Verhan
Todd Minikus
Close Contact Saddles
Manufacturer: Verhan
Model: Todd Minikus
Category: Close Contact Saddles
Purchase: I looked at and sat on a zillion saddles in tack shops, and I've ridden on a zillion saddles in my day, since I've never owned my own before. My trainer loves Crosbys, but there weren't too many to be found in the tack shops I went to -- apparently they're not so hot these days. Anyway, I was planning to order one from Dover Saddlery by mail, since it would be cheaper than buying it in person, but then I went to yet another local tack shop here in southeastern PA to see what they had. Well, you know how realtors and car dealers always show you something a little over your stated price limit -- that's what these folks did too. They got out an 18" Verhan Todd Minikus that had just come in, only used by its first owner VERY lightly for two weeks. It was priced to move, for a Verhan, but it was well outside of my price range. But then I sat on it.
Likes: The whole thing is calfskin, and it was so grippy I couldn't slide around in it even when I tried. Brand new it's an oakish color, but it had been oiled up nicely to a good dark brown, slightly reddish. Good balance, nicely shaped flaps (though no knee blocks -- I'm going to have some put in), nice long billet guards, wool-flocked panels. Since I'm going to use it on a variety of horses I might have preferred a cutback pommel, but it has a nice deep gullet so I don't expect it to be a problem. And man, that calfskin. I just fell in love with that calfskin, and decided to take the saddle on trial. Rode in it a couple times, put my (11yo) daughter in it. Just couldn't give up that calfskin. Grippiest darn thing I ever saw. So, bada bing bada boom, I bought it for $2600. Put some Prestige leathers on it and some double-jointed irons, and I just love the thing. Even without the knee rolls I don't feel like I'm sliding around.
Dislikes:
Quality:
Summary: It's a beautiful, traditional-looking, satisfying close contact saddle that I plan to have for many years.
Rating: 5
Author: Laura
Date: 2006-04-24
Usefulness Rating: 3.46296 out of 5.
54 reader(s) voted.
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