Voltaire Saddle question

[wentworth]

Hoping to get some feedback on the Voltaire Palm Beaches that do not have the “second skin.” I am looking into buying one used, and while the idea of the second skin is appealing, most of the for sale lightly used options do not seem to have this feature. Most of the posts I’ve found on here are rave reviews for the second skin and buffalo, but I have not heard anything about their full calf standard (?) flaps. For those who have ridden in both, is it worth holding out for a second skin?

Also, any input on the pro panels vs the regular (PRO vs. FIN on the flap). I understand the pro panels, but they seem harder to find used. Anyone have the FIN panels? Do the FIN panels work well on a variety of horses? Saddle would be used on several horses (in addition to a Tad Coffin and a County Stabilizer).

Thanks In advance!

[jlphilli]

I have the PRO panels on the Palm Beach w/ full calfskin, but mine has the second skin. I did ride in one without the second skin when I was trying them, and it was fine (like any normal saddle), but the second skin was just an awesome difference. It’s just hard to describe unless you ride in it. I will say that in my experience the PRO panels have fit every horse I have put them on; the most correction I needed on one horse with high withers was a Mattes half pad. I find it funny that the PRO panels fit my horse perfectly, who was unable to be fitted correctly by the other Frenchie brands (even with one company failing at an attempt to make one “custom”). I’ve had mine for just over a year now (got it new Feb. 2013), and it still looks brand new- has broken in beautifully. There is a thread on here somewhere where I have a pic of it new and one taken a month ago.

[wentworth]

Jlphilli, thanks for the input! You have exactly what I’d love to find! I think I will hold out for the second skin, I just love the concept (as a petite 5’4/105 pound owner of a broad 16.3+ hunter who takes a LOT of leg, the extra close contact sounds very appealing).

I’ve found a lovely 2013 full calf with second skin, my size, and a tree width that should work well for my horses, but alas, it doesn’t have pro panels. Has anyone had experience with the non-pro panels (labeled as FIN) or know what type of horse they are supposed to work best for? These seem very common but I can’t find anything about them. I did contact Voltaire a few days ago through their website but haven’t heard back yet. Any feedback is appreciated!

[nycequestrian]

You might try contacting one of the ladies who deals in used saddles (Rachel at iSelltack or Cori at High End Used Saddles [I’m pretty sure thats where she is]) They deal with these saddles all the time and would be able to give you a lot of good information about the different options available.

[winstonian]

You might also try calling the number listed on the website. They’re very helpful over the phone.

Not sure, but I’m wondering if the FIN designation means some sort of custom panels, so that two saddles marked FIN could have different panels, whereas all PRO panels are the same?

I have the Calgary model with PRO panels and without the second skin, and I love it. I specifically wanted one without second skin because I saw a used second skin that didn’t look like it was holding up too well. But maybe it was just that that particular saddle hadn’t been well-cared for.

[akhunterrider]

I had a 2010 Voltaire Palm Beach that was grain leather/buffalo with the FIN panels. It seemed to fit the horses well that I used it on. It didn’t have any panel modifications and was pretty standard fit wise.

I traded it in earlier this year for a 2013 full buffalo second skin saddle, which has the pro panels, however it also had some other panel modifications that made it not fit any horse I ride. Luckily Voltaire is awesome and I sent to back to them to have the panels modified so now it fits the horses better. One thing that is better about the newer saddle with pro panels is that the panels are a bit wider and distribute weight a bit better across the back. I think that either PRO or FIN would be fine though. As far as the panels, I loved my first Voltaire, the seat was just a bit snug. Nothing beats the grippiness of the full buffalo though in my opinion and the second skin option is nice.

[akhunterrider]

Here are the two saddles side by side:

2010 on left, 2013 on right

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/unsouhait/Mobile%20Uploads/2013-12/IMG_20131209_122916_zpsn705fykn.jpg

2010 Voltaire

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/unsouhait/20131009_213842_zpsa2cb6475.jpg

2013 Voltaire

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/unsouhait/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-03/20140305_163757_zpsph5iptvh.jpg

[wentworth]

Thanks for the feedback, all very helpful!

From the photos, the panels do not look all that different…interesting. Good to know your FIN paneled saddle also fit several horses well, I guess I won’t rule them out

[BITSA]

You should contact your local Voltaire rep. I bought mine used, and he had quite a few to bring me (I have the second skin, PRO). If you are on the west coast I can give you his info, otherwise you might want to reach out to Voltaire directly, or maybe contact Rachel at iselltack.com to see if she can find you one. I love the second skin.

[wentworth]

Thanks, I’m actually on the east coast (northern VA) but I do have a call in to Voltaire. Emailed with Rachel as well and she’s keeping an eye out for one in my size.

Those of you with second skin: is this indicated in the code on the flap? There are some nice ones offered by CWD but they don’t specify and I can’t tell for sure by the pics. Just wondering if there is a code for second skin.

Thanks!

[soloudinhere]

[QUOTE=wentworth;7501180]
Thanks, I’m actually on the east coast (northern VA) but I do have a call in to Voltaire. Emailed with Rachel as well and she’s keeping an eye out for one in my size.

Those of you with second skin: is this indicated in the code on the flap? There are some nice ones offered by CWD but they don’t specify and I can’t tell for sure by the pics. Just wondering if there is a code for second skin.

Thanks![/QUOTE]

The second skin is pretty obvious, the sweat flap is basically floppy suede. It looks like this:

http://www.horseclicks.com/img/adphotos/490/394490_grippy-and-gorgeous-voltaire-design-palm-beach-saddle-for-sa_photo_6_big.jpg

[wentworth]

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate all the info!

I just ordered a 2013 Palm Beach in full calf with 2nd skin and pro panels from CWD’s used ebay site. Looks amazing, I’m so excited to try it! They list the dot to dot as 4.5, my other saddles are a hair wider (4.75") but I’m hoping it will not be okay since the pro panels are supposed to be flexible. I wanted also wanted to try a 17.5, as I’ve heard voltaires run small, but took a chance on a 17 with 2AA flaps, fingers crossed it’s not too small (for reference, I’m 5’4 and about 110 lbs, and have 17s in the county and tad coffin). I can always send it back if I end up needing to size up or a wider “dot to dot.” Thanks again for the feedback, I’ll post with an update when it arrives

[Halfhalting]

That saddle looked gorgeous. Really excited to hear how it worked!

[Halfhalting]

That saddle looked gorgeous. Really excited to hear how it worked! Does the dot-to-dot run big at all? I need a 4.75 too I think…