Butet Saddles

I love my Butet- it is comfortable, lightweight and beautiful. Mine is a little double flap close contact jump saddle. I haven’t seen the newer ones
 
Forgive me but to me they're a rider's saddle, like most French brands, not a saddle designed primarily for the horse. Most UK saddle fitters that don't fit for a French brand but see them out and about would broadly agree.
 
Like Mule I have and love the double flap close contact jump saddle, got it second hand but I think it's 2007, so old.

Also agree with sbloom to some extent - not at all with the French saddles aren't designed for horses generalization, but do agree that the butet is cut to have a saddle pad underneath i.e. not to fit to the horse but to always be used with a thick pad, which makes it an absolute godsend for my fussy mare. Her toys are out of the pram and rider on the floor if she hasn't got her pad however well a saddle is fit, but she's happy as anything in the butet. I treat it like it's made of gold because I don't know where I'd get another one lol
 
sbloom said:
Forgive me but to me they're a rider's saddle, like most French brands, not a saddle designed primarily for the horse. Most UK saddle fitters that don't fit for a French brand but see them out and about would broadly agree.
Click to expand...

See, I hate some of the heavy, clunky English saddles that sit you a mile away from the horse. I haven’t found one I like for a long time.
My super sensitive ginger and my little mule both approve of the Butet which is good enough for me!
 
I am a huge butet fan and have ridden a number of horses in both dressage and jump versions. As with everything I’ve heard all the horror stories of french saddles doing all manner of damage but I have never had a moments issue with butet, in fact all the horses I’ve ridden in them have gone better than in traditionally flocked saddles but I appreciate that’s my own personal experience.

In respect of the jump version (I am assuming mono flap XC?) the most important thing as a rider would be to ensure you have the right size flap - I could imagine if you were short in the leg in a 3 flap you might not get the full benefit of being able to sit in balance; conversely a tall rider in a 2 flap maybe not have enough room for their knees.

What I like most about them is that they allow you to sit correctly but don’t hold you in position, unlike some of the more traditional block saddles - so if you like the more secure, wedged in position feel, they may not be for you!
 
Bought one brand new in around 2004, it was fantastic! I hated it the first time I did a rising trot, felt like I couldn't possibly stay on the horse, but was soon in balance and off eventing. I used the mono XC for everything (took all the saddle money :p) and went from nervous at Novice to doing what is now CCI** (top hat and tails in a mono XC!) and Int. Fabulous saddle that my other horse, and subsequent horse, also went really well in.

I like the fact that they don't slip back as the shoulder 'floats' under the flap.

I like the sticky leather, that stays velvet if you use their product.

I hate that you are always on edge in case someone 'helpfully' cleans it and uses normal soap :eek:

When I got Jay Man, I wanted one made for him as well. A fitter came out and told me what we needed, and loaned me one the same. That one made him really sore. Bucking, rearing, spinning. Left a lump from 20 minutes. I asked for the main, original, fitter to come and take a look before the saddle was ordered, she refused to come so I asked for a refund. Strange behaviour from a company charging in excess of 4K
 
Last edited:
TheMule said:
See, I hate some of the heavy, clunky English saddles that sit you a mile away from the horse.
Click to expand...

I hear you, I think too many English saddles are either designed, or fitted, that way. To me a good English saddle should feel like you're close to the horse, it's one reason I'm less of a fan of changeable headplate saddles, the solid plastic tree has a lot of foam to make it comfortable, and the panel construction also contributes to them sitting you a long way up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top