Voltaire is Garbage

[StormyDay]

@eclipse

Hmmmmm that’s a few new “houseguests” all wth the same point and same number of posts!!! LOL

Was thinking the same thing :lol:

[NorthernHunter]

@HELLC

Many of my kids saved their money to buy second hand voltaire saddles that are not holding up and there is no voltaire guarantee for these kids.

Because of these reasons, I won’t vouch for the brand.

While you’re certainly free to do as you please, it might have been nice for your clients if you had allowed the company rep to come out and try to fix the issue… being a pro means taking the clients into account too!

[mvp]

@HELLC

Again, everyone. I realize I didn’t handle the default of contract well.

But I am starting to think this saddle contract is nonsense. One can not speak of other saddle brands, be photographed in other saddle brands etc. Not all saddles fit all horses. I literally have a kid that saved up all her pennies to buy a used voltaire and it is falling apart. She bought the damn thing because of me and I look at it everyday and think that shouldn’t have happened.

BUT nothing negative popped up when I googled voltaire saddle quality. I look at reviews when I make all big purchases.

Indeed. Y’all remember when Beezie Madden was sponsored by Bates? Do you think she showed and schooled her horses exclusively in a relatively cheap, air-flocked saddle?

Closer to the topic at hand: The OP isn’t the only pro I have met who thinks the half-life of a Voltaire is quite short.

[NoSuchPerson]

@ToTheNines

To the OP, maybe part of the problem here is that your ranting seems like something for Facebook or the like. We don’t want that here. This forum is for constructive criticism, help, and support. .

You can’t possibly be serious. Surely you meant to add the “wink, wink, just joking” emoji to that post.

I hope you will share the link to the rainbows and unicorns version of the COTH forum, because the one I’ve been reading has it’s fair share of deconstructive criticism, unhelpful comments, and discouragement. Heck, I lurked here for a long time before posting and joked to friends that I was afraid to post here because “those people will tear me apart.”

I’m not saying that some posters here don’t offer “constructive criticism, help, and support,” but let’s not get carried away with the rose-colored glasses portrayal.

[Midge]

If the saddles wear out so fast, how were the second hand ones okay to buy?

[HELLC]

Look I know you all don’t know me and you have only a post to ascertain my motivations. I am not ranting as a woe for me. It is literally more important for me to pay my way out of the contract then stand behind a saddle that doesn’t live up to the hype.

Of course everyone I asked that rides in Voltaire loves there, all the pros told me it will last forever, that sadly hasn’t been my experience, they are disposable saddles. Thrown right in the pile with those crummy stiff all purpose saddle pads from dover, the happy mouth bits, and the heaps of other things I tried and found to fail to live up to expectations.

It is a cautionary tale for any trainers looking: it won’t last and made several of my horses sore and instead of the CEO asking how they can fix the saddle they threaten to sue if you don’t pay in full for the saddle as well as any merchandise you didn’t order.

Also for any clients looking to buy second hand, dont get a voltaire it won’t last and you won’t have a warranty.

[PonyPenny]

I hate these saddle sponsorships. There is no way that I will ever buy a saddle in order to help any trainer get a free saddle or a heavy discount. It just rubs me the wrong way.

[HELLC]

@lmlacross

Not going to comment on the “initial post as anecdotal brand gripe” aspect here, but speaking more generally…

Flame away, but I can’t help but think that brand “sponsorship” of trainers is great for the brand in the short term but seldom great for anyone else. I wish the practice would stop so that trainers could be more engaged in working with and/or empowering clients to find the best saddle make and model for each of them and their personal horses. IMO, the odds that one brand is going to fit an entire barn of client horses better than anything else on the market is ZERO.

BINGO!

[HELLC]

@Bristol Bay

Three things:

1. You mean anecdotal, not colloquial.

2. You said post 32 would be your last post, but you keep posting.

3. THANK GOD THEY DID NOT GIVE YOU FREE HATS OR WE’D NEVER HEAR THE END OF IT.

Eh. I’m currently on stall rest and used to working 12 hour days, so what else am I going to do. I did mean colloquial. George calls gimmick tack garbage. I like it. I’m sticking with it.

The hats were not the crummy velco in the back kinds so I dig the hats.

But well played!

