Trainer is Voltaire “sponsored” and it’s driving me batty

[quarab]

Honestly getting exhausting. Looking for a new saddle for my beastie and it’s been somewhat frustrating. (She’s a short backed cob-y thing that’s quite flat front to back and fairly wide side to side and I’m just picky.) I’ve had a couple fitters out and one rep looking at different brands and whatnot and every freaking time my trainer comes back and suggests I try a Voltaire.

And of course a “custom” Voltaire. I’m not a fan of the french foam things on principle but I also don’t particularly love the feel of them.

Love trainer but this is a thing we disagree on. Honestly easier to smile and nod but please tell me someone else has been here? What kind of death grip does Voltaire have on these trainers??

[CBoylen]

Tbh, I’m not Voltaire sponsored, but their Blue Wing would probably fit your cob.
So, maybe try the Voltaire. If you hate it and it doesn’t fit then you can say you tried. But probably your trainer just likes it and thinks you might too until you directly say otherwise. Stop smiling and nodding and either give it a go or say it doesn’t work for you.

[Scribbler]

Trainers recommending saddles, body workers giving nutrition advice, vets telling you how to ride, nutritionists with ideas about hoof trimming, and the gal in the barn who is an expert on everything because her own horse is constantly limping or collicking. You just have to smile and continue taking advice from the actual experts.

[Bluey]

@quarab

Honestly getting exhausting. Looking for a new saddle for my beastie and it’s been somewhat frustrating. (She’s a short backed cob-y thing that’s quite flat front to back and fairly wide side to side and I’m just picky.) I’ve had a couple fitters out and one rep looking at different brands and whatnot and every freaking time my trainer comes back and suggests I try a Voltaire.

And of course a “custom” Voltaire. I’m not a fan of the french foam things on principle but I also don’t particularly love the feel of them.

Love trainer but this is a thing we disagree on. Honestly easier to smile and nod but please tell me someone else has been here? What kind of death grip does Voltaire have on these trainers??

I had a really nice Bob’s Lady Reiner that was light, prettily hand tooled, fit me and practically all horses like a glove, who would think of trying a different saddle?
Well, my reining trainer was same size, had a Kyle Cicero saddle that fit her best of any and kept saying I should try it.
I didn’t want to try her saddle, why would I, it looked big around, heavier and just not that interesting.
Until a day I rode the horse she was riding, in that saddle and it fit not only like a glove, it was heavenly, could move in it as I needed to and cuddled me in the stops, keeping me always in the perfectly balanced spot, while hugging horse’s backs.
Yep, found one like that and that is now my favorite saddle.

Have you really tried some of those saddles your trainer suggests you give a whirl?

[trubandloki]

@quarab

Honestly getting exhausting. Looking for a new saddle for my beastie and it’s been somewhat frustrating. (She’s a short backed cob-y thing that’s quite flat front to back and fairly wide side to side and I’m just picky.) I’ve had a couple fitters out and one rep looking at different brands and whatnot and every freaking time my trainer comes back and suggests I try a Voltaire.

And of course a “custom” Voltaire. I’m not a fan of the french foam things on principle but I also don’t particularly love the feel of them.

Love trainer but this is a thing we disagree on. Honestly easier to smile and nod but please tell me someone else has been here? What kind of death grip does Voltaire have on these trainers??

The title of the thread says they are sponsored by Voltaire.

I think I would feel like the other posters do if my trainer simply had a saddle they liked and was suggesting I tried the same brand versus my trainer is sponsored by a brand and is making it difficult for me to look at other brands.

I guess in your case the easiest answer is to simply say to your trainer that you do not like the foam in the voltaire saddles so you prefer to look for something that is not foam.

[OverandOnward]

Ironic that the sponsorship can actually diminish someone’s credibility with their recommendation.

[Equibrit]

All those French brands seem to be fashion accessories, rather than good solid, comfortable, work tools. Strictly short term until the next best thing from France. Did you look at Duett?

[tabula_rashah]

I would at least sit in one if you haven’t yet and see

But also I would second Duett

[fivestrideline]

Hard disagree.

A French saddle, when it fits you and your horse, can be extremely comfortable. It’s personal preference - I have both a wool flocked saddle and a foam French saddle (and a few in between). Nothing fits me or puts me in a better position than my CWD! And I really dislike the feel of my wool flocked saddle vs the foam… but my horse’s comfort is more important. A lot of the British brands have twists that disagree with my conformation - French and Italian are generally better.

