Devoucoux VS Butet

[seche]

Have been saving up for months and wanting to take the plunge.

I dont really want a single pannel saddle thats massively close contact as needs to be my everyday saddle that will be used for hacking/hunting etc as well as jumping

So what are your oppions on the these saddles, have sat in the Dev but not on my horse, and only sat on a Butet at their Badminton stand.

****I know this should generally be in Stable Yard, but my guess is more of you who have them will hang out in here.****

 

[BBs]

For me, Butet every time

 

[sjstar23]

I LOOOOOOVE my Devoucoux which I use for showjumping! Never seen or ridden on a Butet though, so can't compare. I've heard they are nice too! ... lol... not really much help am I?!

 

[KatB]

Devoucoux are lovely to sit in, but really havent got a good reputation for horses backs!!

Personally I love Butets, and think Sederholm cant be beaten for customer service. I would never spend money on devoucoux, but would happily on Butet...

 

[seabiscuit]

Depends on what fits the horse- butet does not seem to fit my current horse well at all, but Devoucoux does fit him very well. However I've had another 5/6 horses on which Devou saddles were absolutely terrible on and there was nothing you couldve done to make them fit or make them comfty.- there does not seem to be many horses that they fit well- therefore universally, Devo's have quite a bad reputation for being bad for horses backs- but am sure it is not that black and white- it is what suits each individual horse best.

Butets are supposed to be more comfortable/better made, and universally fit a much wider range of horses... and the Butet company are MUCH better to deal with and treat their customers very well... the exact opposite could be said about the Devo customers...lots of v.v pissed off people there!

I swear that the Devo xc saddle is the most comfortable thing around tho- you feel like a pro!

 

[libertehorsebox]

hi there, Ive got Devoucoux, but havnt been pleased with the fit of any of them, they can move about quite a bit. I am now selling my devoucoux and looking at Butet, a good friend said if her house was on fire she would rescue her jack russell and her Butet saddle!!! Ive also heard Sederholm are great for customer service. Devoucoux tend to just employ sales people so if you do go down that route then maybe get an experienced fitter out at the same time.

 

[hollibobs]

I have a devoucoux and love it. Keep reading on here how they are bad for horses backs but I've not come across that with mine. However, I don't use it for everyday riding, maybe thats the difference. I only use it for x country and jumping at home (which I do very little of).

Have to agree about the customer service though

None existant really, probably wouldn't buy another due to this.

 

[Vicki_Krystal]

I have 2 Devocoux and i love them.
I have ridden in Butet and find that if your on a horse with a good back end then the Devocoux holds you in place MUCH better!

I have never had a problem with fitting either and have always found them helpful.

 

[StaceyTanglewood]

Butet are lovely but i have to say i prefer my prestige !!!! sorry shouldnt have added that one they are also changeable so if your horse does put on or take off some muscle you can have them changed x

 

[abenton]

I have a butet and love it! I was looking at devoucoux, however the customer service was so bad i vowed i would never spend money, i phoned them orininally for a bridle, with the option of a saddle, had to save up, as soon as i said this, she said she would ring me back about coming out, she was very rude, and then never did, i wont even go into their stands at events!

Everyone at butet is lovely, and if you have any problems they will come out really quickly to help you try and resolve it!

 

[TableDancer]

Aha!! I have both (and an empty bank account

) My view is as follows: they are both good saddles, which, well-fitted can be comfortable for horse and rider. However, for me the better one is Butet every time. I have ridden in Butets for years (more than 10), then last year I had a crisis, old Butet XC was too narrow for best horse, I was struggling slightly to get Sederholms (was just when Anky was having her baby) and friend had Devoucoux rep to her yard down the road so I joined in, and bought a Devoucoux. Service was fine, and fit is fine, but delivery time was 14 weeks which p*ssed me off as took me beyond end of season.

This spring, I decided to sell four saddles

to finance a new dressage saddle. Went to Sederholms and it was like coming home. Anky came out and spent 2 hours here, I rode in several different saddles, discussed fit for me and pony in detail, put together my ideal saddle like a jigsaw puzzle. 6 weeks later saddle arrived, was absolutely yummy in every respect, comfy from the first time I sat in it, can't fault it (except price

) So basically, no contest, Butet every time

And if I could sell my Devoucoux and buy a Butet for the same price (despite the fact I'm perfectly happy with the D) I would do so...

 

[louisem]

Always had Devoucoux and Prestige, but recently won a Butet and I. LOVE. IT!!!! I ride 7-8 a day just find that I sit more naturally even though the Butet is only 3 weeks old!

 

[x_lou_x]

out of butet or devoucoux then butet anyday!! much better for horses and SS are a fantastic company to deal with!

But i have a Bruno delgrange and it is amazing!! beats them both!

