I have a Voltaire Lexington saddle. Yes, it was hard to break it in. However, you do realize that they give you a big tub of cleaner and conditioner to work the leather with. It took my saddle a couple months to completely break in. 3 years later it’s still an awesome saddle both of my OTTBs love. If you didn’t bother to clean and condition it properly there’s no wonder you had issues. 6 - 15 horses a day you should be cleaning the saddle daily. I also have the Voltaire Ergonomic girth. The only thing I’ll say about that that really irritated me is that you can’t get replacement elastic straps for them. However, it was easy enough to have new ones made at a saddle shop. I did condition my saddle and my girth daily for the first 2 weeks, twice a week for the next month, then weekly after that. I still clean my saddle regularly and condition it when it needs it. Tell us what your saddle care routine was. The Voltaire also sits differently then most saddles because of the set back straps. Were you setting it up like a standard saddle? This was the source of many an argument with my ex, who was used to lower end saddles. As my horse changed shape I did have issues, but going from 300 lbs underweight to a tank requires adjustments.
I like tack reviews. This wasn’t a review, it was a petulant reaction to what the OP considered unreasonable (which is weird considering she signed onto it), but most would consider normal.
I love my Voltaire. A good chunk of my friends have one, or two, and they like them, too. I have also loved a County or two in my time, and a Devoucoux. I’ve received nothing but excellent, fast service from my Voltaire rep, but I also really liked my County rep. I’m not worried about my saddle breaking down, that’s weird- what saddles do that? I also have trouble picturing a “pile” of discarded saddles- who does that?
No saddle will work for every person and every horse. My Stuttgart fits my jumper, puts me in a good position to jump big fences, and is gorgeous- the buffalo cleans up beautifully and is wearing very well. But, if I ever need a different saddle I’ll try a bunch and see what works. <— normal approach to saddle-shopping
Wow that hat thread was awesome. I’m going to go find my Voltaire hat and wear it around today just because.
Mine is worn out. I loved that hat.
Just reread that epic thread. I’ll have to ask the Voltaire guy who gave me the hat if Claude survived Hat-gate.
I found this on their website 
Claude Mode is the U.S. Office Manager and is in charge of Voltaire Design’s largest branch. From dusk till dawn, he has only one concern: make every single customer happy.
lol, seems like a direct reponse to hat-gate
OP - I don’t have any skin in this game, but I do know of a trainer that is going through the same problems you are having, if it’s any consolation. She is not a happy camper, either.
I’m confused why so many on this thread are annoyed with the OP’s post. I’ve seen numerous threads where people have complained, trashed, threatened to sue, other saddle makers with nary an opposing post. If I was looking for a saddle, I would appreciate the OP’s comments about quality issues with the brand, despite any contract issues he/she may have with Voltaire.
Anybody who blasts a company while admitting they never gave that company a chance to make things right isn’t worth listening to. No company is perfect, what separates the good ones from the bad is how they handle it when things go wrong. Perhaps had she honored her contract and given them a chance to make things right she would be singing their praises due to how they bent over backwards to make sure she and her clients were satisfied with their purchases.
I think it’s the fact that it sounds like the OP didn’t even give Voltaire a chance to address the problem. If they’d told her “too bad, so sad” or not responded etc, then people would have been much more understanding.
I’m boggled at the idea of a buffalo saddle wearing through in anything like that amount of time (I own a non-Voltaire buffalo leather saddle), but it sounds like it was covered in something softer that has worn through? That doesn’t seem that uncommon–my trainer has two different brands of buttery leathered French saddles, and both have pretty good sized patches on them. I don’t think that calf leather really holds up to the wear, people just don’t like doing the break-in on more durable types of leather, and want a comfy saddle from the get-go. That’s not a Voltaire problem, that’s a pretty big problem overall, frankly.
Yes, I saw a CWD for sale on line with a big hole rubbed through the first layer of the panel “not visible while mounted.” They were disclosing that but still wanted about $2500 for the saddle. But when I see that much wear on a visible component I have to ask myself what else is going on, both externally and internally.
