Has the bubble burst for Le Mieux new season colours?

[Barton Bounty]

Yes it does if people change the thickness of the pad from what was fitted, but most fitters have moved on from a "well fitting saddle only needs a thin cotton numnah". There are many benefits from using the appropriate therapeutic pad.



Unsolicited I know, but just check out the difference in how the saddle looks in each photo, if the blue set is the most recent photo it would be worth having the saddle checked

My saddle is fine, just been checked , and BB likes the saddle with a little more flair at the front. It has been adjusted between the fig and sienna and the marine. it wasnt properly tightened but thanks anyway

 

[Bernster]

I like le mieux. Its long lasting washes ok lovely colours and fits well. I mainly have the saddle pads. I agree there’s too many similar colours now so I don’t buy but I have a few too many in my cupboard from past years. Hoping they’ll last me so I won’t be guilty of excessive consumerism which is a fair point and one I’m more conscious of now.

 

[saddlesore]

Must admit I love the kiwi hat silk

 

[Merrymoles]

In the past, the only "branded" saddle pad I have ever bought has been Nuumed, partly because I like the traditional numnah shape and partly because the quality is great and they last forever. I was dismayed at Bramham last year when I couldn't find anything but Le Mieux when looking for a purple numnah for a friend's birthday and came home and ordered a Nuumed for her which she is delighted with.

All that said, I got a Le Mieux pad with the tack when I bought my horse last summer and I am delighted with it. It comes out of the wash looking brand new every time and doesn't move when it's on. So I wouldn't rule another out but am not fussed about the "in trend" colours.

 

[FAYEFUDGE]

I noticed that Le Mieux have been advertising their latest colours which dropped earlier this week.

Previously there would be a lot of excited chatter about it but I haven't heard of anyone rushing out to get them this time.

Has the bubble finally burst on the rush to buy something that is a very slightly different shade to what was previously available?

I guess the current financial climate will have a lot to do with it but it did always seem to be a lot of marketing hype and a bit of a rip off.

Don’t like the new colours at all

 

[sbloom]

My saddle is fine, just been checked , and BB likes the saddle with a little more flair at the front. It has been adjusted between the fig and sienna and the marine. it wasnt properly tightened but thanks anyway

Great, no problem, it was only as it fits differently in all 3 photos.

 

[ecb89]

Matchy matchy threads always bring out the ‘I only use my one brown saddle pad I bought in 1965’ crew. You do you hun

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Matchy matchy threads always bring out the ‘I only use my one brown saddle pad I bought in 1965’ crew. You do you hun

Sometimes I'm envious of that crew, tbh
Getting their monies worth, using less storage space for pads, and not being distracted by colour.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

So if I ever, God forbid, went down the matchy matchy route which company would be the best one to go to? In terms of availability, reasonable prices for what you get, longevity, fit etc?

I swerved into coloured ones (ex traditional showing bod here) when I saw the Equestrian Stockholm in brick orange. Perfect to have as my hacking one as a nice bright colour, fitted with saddle, washes and wears v well.
For RC stuff I use Equito which are a bit shiny...... but again wash and wear very well.
I do use plain cotton ones when it's very hot weather though as need swapping out after just about every ride.

 

[Sealine]

It would be interesting to know the ages of the matchy, matchy fans vs the traditional only brown/black crew. I know this is a sweeping generalisation and it's just my observation but, at fun rides etc, the majority of the Le Mieux and matchy, matchy fans are younger. Us oldies (50+ ) tend to be more traditional and stuck in our ways and matchy, matchy is not for me but if that's what people want to spend their money on it's their choice. When I was child black tack was very much frowned upon as not traditional and I loved matching coloured nylon girths and reins. Fashions change!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

It would be interesting to know the ages of the matchy, matchy fans vs the traditional only brown/black crew. I know this is a sweeping generalisation and it's just my observation but, at fun rides etc, the majority of the Le Mieux and matchy, matchy fans are younger. Us oldies (50+ ) tend to be more traditional and stuck in our ways and matchy, matchy is not for me but if that's what people want to spend their money on it's their choice. When I was child black tack was very much frowned upon as not traditional and I loved matching coloured nylon girths and reins. Fashions change!

I'm an oldie.... happy to use bright coloured saddle pads but draw the line at matching bandages or boots and veil as none are necessary for my mare.

