Tack Tip Tuesday

Decoding Saddle Codes

No gatekeeping here! Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to saddle fit. Many French-made English saddles will be stamped with a serial number, model number and other important fitting information. Each brand has its own language for organizing the information on their saddles. Some brands are happy to share to educate potential clients on their products and tack while others try to keep it more of a mystery.  This makes it challenging for those who want to learn more about the saddle created by different brands.  This is my ever-growing list of saddle decoding notes I have picked up as I research and learn more. I am happy to share what I have learned with you, but just a reminder I am not a certified saddle fitter, just a tack nerd!  This blog post will be ever-changing and growing as I learn. :)  Another reminder, stamps will be for when the saddle was produced, sometimes there can be changes made to the saddle that are not reflected in the stamp.  Antares In 2000, Antares was established in Saintes, France, with the goal of creating both luxurious and high technology saddles.  Five professionals within the horse world came together: Xavier Lenrouilly, Thierry Guiberteau, Eric Guiberteau, Evelyne Cummings, and Dominique Bauer.  Antares Saddles have 3 tree options, their standard medium wide, and two wider styles the A01 and A02. Similar to other French saddles, a foam paneling can be crafted to help with the fit of the saddle to the horse's back.  If you are looking for the Antares stamp it can be found on the billet flap or on the back right of the sweat flap.  Example Antares Saddle 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 manufacturing 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       CWD  CWD Saddles are one of the most popular French made saddles. Their saddles can come with options for a variety of different leathers including, grain (most durable), calf (soft and grippy but still with excellent durability) or buffalo (the softest and most grippy).   CWD Saddles feature a 3-point girthing system, wide panels that are concave and integrated for a better pressure distribution of the saddle along the horse's back, and a higher cut sweat flap to reduce bulk under the rider's leg. CWDS also tend to have the shortest billets.  Many people find they need to go up at least one, if not 2, girth sizes to accommodate the shorter billets.  SE01 TC 170 3L PA 715 205 205  06 560 CWD typically has 3 lines on their stamp. The top will be details regarding the model, seat size, and flap on the saddle. The second row has information on the foam panels, and the third row will contain the year it was produced and the serial number.  The majority of French saddles are built on a similar tree, then shaped to the horse with the foam panels. Since there isn't a range of tree sizes, it is important to understand how the panel is shaped when researching these saddles.  The standard CWD Panel will either have no stamp or read 700 / 200 / 300. The 700 section refers to the front of the panels, 200 ranges from the shoulder to the cantle and 300 is the rear.  Their standard pro-panel 705 / 205 / 305. CWD Flaps come in a limited number of shapes compared to other brands. With C as their forward and L as their straighter standard style. They do come in a variety of sizes from 0 - 5, with 0 being the shortest.  PA - Less Fill RT- Cut Back at the Shoulders TC - Flat Seat  TR - Half Deep Seat XTR - Deep Seat  SE25 2Gs Semi Deep Seat SE26 2Gs Flat Seat SE32 2Gs Mademoiselle SE33 2GS Kid SE38 2GS Hunter Mademoiselle SE01 Flat Seat SE02 Semi Deep Seat SE03 Close Contact SE10 Classic Kid S0 16.5" S1 17" S2 17.5" S3 18" Flap 1 – 5 Flap Length. 1 is the shortest and 5 the longest. Flap C Forward Flap L Straight Flap K Kid Flap H Hunter Panel 705, 205, 305 Pro Panel RG More Wither Clearance     Butet Another elegant French-made saddle. Known for their close contact feel, Butets offer a narrower twist compared to other brands, but this also leads to them fitting more narrow. They tend not to fit horses with very large shoulders or those with a convex area behind the shoulder.  They do tend to fit normal to narrower-shouldered horses, thoroughbreds and French-bred horses very well.  Butets come in whole sizes only. You can find the half-sized seat in Europe more commonly than in North America. Butets frequently vary in seat size by 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch from the stamped size so always measure the actual seat size - both desired and in the saddle you are considering. They have either standard or forward flaps (designated as .5), various flap lengths (0 being short, 1 standard, 2 long, and 3 extra long), and flat (P) or deeper (L) seats. The deep-seat Butet is about equivalent to a half-deep in CWD or Devoucoux.    Butet has options on their tree width, including E = narrow, N / S = standard, W = wide, XL = extra-wide (if not mentioned in the serial number, this means standard tree) Flap 1 Standard  Flap 2 Long Flap 3 Extra Long Flap ¼ Slightly Forward  Flap ½ Forward Seat P Flat Seat L Half-Deep Seat C Deep Seat Size Follows Depth Letter Year # above MIF   ‍Devoucoux Devoucouxs come in whole and half seat sizes and flap lengths 0 through 5.  Grain/calf, full calf, and buffalo leather are all options. Devoucoux has 4 "grades" of forwardness, with D being the straightest, no letter associated with the flap length being standard, A being forward and AA being very forward.  18S42019888 002 2A D3D 4.0 3-5 18 = year of manufacturing (2018) S42019888 = saddle make reference number 002 = seat Size (001/16"-16.5", 002-17"-17.5", 003/18"-18.5") 2A = flaps (flap lengths 0-5, D/Straight, A/Forward, AA/Extra Forward, B/Low Forward) D3D 4.0 3-5 = panel configuration (D3D is wider panels that are perfectly symmetrical: weight-bearing surface area increased by 30% compared to the previous generation of panels) Year 1st number in Serial Seat  3rd Row left Flap 0 – 5 Length of Flap Flap D -Straight Flap A - Forward Flap AA - Very Forward Flap B  - Lower Curve   More Recommended Reading https://www.facebook.com/amandaandersonsaddler https://www.saddlesdefrance.com/serial-number-faq