M. Toulouse?

Hey everyone...I have found a horse (yay!) and have now started the "great saddle search". :) My previous saddle was a Stubben, Edelweiss NT, and honestly I just wasn't really happy with it... no matter how much I conditioned it the leather just never really softened or turned at all "grippy" the way I'd like, it was fairly hard to clean, and the balance was just weird. Plus the flap was not long enough for my leg in dressage. So I've been looking around at different saddles, and does anyone have any experience with M. Toulouse saddles? I'm thinking especially of the Legano model, or if I am really convinced, the Marielle Monoflap. I am leaning more towards a non-monoflap saddle, since that is just what I have always used and I'm wary of changing. But these saddles look and sound really nice...most people that have them really like them, but I'd love to hear more about them. I keep hearing that they're comparable to Pessoas, and I'm wondering if that is a good thing?? (I'm an eventer so have not seen many of those.) The price can't be beat, anyway, and I can't go very much above $1000 for a new or used saddle. My new horse is a TB, but a fairly broad, low-withered one with excellent muscle tone. As for me, I need a saddle that will encompass a VERY long thigh, even in a short galloping position (something my Stubben has trouble with). Any and all info would be great.

I have the "Annalese" (my spelling is bad). It's the double leather and it's really soft. Very comfortable. My trainer doesn't like the M. Toulouses, I'm not sure why, her favorite saddle is the Pesseo so I'm not sure if she considers it comparable but I am very happy wiht my saddle.

Thanks for your reply, farmpony...do you mind me asking how long you've had your saddle? Everyone I have heard reviews from seems to have had their saddles for a few years, 5 or 6 at most. I would really love to know how they hold up over a really long period of time, like up to and past their 10 year warranty. That's the only part that makes me a little nervous...I've understood saddle warranties to mean "this saddle will last beautifully up to the warranty limit, then totally fall apart..." although maybe I'm just getting the wrong impression. :\

I've had mine for about a year BUT I only use it on show days.... (I ride in my trainer saddle). I keep it in a saddle bag when not in use....

I loveeeeee my m toulouse ! I'm not sure about holding up as I got mine used and have only had it a year. But I use it every day and it looks just the same as it did the day I got it.

Sadly my 4yo has grown out if it and I'm going to have to sell it.
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It's all about what fit your horse. I had Pessoa and it was NICE to ride. But when my horses grew it ended up being a bad fit for them (so I"m selling it). On other hand I just borrow MT to try and it looks like a decent fit and it's very nice to sit in. I also tried older MT on one of my lessons, and it was very comfortable to ride.

Another note... I bought the wide M. Tolouse and I THINK I may have to replace it next summer becuase Riley is getting so broad. I will wait and see how it fits though...

How old is he already?

OK maybe I will look into them...what type of riding do you guys do? Eventing, jumper, hunter...? Do you think one of these would be a good event saddle, that would be reliable in dressage as well as jumping (especially for a rider with a really long femur?) :)

I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about them. I think M. Toulouse's idea is that their saddles are an affordable knock off of a much more expensive saddle. I was told they take the nicer saddle, pretty much take it apart, and rebuilding it using cheaper materials. So you're essentially getting the same "nice saddle", but cheaper. I think the Legano is supposed to be a knock off of the Pessoa Legacy. The Padgette is a knock off of a PJ by Delgrange. If you go to their website they'll tell you which model is a knock off of what.

I've talked to a lot of people who love them. The biggest complaint I've heard is that they don't seem to be a kind of saddle that's going to last a really long time, especially if you ride in it a lot. (multiple horses a day, every day) I've only ridden in one once. I didn't love it, but I would still recommend it to others.