[HELLC]

@TrotTrotPumpkn

My Voltaire saddle is several years old and wearing fine. Use before my “winter break” was once a day, 5 days a week. Calfskin, not buffalo. Are you talking about the buffalo or the calf? Just curious.

Okay so there are 2 saddles that I am talking about in particular. Mine arrived in March 2017- starting showing wear in June of the same year. Buffalo with the second skin. I asked if second skin would hold up, “yes, its a treated calf”

The second is a bought online from a third party dealer for a teenager. Like she saved up babysitting money, etc. etc, was 3 years old palm beach, grain with calf knee and and seat. Her knee roll is coming off and it is not like a horse flipped over on it.

Her saddle sort of sent me over the edge. Because I used to be that kid, that saved up everything for a saddle. Thankfully it was a saddle last lasted me over 10 years. So for this working student kid that bought a saddle because it looked like mine- what does the company do for her? NOTHING

So yes, I won’t vouch for the product and will pay out of my contract so I never have to see the things in my tack room!

[HELLC]

@Laurierace

Voltaire literally bent over backwards to make my saddle right. I bought used and noticed a couple of blemishes in the flaps that I hadn’t noticed before so they asked me to ship it to them at no cost to me. They determined it couldn’t be fixed and sent it to France to have two new flaps but on. My saddle is now 2/3rds brand new and absolutely beautiful and fits like it was custom made for both me and my horse.

Just today at WEF they went so above and beyond when I made A small purchase that I don’t even want to say what they did in case someone got into trouble for it. Add me to the list who says you didn’t give them time to make things right. You may want to delete your posts OP before you get sued.

Sued for slander? It is actually my experience with the saddle.

Sued for a breach of contract? They can have their “discount” and accessories.

[IPEsq]

Ok I have to ask, if you wanted the Tad tree, why did you get the Palm Beach? It’s my understanding that only the Blue Wing uses his tree. Which, when you didn’t like it, should have been the end of the story?

[Oliver4Ever]

We have had several Voltaire saddles that fit several different horses, all happy here. Love our rep Ann, from Atlanta, another perspective

[ladyj79]

Three points

1. At first I thought this was about the stallion :lol::lol::lol: I came to fight!

2. I hate tad coffins so much. This thread has taught me not to buy a blue wing? Voltaire saddle…whatever, sounds like a maxi pad anyway.

3. The hat thread was one of the single best moments of COTH.

[HELLC]

@ladyj79

Three points

1. At first I thought this was about the stallion :lol::lol::lol: I came to fight!

2. I hate tad coffins so much. This thread has taught me not to buy a blue wing? Voltaire saddle…whatever, sounds like a maxi pad anyway.

3. The hat thread was one of the single best moments of COTH.

If I was hating on the stallion I would so very much deserve the trolling. Okay, so I am new here. The hat thread? I’m thinking this is going to be hilarious. Links please!

[vxf111]

@HELLC

If I was hating on the stallion I would so very much deserve the trolling. Okay, so I am new here. The hat thread? I’m thinking this is going to be hilarious. Links please!

Someone wanted a stupid baseball cap and had a world ending meltdown over it

Curious… OP did you sign some sort of sponsorship deal with Dev?! Or just buy one with no other strings attached?!

[Old_Mac_Donald]

https://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/forum/discussion-forums/off-course/263683-very-long-vent-terrible-customer-service-at-voltaire

[Pennywell_Bay]

@HELLC

It is of my opinion, that they do not work out for me and as a professional in the industry I am warranted in giving out my opinion about the quality of the saddle just as much as I listen to others who like and dislike certain products.
.

Try acting like one. I find this a trolling thread. Is it Spring Break yet?

[Stormers85]

@Oliver4Ever

We have had several Voltaire saddles that fit several different horses, all happy here. Love our rep Ann, from Atlanta, another perspective

Ann was my rep, too, and she was great! I have a buffalo Palm Beach with 2nd skin/pro panels and a year later it still looks like new.

[midstride]

@PonyPenny

I hate these saddle sponsorships. There is no way that I will ever buy a saddle in order to help any trainer get a free saddle or a heavy discount. It just rubs me the wrong way.

I agree. I don’t even view it as sponsorship, but glorified sales rep.