SADDLE REVIEW
Devoucoux Chiberta Lab If you’re in the market for a cross-country saddle that combines lightness, flexibility and chic French design, this is the one for you.
O
riginally from New Zealand, Rhonda Thomson and husband Paul moved to Melbourne six
the market for a new saddle. While style, comfort and quality were on her wish list,
To say that Rhonda is thrilled with her purchase is an understatement. In fact, she’s so enamoured of her new acquisition that she would happily display it as an ornament in her home rather than relegating it to the tack room!
she also wanted one that was a good fit
And the fit? “It’s been great on all my
years ago to set up their equestrian
for all her horses. Deciding that another
three girls. The lovely wide panels
property Harney Park - electing to leave
French saddle – which she loves for their
and gusset really suit the Warmblood
behind, she jokes, their three uni student
exceptional design and quality – would
shape.” She’s also very impressed with
kids while bringing five horses with them!
be ideal, the hunt was on.
her Saddle Hub experience, particularly
An equestrian since she was just six
But when you’re in the market for a
with the option of a trial period: “The
years old, Rhonda’s passions are
second hand saddle, trying them out
service was fabulous and I liked the fact
dressage, show jumping and hunting
is far from easy. Until, that is, Rhonda
I could try the saddle and send it back
– a fairly mixed bag if you will. A great
discovered The Saddle Hub: “I had
if it wasn’t right. I received the saddle in
believer in the importance of good
heard great feedback about Devoucoux
just a few days, and they even included
saddles, she previously rode in a NSC
saddles and loved the look of them.
an orange belt to match the orange
Advanced Competitor and a French
So I couldn’t believe it when I visited
feature strip on the saddle – the height
Meyer jump saddle.
The Saddle Hub website and saw one
of matchy matchy!”
Currently the proud owner of three
that was $4,000 less than the new
But the proof, as they say, is in the
Warmblood mares, sisters Lilly, Chilli,
price. And the saddle was in brand new
pudding. So how did the saddle shape
and three-year-old Calais, Rhonda was in
condition,” she adds.
up in the heat of competition? With its light composite saddle tree and a design that encourages close contact, it was, of course, a comfortable and versatile success. “I rode in the saddle at the recent Melbourne Show Jumping Club event at Werribee with five-year-old Chilli and Lilly my dressage horse. It was so much fun and the saddle was fabulous,” a delighted Rhonda reports. The Equestrian Hub has a wide variety of top quality second-hand saddles, so why wait? Visit www.equestrianhub.com.au and browse through their fantastic range.
Rhonda, Chilli and their new Devoucoux Chiberta Lab saddle.
All saddles come with a two-week trial, finance options, and a courier right to your door. E Q U E S T R I A N H U B . C O M . AU | 83
