I ride many horses per day and choose my Detente over my Albion SLK or my Albion SL. The Detente is awesome! My horses are happier with the detente too.
Oh heck, they are in my area, and there is actually a model (the Phoebe) for those of us who are small.
Uh-oh…
WHOOPS! I posted in the wrong thread, sorry!
ahhhh, so this is how old threads get mysteriously resurfaced… accidentally posting when you’re still searching…
[QUOTE=buck22;5273350]
WHOOPS! I posted in the wrong thread, sorry!
ahhhh, so this is how old threads get mysteriously resurfaced… accidentally posting when you’re still searching…[/QUOTE]
Well, since you’ve bumped it up… Has anyone had a luck buying a saddle from advanced saddle fit this year? I really wanted to buy one (albion being the only thing that fit my horse), but they pulled out the whole, “because of the economy” phase they weren’t stocking many saddles so couldn’t do a distance sale. They said too much risk they’d lose a local sale. I do understand, but I wish they would have told that me before I spent three hours doing wither tracing and loading them on the computer at their request. Maybe my horse looked hard to fit?
Luckily for me, I now have a devoucoux my horse and I both love!
So, anyone had any luck purchasing a saddle or does it look like advanced saddle fit is leaving the business?
Definitely not leaving the business. Their manufacturers over in the UK have had to lay off a lot of folks to keep afloat, which means fewer saddles in production.
But they’re absolutely still around, and still making STUNNING stuff. My new Patrick Keane saddle is to DIE for, and I’ve got two students waiting on new Detente saddles. Turnaround time is about 6-8 weeks at the moment, I believe.
[QUOTE=flyracing;5273543]
So, anyone had any luck purchasing a saddle or does it look like advanced saddle fit is leaving the business?[/QUOTE]
I just had Colleen out at my barn and she came with many saddles in tow so she’s definitely not leaving the business. I am trying to buy my second saddle from her because I have a high-withered mare who no one else has been able to fit. She does an amazing, thorough job and she even left me with something to ride in while I wait for the next saddle. I actually have to sell my first Detente (17MW with the tags still on it!) so if you know of anyone looking for one that they need immediately send me a message.
As others have said, Advanced Saddle Fit is still in business and selling saddles. I love my brand new Adam Ellis Dressage saddle purchased just before Christmas. You can feel confident that Colleen will do right by both you and the horse.
She consistently has done a great job of finding well priced, well made saddles under $3k. She started with Albion moved on to Black Countries and now has Detente, Patrick Keane and Adam Ellis. Not sure of others.
The Patrick Keane with buffalo suede seat is a beautiful saddle that shows quality of materials and craftmanship, very comfortable and priced comparable to a County Perfection.
The Detente Isis, Argus and Cleo I believe are all under $3k. They are nice well made saddles with good quality leather.
I’ve seen but not test ridden all 3. The Argus has a medium or moderate twist. It fit my horse but not quite right for me and he didn’t move that great in it. The Ellis made in Walsall England has a similar fit as the Argus but with a narrower twist. My horse moved so nice in the saddle that it was immediately obvious that this was the one for us.
My saddle came with a lovely cover and a small canvas bag with leather cleaning supplies.
I saw this on craigslist. I believe this is a Cleo. http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/grd/2156237279.html
Good luck.
Interestingly, these saddles are all made in Walsall by master saddlers there. I just bought a Ryder saddle at a ridiculously low price (http://www.rydersaddlery.co.uk/saddles.html), made by Glen Farrell, whom as it turns was one of the original saddle makers for Mansion House (the pre-albion company). I think that some of these companies make a name for themselves (as Albion has done), but then they almost get too big. I love the small saddle makers in England. There is a list of many of them here: http://www.walsallequestrian.co.uk/mainpage.htm.
As I understand it, Advanced Saddle Fit works with several Walsall based master saddlers to produce their saddles. I would be surprised if the work was not good quality. I know Colleen is very into the whole saddle fit thing. I may find her a bit too much, “I know everything and no one else knows anything.” But she is definitely knowledgeable and interested in providing a good product at a good price
Detente Saga
I bought a Détente from Colleen in Summer of 2008. I really liked the saddle, it fit both me and my sharkfin very well. And the price was reasonable.
However—
The leather in the inside of the saddle skirt was defective and started to rip within a month or so. When I contacted Colleen & Co. I had a difficult time explaining the trouble with the saddle; I don’t think she quite believed that the saddles would rip. Once I sent her a good photo she sent me a new saddle and took the old one back.
This past summer the same thing started to happen to the replacement saddle. When I contacted Colleen she was very apologetic and said that they had a “bad lot of leather” and didn’t know who had the saddles with the bad leather. She came along and collected the saddle from me in September and I haven’t seen it since. We did talk this week and she said that she had to send the saddle back to the factory and it didn’t clear customs before the holidays and it should be back at the end of this week…that’s tomorrow…
I didn’t push it, because I could have called sooner, but I’m feeling like 4 months is a long time with no updates.
How is everyone doing with their Detente saddles all these years later? 
Asking because I have a young horse with a broad, shortish back and a bit of a withers. Detente H & C model was recommended (among a few others).
As far as I know, Colleen rna into some financial trouble and there were a lot of instances of saddles not delivered, a manufacturer not willing to fill orders due to nonpayment, and other things. I don’t know anyone in the area still willing to use her after that. I would suggest some more searching about the business as well as the saddles before making a decision.
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I have one of the newer models, a Detente Novio, I love it, it has held up great and it fits both of my horses super well. I had an H&C for an old horse which doubled for my youngster’s baby saddle. The fit is very forgiving and would be exactly what I would recommend for the horse you describe.
I have used Colleen for years, including buying my current saddle after the thread on here, I think there were multiple sides to that story and it got a bit out of hand, as things sometimes do on here. PMed you.
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If I was considering buying a new saddle (as opposed to used) I would look very carefully as the public history of Advanced Saddle Fit, and Detente saddles. The issues that have been forward on this forum alone (please do a search) would give me as a buyer substantial pause.
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Interesting feedback, similar to another saddle store that several (including myself) have had issues with…:-/
I replied to your PM, Dutchmare.
If you like the Detentes, you might want to try Adam Ellis. A reputable saddle fitter that sells Adam Ellis saddles told me that Adam makes the Detente saddles . . . and that they are basically the same saddles but with a different name and for a different price point. The Adam Ellis saddles are amazingly inexpensive and with lots of “custom” options for not a whole lot more $$$.
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They may get the trees from the same places, but I doubt Adam is making the saddles. I could be very wrong.
My understanding is that the Detente line is by Ideal.
I have been told this as well.
Ideal does indeed make the Detente saddles. I was having no replies in my efforts to get a saddle ordered from Advanced Saddle Fit, so I said screw it and called Ideal directly. They were very nice to deal with and I am currently in the design stages for my saddle. The price point is fantastic as is the quality. I am ordering the Lynx Pro which is very similar to the Detente Bossa Nova. I am having a hard time deciding what upgrades I want, but when all is said and done it will be around 2K out the door.
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