 

[kit279]

I have single flap Butet XC saddles and Devoucoux dressage. They fit the nags beautifully - but then I have found that they seem to fit the TB type horse best. No back problems to speak of - despite one of them always being coldbacked in flocked saddles, he goes brilliantly in the close contact latex saddles, never bucks. All of mine were secondhand - yes, they were expensive but they hold their value and if I need to, I can sell them on for pretty much what I paid for them. As regards hunting/hacking, we do everything in these saddles. Never had problems and the horses are not the kind to keep quiet if something hurts!

 

[TableDancer]

[ QUOTE ]
I have single flap Butet XC saddles and Devoucoux dressage. They fit the nags beautifully - but then I have found that they seem to fit the TB type horse best.

[/ QUOTE ]

Just one extra thing: Butet now have two different tree types. The old one was designed for, and fitted best, TB types - think Andrew Nicholson horses (he has always ridden in Butets). However, a year or so ago, due to the changing type of horses we all ride nowadays, they introduced a new tree which is far more suitable for warmbloods etc with bigger shoulders. So they now have something for everyone

 

[seabiscuit]

That is interesting TableDancer!

 

[TableDancer]

I know, I don't know why they haven't publicised it more - I have had a go at Anky (in a nice way

), I also feel they should have done more to counter the rumours about them being no good to ride in for long periods and harming horses' backs - suggested they could do with some good PR but didn't get anywhere

Trouble is (if you're a freelancer looking for work

) even in this economic climate they've been run off their feet this year, barely able to keep up!

 

[connie1288]

I have had both, A Butet jump saddle (normal flap) a Devoucoux xc saddle (mono flap) and a Butet dressage (mono flap)

I personally do not like the new Butet saddles, my jump saddle would be about 9yrs old now I think so old design. The mono flap xc was not a supporting and as comfortable as I would like.
My Devoucoux jump was new at the beginning of this year, I use it on all my horses, as I used the Butet on all my ponies, but one who really really hated it, even though it appeared to fit her very well.
I find the leather on the Devoucoux, I did pay for Buffalo, better and not so affected by the rain, the Butet turned into a bar of saddle soap.

The service of the two companies, I found was very similar, I bought both my Butets at shows and had no problems, jump 2nd hand, dressage ex demo.
The Devoucoux was brand new, the rep was brilliant, given the task was to fit a saddle to a horse with no withers and a crooked spine!
When all the horses are in work, I will be selling the Butet dressage saddle, as it no longer fits me and Mary hates it, and I find it a big bulky saddle, and replacing it with a Devoucoux.

Obviously all of above is my opinion and experience, I have never had any problems with the Devoucoux customer service, also bought girths, bridle and breast plate. And so far my physio is very happy with theirs backs.

 

[christine48]

Have always had devecoux however having seen the Butet at Blenheim would def try those next time and £200 cheaper

 

[Weezy]

Butet, every time. I have been lucky enough to ride in both and Butet won hands down. I am, however, exchanging my XC for the standard jump saddle as I do not ride short enough for the XC saddle and I don't do XC, only SJ LOL!

 

[sarahs]

Butet !!!!!!!!!!!!!
SS came out and held there hands up and said they couldnt fit my difficult shaped horse.
Devoucoux came out, fluttered their eyelashes, took over £5000 from me and gave me to saddles I couldnt ride my horse in as they were flat on his back, so gave me 2 more saddles that were equally as cruel to ride in. eventually got some of my money back - not all though!
I still get mad when I think about them, it was a bit of a standard joke at the yard that devoucoux had bent me over one of their tubs and ****** me !

 

[seche]

Sarahs! That has made me laugh enormously, I understand what folk are saying about them being excellent sales reps. What an uncomfortable experience that must have been for you!

Both look beautifully made and im with Weezy on this one as although I am tall and ride short it is a saddle to share with my Mother whos somewhat shorter than I - plus long girth straps when youve short arms prob arnt all that helpful.

Also I am not a pro-event rider (no matter how hard I try) - nor do I have the talent to warrent having such a major single pannel piece of kit. These days Im pretty much a joy rider apart from Cavalry horses in the week, I hunt and hope to do the odd day ticket, least with a mega saddle like this it might last me a life time for when I do have a potential megastar in the stables again. Crikey my 1st horse and I went PC open and BHTA (as was in those days) Nov in a GP..
How things have changed.

I have made contact (AKA left message) with SS...

 

[kerilli]

sarahs, big sympathy. (and thanks for cracking me up, i'll never look at 1 of those Devoucoux tubs in the same way again.)
Butet is on my wish list, definitely.

 

[jcberry]

Devoucoux

 

[fingers_crossed]

Never a devoucoux!!!! Not experienced the butet service, so don't really feel qualified to answer that bit

 

[eventrider23]

Butet every time as the others have said. Both their single and double flap saddles are heavenly to ride in, both in jumping/XC saddles and their dressage saddles. Have ridden in Butet's, Dev's and Prestige's and Butet wins hands down. The Dev close contact XC saddle is nice but no contest to the Butet, both in fit and type but also in customer service!