Apogee
LX
Jumping Saddles
Manufacturer: Apogee
Model: LX
Category: Jumping Saddles
Purchase: I purchased this saddle a year ago from a Devoucoux dealer in my area. I was actually looking for a Childeric (my trainer has one and it is heavenly), but instead I tried its cousin and loved it. It fit my horse (a tall leggy TB with miles of withers) and I better than anything else we tried and my horse actually moved better in it than the others. It had been ridden in a handful of times so I got it for just under $3000.
Likes: This is the best saddle. I actually like it a little better than my trainer's Childeric because her's has a deep seat, where as mine has the half-deep. It makes a big difference over fences. I also felt that way when I tried the Devoucouxs - I couldn't get out of it. It's made of the same gorgeous French leather as the Childeric, is incredibly "sticky," and is very comfortable to sit in, especially when in the saddle all day long waiting on large divisions.
Dislikes: My model is the darker leather, which is good because my jeans have altered the color of the gorgeous mahogany leather. It fades some when I clean it, but there is still a butt print which would be so much worse on lighter leather. Also, the leather does show every scratch, dent or soil, and some stirrup leathers marr the flaps worse than others. Be ready for cleaning, maintenance, and conditioning so that the leather doesn't lose its "sticky" and become slick.
Quality: Top quality and construction. Each saddle is hand made so there is some variation in each, which is good for me because I was able to fine tune which saddle fit the best (I had choice of 3). The leather is impeccable, however it is only available in medium grain and I do love smooth (minor detail). The stirrup bars are recessed so there isn't any bulk under the leg and knee rolls and leg blocks are great. It seems to fit most every horse I put it on and I haven't had any problems with back stiffness or soreness.
Summary: Overall, this saddle is definitely worth every penny. Everyone that has ridden in it has loved it and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Some balk at the amount of money, but it is a saddle I will be able to comfortably ride in for many many years.
Rating: 5
Author: Lesley
Date: 2006-03-04
Usefulness Rating: 2.8 out of 5.
5 reader(s) voted.
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