Iāve ever sat in. The buffalo hide is slightly grippy and really made me feel secure in the tack and the flaps are thin enough that you get an awesome feel but still provide great support for your leg. Several people at my barn ride in one and they all love them. Maybe one day Iāll be able to afford my ownā¦
I got a full buffalo Palm Beach delivered to me in April. I love it so much I named it. My rep was fantastic. I feel like its held up well to the level of riding I do (2-3 a day) and I havenāt had to baby it, but I do take care of it. My only regret is that I didnāt try the Calgary before buying b/c I think I might have loved the flatter seat a smidge more.
My horses seem to love the saddle as well and I have a diverse bunch. I feel like the saddle has been versatile fit wise with the right padding.
I rode in a Palm Beach and loved it. Unfortunately when a friendās came up for sale and I sat it on my horses, petite TBs, the second skin pro panels bridged and stuck out to the side like wings instead of molding around like my fits-anything wool-stuffed Smith Worthington does. I didnāt even ride them in it the fit was so bad. It is a lovely saddle if you ride big round flat WB-backed types, I wish it would have fit my ponies!
Iāve got a calf and grain custom 2014 Palm Beach. Love my saddle. My only regret is not splurging on full calf or full buffalo. I LOVE the stickiness.
I got a 17 seat and sort of wish I got an 17.5 instead. My rep in California is named Bertrand and he was great to work with.
I got my palm beach second skin last year and I love it! I was not shopping for a new saddle, but when the rep came through our barn I asked to ride in the demo, after about ten minutes i was convinced! the only thing that sucked was waiting for it to come! I just couldnāt get it fast enough! Love love love!
Small Change, you guys must have taken home the demo that I sat in! They told me I could take it home to try, and when I came to pick it up they said it had just been sold and the man was going to get his credit card. I was super bummed but glad I got to sit in a Voltaire finally! They are just as lovely as I thought they would be.
Now Iām keeping my eye out for a Palm Beach with the same seat/flap. I wish they were easier to find up here so I could try one on my horse.
I have a calf and grain 2012 Calgary that I got in demo condition from CWD. I really like how its very close contact but still gives you that soft cushy feel. And I love how it fits my hard to fit, high withered but big shouldered TB. I got an 18" because it was basically what I was looking for and a really good deal, but I think I would have preferred at 17.5". I think Voltaire saddles do run a little small, but I was previously riding in a 17" Antares. But the 18" doesnāt feel all that big, actually.
I made the big switch over from my Stubben Roxanne. Donāt get me wrong I liked the Stubben, but as my horse changed shaped the saddle more and more started placing me in a back seat that I started to fight the saddle just to get into two-point (It usually wonā¦)
I got a used 2013 Palm Beach, that is calf and has the second skin, in July. A couple people at the barn had them and raved about them, but I knew that if I say in something so nice I would want one and my affordability range wasnāt really there yet. But I decided to give it a shot, fell in love, found a great place that has some GREAT deals on used Voltaires and went for it. BEST DECISION EVER!
I have a high withered TB that has dips behind his shoulders. Its really hard to fit him and usually have to find pads/half pads that make it fit better but not ideal. This saddle was perfect. The fitter gave it above average fit which I was shocked about. It had extra paneling just behind the shoulders to fill in the area and ensure fit. It also came with a reinforced tree for his withers. I ended up getting an 18" and fits perfectly.
Itās a great saddle and I love it and my horse loves it. The best part is that should I get a new horse down the road, the panels can be replaced to fit the next horse and considering what the saddle cost $900 for a panel replacement isnāt too terrible.
If your looking for used, be sure to check out frenchusedsaddles.com !!
Ok, can someone explain what the āsecond skinā is?
I thought it had something to do with the leather, but it refers to the āpro panelsā?
I bought a used (only 6 mos. old at the time) Palm Beach, full buffalo, second skin from the Voltaire rep about 1.5 years ago. I love it. Its lovely, beautifully made, and so comfortable to sit in! Fits my horse well. Our trainers ride in them, as do many girls at the barn.
[QUOTE=Gorgonzola;7874187]
Ok, can someone explain what the āsecond skinā is?
I thought it had something to do with the leather, but it refers to the āpro panelsā?
[/QUOTE]
The āsecond skinā is a very thin panel under the flap (where the billet is), it allows you to feel your horse better than a regular thickness panel, or is supposed to. I donāt ride a ton (2-3X a week with 5-6 shows a year), so no worries about it wearing out (and its made to be replaceable if needed) and I do think it helped me with feel. Hope that helps 
For those of you who think they run a bit smallā¦does that mean you feel like the stirrup leather puts your leg a bit behind you due to the relationship of the bar and the deepest part of the seat? Thanks, fg
[QUOTE=farmgirl;7874340]
For those of you who think they run a bit smallā¦does that mean you feel like the stirrup leather puts your leg a bit behind you due to the relationship of the bar and the deepest part of the seat? Thanks, fg[/QUOTE]
My butt just had a bit more room and I could move a bit more freely in the 18 v the 17.5. Both felt pretty good, the 18 just felt a little better and looked a bit better aesthetics wise.