(I do have traditional gear for occasional returns to the show ring)

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Well I have to confess I love matchy matchy. I even designed and had manufactured my own brand for a couple years and I could not restock them in fast enough, probably because the price was reasonable and the quality was good. I hated Le Mieux personally as they never sat quite right on any of my horses and I always thought them far too expensive for what they were. Other ones I liked were anything Mattes, super quality but expensive. Eskadron were also very good quality but never seemed quite big enough for my big horse.

If, and its a big if, I do get another riding horse I dare say I will be out and about making a complete tit of myself in anything and everything matchy matchy that takes my fancy! Pinnacle saddle pads from Horse & Rider in the UK are fantastic quality and their prices are unbeatable IMO, be warned they do come up a little on the large size but that worked for my big horse so I had several of their pads.

Some pics of my favourite colours on him just because

Oh and yes I am very much an oldie, nearly 74, and couldn't be more delighted to embrace all the fun colours after decades of boring old brown and black, occasionally white and that was it. Always very much a child in my heart these days when around my horses.

 

[Goldenstar]

I really dislike the Le Mieux saddle clothes I find them too short .
But I have no issues with people who like a bit of colour in their lives it’s harmless fun.
When I was younger and out and about more I had a matchy thing going on I liked the HKM dressage squares they they had loads of colours and also liked a matching brow band those where the days .

 

[Barton Bounty]

Great, no problem, it was only as it fits differently in all 3 photos.

Think its just the angle to be honest, there was no change between fig and sienna, but there is with the marine. Its slightly lifted all photos the girth is not fully done up, dont so it till im ready to get on

 

[Barton Bounty]

Matchy matchy threads always bring out the ‘I only use my one brown saddle pad I bought in 1965’ crew. You do you hun

Literally dying at this comment

 

[Zoeypxo]

I like the clothing, roll neck base layers are my favourite

I find the lemieux saddle pads way too short, my saddle is 17.5inch and it sits way over the back of the pad. Annoying.

Ps of Sweden have some lovely colours and a bit better quality .

 

[Lexi 123]

I got a feeling that a lot of posters against le mieux are older women who don’t get the younger generation equine trends so automatically dismis/ dislike . Op it’s had been released tictok weeks before the company announced it majority of people have saw the new colours so there was no hype. Nobody copied Crafty ponys because it not an original product my granny made them they had been around for when she was a child .

 

[Upthecreek]

I love colour, just not most of the Le Mieux colours! I just think a lot of them look cheap (even though they’re anything but!). And for me matching everything is just too much. But if you like it, you like it. Nothing against anyone spending their hard earned cash on it if it makes them happy.

 

[Fieldlife]

If you search LeMieux in here you'll find discussions, it's not just Crafty Ponies, and I do think they were pretty direct rip off, but grooming bags and one or two others, they have form. And the whole "new colours" twice a year thing isn't exactly saving the planet...I have long stocked Mattes who provide colour samples and only introduce new colours occasionally, everything is custom made with huge choice so less likely to be chucked away in a year or two.

I use mainly lemieux Prosuede bennetton blue saddle cloths. I bought 5 from when I had two horses. Have lasted me about 6 years so far. I havent bought much else, as only have one horse and these are still going. I still like the colour and they are comfortable, durable, and wash well. Do people really buy one colour and then chuck it a few years later?

 

[Fieldlife]

I love colour, just not most of the Le Mieux colours! I just think a lot of them look cheap (even though they’re anything but!). And for me matching everything is just too much. But if you like it, you like it. Nothing against anyone spending their hard earned cash on it if it makes them happy.

I have a number of benetton blue saddle cloths, that are all fairly old. I have blue stirrups (second hand), some blue poloshirts, blue stones in my browband, and blue in some of my hoof boots. Dont really use leg boots / bandages / matching ears etc. Blue headcollar, blue feedbuckets etc. But didnt cost me any extra to get the same things I would buy anyway in blue over the years. I think we have had same shades of blue for last 5-6 years, and it still makes me smile.

 

[catkin]

I'm old, I think matchy matchy looks fab but not really got much for myself as don't really use much.

Those of you with natives ridden by adults and other hard to fit equines will know that most tack spendies has to go on made-to-measure bridles and specialist saddles to get anything close to fitting. My ponies have all seemed to have an expensive sheepskin habit too Nowt left for matchy matchy after that little lot.

I was a very early adopter of the bling browband trend though if that counts.......

