I have an older Devoucoux Biarritz (~15 years?) that I bought used last year and I love it. It has a wonderful balance and has a really close contact feel - just a small knee and thigh block, but you really feel down around the horse.
I’ve had good luck with it fitting a variety of horses quite well.
I’ve also ridden in the Socoa and also like that one; if I remember correctly, perhaps had a narrower twist and flatter seat.
I’ve owned a lot of saddles and ridden in many times more, and my Devoucoux is my favorite by far. I’ve ridden in a friend’s new Antares, and while I liked it, I didn’t like it as much as my Devoucoux as it didn’t sit me down and around as much.
But at the end of the day, saddles are really about personal preference and individual fit, so you’ll really have to try them for yourself!
I recommend trying different models (if you have a rep in the area, it’s an easy way to do that) as well as different years. My 15 year old Biarritz is a bit different than my friend’s 10 year old Biarritz which is different than the new ones.
[QUOTE=TatteredDaydreamer;8956181]
Also interested in knowing which flap configuration I need to look for if looking for short/forward?[/QUOTE]
Hate to say it, but there’s no way to tell you what flap configuration will fit your leg. You’ll just have to try some and see. See what you can find and then go from there. If a regular flap is too long, try a short. Etc.
[QUOTE=EmilyM;8956578]I had the worst experience with Devocoux
they came to fit me and the horse
the saddle arrived several weeks later. too big for both of us. when he put his head down for grass, the saddle popped up in the back. they told me this is normal. i had never before seen nor have i have since seen such a thing.
i hated the saddle and asked them to take it back. they took $700 out of the refund. i guess that was my 2 week lease fee.
never again[/QUOTE]
This has nothing to do with the actual saddles and everything to do with your rep/saddle fitter. I personally know an Antares saddle rep who became a saddle rep on a whim. She has no business fitting saddles to people, much less horses, and I’ve heard her say things that are just plain wrong (Ie. “Oh we won’t fit this to the pony, that doesn’t matter.”:eek:) Sounds like you had a bad rep who didn’t fit the saddle well, and unfortunately, there’s bad saddle reps in every saddle brand - I’ve run across saddle reps who incorrectly fit saddles many, many times. It’s much better to work with a true saddle fitter who isn’t associated with a brand. The independent saddle fitter will put you in the saddle that works for you and your horse, regardless of brand. Brand-affiliated reps are more concerned with getting you into their own saddles, and while there are some good ones, many have no business being saddle reps.
