For years I've been fascinated with the design and function of the Devoucoux Chiberta monoflap saddle. They've taken over the market in upper level eventing and I ride in one myself. Their beauty is that the rider can balance over his stirrups, where the horse can happily carry him through terrain and over jumps, without the billets, buckles, and girth between the horse and the rider's leg. The rider's leg lies flat on the horse's side, unlike the heavily padded saddles we used to ride in. Those saddles push the rider back as the horse gallops because the thickened area under the knee prevents the leg and foot from staying parallel to the horse, and the rider's knee can't move with the motion of the gallop. Imagine how quickly a skier would fall backward if her feet were splayed out as she went down the hill. Riders need to be able to close at the knees to half halt in two point, and also to stay on when their horse props.
To provide some boundaries for where the rider's legs can move all the monoflap designs have a thigh block above and in front of the knee to prevent the rider from going ahead of the horse too much, and a calf block to prevent the lower leg from sliding too far back and thus the rider losing her base of support. Because the flap is attached to the girth billets at the bottom, the flap does not give way when the calf slips back onto the calf blocks.
Devoucoux is not the only maker of the monoflap jumping saddle. More and more top saddle makers are building them, mostly in the $3,500 - $4,500 price range. A critical aspect of these saddles I believe is that they are made with soft and slightly tacky leather over a bit of foam that gives slightly and provides grip. That's why the French makers who produce such great soft leather make these saddles. Amerigo sells the Vega monoflap for $3100 but I found the leather much more slippery and there was less if any foam to provide the grip of the other models.
Two years ago I discovered the Toulouse Premia jumping saddle and the Toulouse Aachen dressage saddle. I was amazed at the leather quality and the price. Both saddles seemed to put riders where they belong and fit most horses with a medium tree. I wanted to get rid of my expensive saddles and ride in them but they haven't yet caught onto the need for a longer dressage flap and a more forward jumping flap for the over 6 foot market. I started recommending both to students and a number of them have them now. I was curious to see how well a saddle for under $1000 would hold up. We're riding the heck out of them two years later and they just improve. They soak up conditioners and they don't get slippery.
I begged the distributor to pull some strings and get a monoflap version made. They said the eventing market wasn't big enough. Well, two years later and I guess that changed! I saw the new monoflap on the internet and contacted Ron at Maryland Tack. Some of my clients had bad experiences buying the Toulouse from dealers on the internet. Ron knows how to fit a saddle to a horse, and he's just a really honest guy who wants customers to come back. He's also at a lot of local events, so he's easy to find.
Ron sent me a demo and I found that even without an extra forward flap I like riding in it. The seat is more comfortable than my Devoucoux which, by the way, has a hole in the flap after three years of use. I also love the way the long billets are attached. It allows more flexiibility than the Devoucoux for where the girth lies once the saddle is in place. The other benefit is that the Toulouse is foam with wool, and you can add or remove wool for fit. The Devoucoux is solid foam that can't be flocked.
In the few days that I've had this saddle I've put a number of students in it for jumping lessons. They all love it, and for a couple it was the first time that they really found balance over the middle of their horses. One who usually needs her stirrups tied to her girth to keep her leg under her found that those calf blocks make all the difference in the world.
I'm planning to have this saddle in my booth at the end of February at the PA Horse World Expo, along with the Toulouse Premia and Aachen (dressage model). If you want to sit in one you can also set up a time to come by the farm and try mine. Or you can just contact Ron at Maryland Tack (www.mdtack.com, 410-781-7479) and make arrangements to buy one. There may be a short wait to get the monoflap, since it's a new model, but not as long as it takes to get one of those $4000 saddles! Tell Ron where you heard about it.
- Steuart Pittman
Collective Marks, by Nancy Feldman
Everyone who trains horses, teaches riding, or takes lessons really should read this book. In my barn it will become required reading!
Yes, it's a novel so you can't put it down until you're finished. Yes, it is filled with training insights, so you want to savor it and remember it when you go out to ride. Yes, it's about human psychology, so it helps you understand yourself, your peers, and the people who are watching over you. And if you are one of those people who is hopelessly addicted to horses but don't know why, this book might help you uncover that mystery.
Michael is an angry young man who becomes a working student for Eric, an old-school autocratic genius of classical dressage. Both live with the pain of childhood abandonment and trust nothing that walks on two legs. They are wild men who without the comfort of horses and without the challenge and structure of dressage training would eventually self-destruct. The trainer has learned to think like a horse, and refuses to indulge in the emotional life of humanity. The student thinks mostly of himself, but is drawn to horses for reasons he does not understand. I'd love to tell the whole story, but that would be mean. Even Eric isn't that mean.
Nancy Feldman was a social worker in a mental health clinic, a dressage judge, and the DC of Redland Hunt Pony Club here in Maryland. This is her first book, and the only way to convince her to write more is for people to buy it. Go to amazon.com and flood them with orders. And e-mail Nancy at
and tell her what you think. You can read more about the author on her website, http://www.collectivemarks.com/
Two years ago I discovered the Toulouse Premia jumping saddle and the Toulouse Aachen dressage saddle. I was amazed at the leather quality and the price. Both saddles seemed to put riders where they belong and fit most horses with a medium tree. I wanted to get rid of my expensive saddles and ride in them but they haven't yet caught onto the need for a longer dressage flap and a more forward jumping flap for the over 6 foot market. I started recommending both to students and a number of them have them now. I was curious to see how well a saddle for under $1000 would hold up. We're riding the heck out of them two years later and they just improve. They soak up conditioners and they don't get slippery. 
Ron sent me a demo and I found that even without an extra forward flap I like riding in it. The seat is more comfortable than my Devoucoux which, by the way, has a hole in the flap after three years of use. I also love the way the long billets are attached. It allows more flexiibility than the Devoucoux for where the girth lies once the saddle is in place. The other benefit is that the Toulouse is foam with wool, and you can add or remove wool for fit. The Devoucoux is solid foam that can't be flocked. 