 

[teapot]

I got a feeling that a lot of posters against le mieux are older women who don’t get the younger generation equine trends so automatically dismis/ dislike . Op it’s had been released tictok weeks before the company announced it majority of people have saw the new colours so there was no hype. Nobody copied Crafty ponys because it not an original product my granny made them they had been around for when she was a child .

Nope, some of us don't like their stuff as it fits badly, not to mention encouraging the use of polo bandages by people who may not know how to put them on properly. (We banned them in one of my previous jobs for those kids who loaned ponies!)

Their business ethics are somewhat questionable too. Crafty Ponies weren't the only known company to be ripped off, didn't they steal a Horseware type idea too? They also can't keep their staff at Head Office which says a lot imho.

 

[TPO]

If you think matchy matchy is too much and Le Mieux is expensive never look at western saddle pads (& boots) or the matchy & bling in pleasure classes 

 

[scats]

I have a few LeMieux- blue, turquoise, mulberry, navy. Though I find their ear bonnets aren’t a great fit so I actually buy cheaper ear bonnets off an eBay shop, that match colour as close as I can.

I don’t find many of the newer Lemieux colours over the years are much different from some of the other ones they’ve brought out. Or at least nothing has really grabbed me. I do find them rather overpriced but they do actually fit Millie really well so if I saw another I liked, I’d buy it.

The ethics of the company are questionable though. They blatantly ripped off Crafty Ponies with those toys.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Matchy matchy threads always bring out the ‘I only use my one brown saddle pad I bought in 1965’ crew. You do you hun

No problem with matchy matchy.

I do dislike hideous overpriced tat from a very unpleasant company.

Hun.

 

[Lexi 123]

Nope, some of us don't like their stuff as it fits badly, not to mention encouraging the use of polo bandages by people who may not know how to put them on properly. (We banned them in one of my previous jobs for those kids who loaned ponies!)

Their business ethics are somewhat questionable too. Crafty Ponies weren't the only known company to be ripped off, didn't they steal a Horseware type idea too? They also can't keep their staff at Head Office which says a lot imho.

They actually fit fine like any other saddle pad brand I have never had a problem maybe people should look at there saddle fit because that’s mostly the reason not the saddle pads and any brand of polo bandages can be a problem if someone doesn’t know how to do it that’s not the company fault . Craft ponies and horseware weren’t ripped off if they were genuine copyrighted violation they would have sued which proof it’s wasn’t a original idea them companies copied from other people they are all as guilty as each other . I didn’t know you worked for this Company to get this information . If you don’t like The brand that fine but stop bashing people for using it .

 

[ecb89]

No problem with matchy matchy.

I do dislike hideous overpriced tat from a very unpleasant company.

Hun.

Why have you taken my jokey post so personally?

 

[teapot]

They actually fit fine like any other saddle pad brand I have never had a problem maybe people should look at there saddle fit because that’s mostly the reason not the saddle pads and any brand of polo bandages can be a problem if someone doesn’t know how to do it that’s not the company fault . Craft ponies and horseware weren’t ripped off if they were genuine copyrighted violation they would have sued which proof it’s wasn’t a original idea them companies copied from other people they are all as guilty as each other . I didn’t know you worked for this Company to get this information . If you don’t like The brand that fine but stop bashing people for using it .

I've seen them used in a 100 horse riding school and the vast majority haven't fitted, compared to Nummed pads for example.

Not sure my post was bashing the people who use Le Mieux, really couldn't care less what people spend their money on? Just personally not a fan of poor quality, mass produced tat, an opinion myself and many others share it appears.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

If you think matchy matchy is too much and Le Mieux is expensive never look at western saddle pads (& boots) or the matchy & bling in pleasure classes 

Oh for sure! I never went as far as the matching saddle pads and boots, but I did get my Amish made matching show saddle and bridle if that counts, It cost almost as much as the horse! ☺ Crikey I have done some crazy things back in the day.

 

[gallopingby]

It would be interesting to know the ages of the matchy, matchy fans vs the traditional only brown/black crew. I know this is a sweeping generalisation and it's just my observation but, at fun rides etc, the majority of the Le Mieux and matchy, matchy fans are younger. Us oldies (50+ ) tend to be more traditional and stuck in our ways and matchy, matchy is not for me but if that's what people want to spend their money on it's their choice. When I was child black tack was very much frowned upon as not traditional and I loved matching coloured nylon girths and reins. Fashions change!

I don’t like black tack but then l’m old