Buying a used French saddle without knowing how to read the stamp is like buying a horse without a vet check - you might get lucky, but why risk it?
Many French-made English saddles are stamped with a serial number, model number, and key fitting information. The catch is that every brand speaks a different language, and some are a lot more forthcoming about what those numbers mean than others.
This is my running list of decoding notes - picked up through research, handling a lot of saddles, and a genuine obsession with getting fit right. I'm not a certified saddle fitter, just a tack nerd who thinks you deserve to know what you're buying.
This page gets updated as I learn, so bookmark it and check back.
Antares
Founded in 2000 in Saintes, France by five horse industry professionals, Antares built their reputation on combining luxury with function. They offer three tree options - standard, medium wide, and two wider styles (A01 and A02) - and like most French saddles, use foam paneling to fine-tune the fit to your horse's back.
The stamp is on the billet flap or the back right of the sweat flap.
Example stamp: P A1 17 E 09 602
P = seat depth A1 = flap 17 = seat size (generally true to size) E = seat width 09 = year of manufacture 602 = item number of the year
P Flat Seat
SC Half-Deep Seat
C Deep Seat
00-5 Flap Lengths
N Standard (Straight)
A-AAA Progressively more Forward Flaps
AB Lower Point with a more forward Flap
NB Lower Point with a straighter Flap
M15 T1 Pro Panels (Standard)
M10 Decreased amount across entire panel
M20 Increased amount across entire panel
RAR +/- Front of pommel near wither increased or decreased
RAG +/- Back of panel near gusset increased or decreased
DTA Larger contact area of overall panel
T Angle of the panels // As the # gets bigger the angle of the panel becomes more a framed
Browsing Antares saddles? See what we have in stock.
CWD
CWD is one of the most recognized French saddle brands out there, and for good reason. They're built with wide, concave integrated panels for better pressure distribution, a 3-point girthing system, and a higher-cut sweat flap to reduce bulk under your leg. Leather options include grain (most durable), calf (soft and grippy with solid durability), and buffalo (the softest and grippiest of the three).
One thing worth knowing before you shop: CWD billets run short. Most riders need to go up one, sometimes two, girth sizes from what they'd normally ride in. Don't let that catch you off guard when you're comparing listings.
The stamp runs three lines: Line 1 - model, seat size, and flap Line 2 - foam panel configuration Line 3 - year of manufacture and serial number
Example stamp: SE01 TC 170 3L PA 715 205 205 06 560
Most French saddles are built on a similar base tree then shaped to the horse through the foam panels. Since tree size doesn't vary the way it does in other brands, understanding the panel stamp matters more than people expect.
The standard CWD panel will either have no stamp or read 700 / 200 / 300. The 700 refers to the front of the panels, 200 runs from shoulder to cantle, and 300 is the rear. The pro-panel version reads 705 / 205 / 305.
CWD flaps come in fewer shapes than most other brands - C is their forward flap and L is their straighter standard style. Sizes run 0 through 5, with 0 being the shortest.
Models: SE01 - Flat Seat SE02 - Semi Deep Seat SE03 - Close Contact SE10 - Classic Kid SE25 2Gs - Semi Deep Seat SE26 2Gs - Flat Seat SE32 2Gs - Mademoiselle SE33 2Gs - Kid SE38 2Gs - Hunter Mademoiselle
Seat depth codes: TC - Flat Seat TR - Half Deep Seat XTR - Deep Seat
Other codes: PA - Less Fill RT - Cut Back at the Shoulders RG - More Wither Clearance
Seat sizes: S0 - 16.5" S1 - 17" S2 - 17.5" S3 - 18"
Flap lengths (1 shortest, 5 longest): C - Forward L - Straight K - Kid H - Hunter
Pro Panel - 705 / 205 / 305
Butet
Butets are known for their close contact feel and narrower twist, which is part of what makes them so popular with riders who want to feel every conversation with their horse. That narrow twist does mean they tend to fit narrower - they're not the best match for horses with large shoulders or a convex area behind the shoulder, but they work beautifully on thoroughbreds, French-breds, and horses with normal to narrower shoulders.
One thing that catches people off guard: Butets come in whole sizes only in North America. Half sizes exist but you'll mostly find them in Europe. More importantly, Butet seat sizes can run 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch off from the stamp - more consistently than most other brands. Always measure the actual seat, both the one you want and the one you're considering buying.
Tree width options: E - Narrow N / S - Standard W - Wide XL - Extra Wide (No letter in the serial number means standard tree)
Seat depth: P - Flat L - Half Deep C - Deep
Flap lengths: 1 - Standard 2 - Long 3 - Extra Long 1/4 - Slightly Forward 1/2 - Forward
Year of manufacture is the number above MIF on the stamp.
Check out our current Butet consignment tack and saddles
Devoucoux
Devoucoux saddles come in whole and half seat sizes with flap lengths running 0 through 5. Leather options include grain/calf, full calf, and buffalo. One thing that sets Devoucoux apart is their four levels of flap forwardness - D being the straightest, standard having no letter, A being forward, and AA being very forward. That granularity is genuinely useful when you're trying to match a saddle to a specific riding position.
The stamp runs like this:
Example: 18S42019888 002 2A D3D 4.0 3-5
18 - year of manufacture (2018) S42019888 - saddle reference number 002 - seat size 2A - flap configuration D3D 4.0 3-5 - panel configuration
Seat sizes: 001 - 16" to 16.5" 002 - 17" to 17.5" 003 - 18" to 18.5"
Flap lengths: 0 through 5
Flap shape: D - Straight A - Forward AA - Very Forward B - Lower Curve
Panel note: D3D panels have a wider weight-bearing surface area - about 30% more contact than the previous generation. Worth looking for if your horse needs better pressure distribution.
Have a stamp you're trying to decode? Send it our way - we're happy to take a look.
This list grows as we learn, so bookmark this page and check back. And when you're ready to put your new knowledge to use, start with our used English saddle inventory.
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