Opinions on saddles please? Prestige vs. Hermes!

[sambolam]

I am looking to buy a new or used dressage saddle and wanted to get some opinions, especially if there is someone out there that has ridden in both.

My dream saddle for the last year had been the Prestige Optimax. I currently ride in an older Prestige Appaloosa, and the Prestige Eventer for jumping and love both. But I want to move up as the Appaloosa is a little narrow for my mare. (33cm)

Since I've been looking at saddles the Hermes Corlandus has really caught my eye and now I am trying to figure out a way to somehow get one!!!! I have seen several reviews online that absolutely raved about them, but are they really that much better? How much of the $7,200 (dollars) price tag is the designer name, and how much is performance? Thoughts anyone??? The other thing I am unsure about is the monoflap design. On some of the used ones I have seen the flap looks very worn. Would you get less years of wear out of a monoflap saddle versus say the Prestiige Optimax which has the traditional 2 flaps?

At $7,200 for the Hermes, and $3,250 for the Prestige Optimax is there really almost $4,000 worth of difference between the two saddles?

Please anyone with experience with both or either share your thoughts!

(and anyone that has either a used prestige optimax 34cm/17seat or a Hermes Corlandus 17 seat med tree for sale contact me!)

Thanks!

 

[baleofhay]

I have the Prestige OPtimax. It is really really lovely

 

[madhector]

Having gone from a normal double flap to a devoucoux monoflap dressage saddle I would never go back to having 2 flaps Im afraid. The difference in feel is amazing. Saying that the optimax is a lovely saddle and was my next option if the devoucoux was no good....

 

[sillygillyhorse]

I am another who loves a monoflap dressage saddle and would find it hard to go back to tradiional 2 flaps. That said saddles are such a personal thing and everyone has their own preferences. Not much help really!