M. Toulouse Annice Close Contact Saddle with Genesis System
4.2
5
10
10
Not For Long Legs
I just sent this saddle back today from the test ride. I am so thankful that SmartPak has this test ride system available! This saddle has a very nice broken in feel to the leather and the genesis tree is great. However, I had bruises on my calves and thighs after the first ride. The flap is way too short and the extra piece of leather at the bottom is super stiff. The top of my half chaps also got stuck on the flap several times while ridding. I tried riding in it one last time with my field boots and I could still feel the rubbing.
April 15, 2013
Nice Saddle
Great for my horse with high withers. Adjustable pads are awesome and helps keep your legs in place while jumping. Sticky leather for additional help keeping your legs in place while jumping. Saved me from falling on 2 occasions. Color is a little funky but I have not tried darkening oil. Bought matching bridle but it is really not the same color. Overall an awesome ride in the saddle!!! I don't think you will be unhappy with all the bells and whistles on this saddle!!!
March 22, 2013
Really Good Saddle
I've had this saddle for a couple months and I really like it. I love the adjustability. I am very short and my horse has a flat, barrel back with no withers, and she's tiny. This made it extremely difficult to find a saddle that could fit us both well. The genesis system, short flaps, adjustable knee rolls and thigh blocks made it happen. The leather is great quality, very soft, however, the quality and value got a downgrade from me because the lining on the panels is not leather. It is some sort of synthetic material. The saddle is sold as an all leather saddle and after you oil it the lining is a different color from the rest of the saddle. I'm more concerned with the function, so I'm keeping it, but it is something that should be mentioned in the description. I use half chaps and have not found the pinching to be a problem, but without half chaps the saddle does pinch.
December 24, 2012
Was great until I keep riding
I bought this saddle 4 months ago and it went great for the test ride. The more I rode, the more I noticed that the buckle under the flap for the stirrup leathers was rubbing my calfs so bad I had bruises. The flap is also too short and kept getting the top of my boots caught, throwing me off balance. Nice saddle but too painful for my taste. Its going back...
May 7, 2012
Good Saddle!
Purchased a little over a year ago for my (growing) 3 year old Thoroughbred. It fits her great and I have our local saddler come out ever now and then to re-adjust the Genesis tree, which has been a lifesaver because her wither and back is constantly growing and changing! The leather quality is great and is an overall good saddle.
April 30, 2012
Did not meet expectations
My mom has a Toulouse dressage saddle that I really like, so being in the market for a budget friendly jumping saddle, I decided to try the Annice close contact. Almost everything about this saddle looks promising. Nice supple leather, cushy seat, plus the genesis tree which allows you to switch from narrow, regular, and wide so that no matter the horse the saddle will fit! However, there is one MAJOR problem with this saddle which prevented me from keeping it after my test ride. At the bottom of the outer flap there is an extra band of leather attached over the flap that pinches the middle of your calf, chaps and all. At a walk you can feel it a little but start trotting or cantering and it is a seriously uncomfortable ride. You can barely see it in the pictures but look at the zoomed in version. All I can say is that I hope someone with some power can forward on this review to the manufacturers and they can get rid of that unnecessary strap of leather. Would've been perfect if not for that!
February 29, 2012