As a second hand shopper, there’s clearly lots of brands to avoid.
A friend is sponsored by Butet. Every three years I think it is he gets a new saddle (free, they take his old one and I’m sure resell and give him a new one designed to his specs) I bet that’s their desired timeframe on when we repurchase those saddles :lol::lol::lol:
OP, to her credit, has cleaned up her act and did some quick editing of her introductory post adding more information and removing tne ranting that did rub the wrong way. She’s since made some intelligent posts on other threads too.
She also shared she’s on stall rest, hopefully she can get some turn out soon to reduce the stall/web walking. A calmer may help too, I’ve had excellent luck with white but some prefer red.
What is a palalate? 
A new saddle every three years sure is nice. But good heavens, I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry at the thought that saddlers think we should replace them that often. It’s a saddle, not a shirt, it shouldn’t be made to be disposable. Even my high quality non-equine leathergoods (purses, mostly, including French calf) barely look used after that amount of time. And my English made buffalo saddle from 2004 barely looks worn, though admittedly I am not riding 6 a day. My sidesaddle just went in to have some work done, including replacing the original overgirth and balance strap that were at least 75 years old. They really don’t make them like they used to 
I feel like there’s a whole rant in here about the disposable nature of society, that is maybe the rant the OP could have had about this, if she’d managed to be a bit more eloquent and tactful about the whole situation.
I’m pretty sure everyone was capable of figuring out the intent based on context, including you. This kind of thing is so junior high school.
What happened to that wonderful, warm, friendly COTH forum that somone was bragging about just a page or two ago?
Kind of along these lines, I have a similar conundrum with a company that does a fine business in DressageWorld.
My heart goes out to the kid who spent her saved-up babysitting money on a used Voltaire and isn’t getting the longevity she ought to. She’s not the buyer who can afford to trade in saddle every couple of years.
And I literally was that kid who saved up her sub-minimum-wage earning to buy my first saddle.
And now, I still don’t Spend With The Big Dogs on horses or custom saddles. I ride with this pro because I believe in buying cheap horses and lots of expensive riding lessons.
The pro has not pressed me to buy one of these saddles. But I have come to like them after being lent one of hers and seen her faith in her fitter. That said, she said to me that she’d only buy a saddle off the truck and would not order since quality control isn’t absolutely 100%. That’s her opinion (with no further elaboration) and it’s what I saw in a saddle I was given to test-drive over 10 days by a rep.
I’m playing by the rules that says I’m an Adult and The Buck Stops With Me and Caveat Emptor. But I also wish I could have a trusted expert in my corner.
No, in the context of the post I don’t understand the “intent”. Spelling unintelligibly is, as you put it, “so junior high school”.
I am fairly “warm and friendly” ask anyone who knows me. :yes: Not sure about “wonderful” though.
Have to agree there. OP has conducted herself in pleasant manner and has not become rude or defensive. It’s refreshing from the usual we get here on COTH.
Suggest you change the name of the thread to say Voltaire Saddles are Garbage". As it reads now, “Voltaire is Garbage” sounds as if you’re referring to the late great stallion by the same name. 
Point very well taken. If someone wants to guide me in that adventure I will happily oblige.
If anyone is actually still following I happily mailed back the entire lot of unrequested accessories I am now being billed for as well as the trainer rebate on the saddle. So now, having paid what I feel is the most ridiculous amount of money for a saddle that was never made to do the job for me, I feel like I am super entitled to whatever tack review I might make. I was told this was a saddle that would last, it was not. The problems with the fit (literally rubbed my horse raw) in addition to the saddle quality of mine, as well as several students in my barn, no I am sorry- there is nothing this company could do to ramify its position with me. A very smart poster earlier mentioned that this was pointing to a disposable consumer culture and I couldn’t agree more. For everyone that has had fabulous experiences of Voltaire saddles, fabulous. I won’t discredit or begrudge you. For me, the saddle did not live up to the quality or dexterity of anything costing that much of my monthly income.
But the hats. I actually liked the hats.