Yes, the wool fits me well and I’m comfortable and balanced. But I prefer the French saddles if given the choice.

ETA: a lot of the popular Big Name brands have a MAJOR rep/fitter/customer service issue. THAT can make a big difference on whether you end up in a saddle that fits or one that makes you never want to touch another one of their saddles

[trubandloki]

@tabula_rashah

But also I would second Duett

I have a Duett and really like it. So I will third that idea.

[quarab]

I should add that I’ve tried my trainers saddle (we’re the same size) and I don’t like the twist or seat on any of the voltaires I’ve tried

[Mango20]

I have a fairly wide but flat front to back small horse and saddle fitting was a challenge for her. For a dressage saddle, we ended up with a Bates, which was not high on my list, but it fits her. For jumping, it’s a Jeffries. Every French saddle I tried was too curvy.

[RedHorses]

There’s your answer. “It’s got to fit me too.”

[dmveventer]

@trubandloki

my trainer is sponsored by a brand and is making it difficult for me to look at other brands.

I would also have a problem with a barn that prohibited me from working with other brands, but OP said she’s brought in multiple fitters already so it doesn’t sound like that’s the case here. The trainer may genuinely like the brand or she may see OP’s bad luck as an opening to make a sale, who knows, but either way I don’t think it’s out of line for a trainer to recommend a fitter she works with to a client that’s been struggling to find a saddle.

@quarab

I don’t like the twist or seat on any of the voltaires I’ve tried

Have you said as much to your trainer? I would just say you’ve tried them and they didn’t work or you’re set on wool-flocked or something and move on. Anything beyond being “opposed to them on principle” which just invites more conversation. Smiling and nodding is also a totally valid approach, if she’s not actually getting in your way just let it go.

@fivestrideline

A French saddle, when it fits you and your horse , can be extremely comfortable.

Second this. I prefer the adjustability of wool so I went Italian, but man those things can be comfy. They work for plenty of horses and riders, I don’t get the knee-jerk criticisms. I do think their aggressive marketing and poor customer service pushes a lot of people into bad fits and I would only recommend buying one you could sit in and get evaluated by another fitter, but writing off the entire concept is a bit much.

[quarab]

Honestly this was a bit more of a vent and seeing if anyone could commiserate. It’s fine it’s just annoying while I’m looking

She doesn’t prohibit me from working with other fitters (in fact I know she has a personal issue with one local fitter who can be extremely abrasive but I’ve had out anyways) she just is obsessed with her Voltaires. I’ve ridden in her saddles and I’ve thanked her for letting me trial hers, told her the balance isn’t quite it for me, and complimented her stirrups. As she’s asked me what other brands I’m looking at I’ve mentioned that I’m pretty set on the adjustability of wool.

The secondary problem that I haven’t mentioned to her because I’ve had some people be personally a bit offended is that I don’t think that some of the saddles this Voltaire rep has sold actually fit.

[Alex_and_Bodie_s_Mom]

My ex riding instructor was enamored of Rembrandt and Thornhill saddles.

She also had a small side business selling new tack, so she was able to get saddles a little cheaper. But yeah, it got old, fast. I did buy two Rembrandt saddles, both used, but neither stayed with me long - they just didn’t fit my horses well. And I absolutely despised riding those Thornhills. Most uncomfortable saddles ever made. But convincing her that my horses (and I! ) needed something else was a huge fight.

So, yes, I can commiserate! I bought and rode some amazing saddles - my favorite was my Markus Krehan - but she had something snarky to say about all of them. Didn’t matter that they fit me and the horse - it just mattered that they weren’t HER favorite saddle brands.

[GrayCatFarm]

I have been told that some sponsorships come with a clear expectation that all students in the program will purchase that brand saddle. How often can you discern what saddle a person is using unless they have the logo on their saddle pad? Sponsorships mean free saddle for the trainer and new revenue for the representative.

[quarab]

That’s interesting - I know lots of barns that are MORE pushy than my trainer it’s just frustrating because saddle fit is so personal I don’t assume anyone else will necessarily like my saddle though they might be reasonably close in size.

[OverandOnward]

@GrayCatFarm

I have been told that some sponsorships come with a clear expectation that all students in the program will purchase that brand saddle.

I’m curious about the source of that expectation by a sponsor. It doesn’t seem realistic.

Some students will be too firmly attached to the saddle they have. Some won’t be able to afford what the trainer is promoting (especially if new). Whatever their reasons, a trainer might influence, but can’t control, a student’s decision about purchasing a saddle. Or anything else a student buys.