Hermes Essentielle Saddle Review
Retail Price: $6,100 (Pre-owned, ~$3,000)
Quality- 5
Comfort- 5
Price- 2
Overall Value- 4
This is my Hermes saddle review and I chose in particular to do a Hermes Essentielle saddle review because I feel it is the epitome of a great hunter jumper saddle. The Hermes Essentielle is the saddle that I use myself.
Hermes has been in the saddle making business in France for a long time (much longer than they have been making Birken handbags). Hermes knows a thing or two about make an incredible saddle to love and maybe pass down to posterity. The down side? You might have to keep this saddle in the family like an heirloom due to the price. They cost like a used econo car and way more than some horses!
However, to sit in the Hermes Essentielle is to love it. It is not only high quality but artfully made. I mean really, you could put it a gallery and just contemplate it all day. The buffalo hide seat is grippy and will hold you right in place. The optional thigh block is integrated into the padded flap for a super-close contact feel with the support of blocks. The shape is perfect. For horse comfort, the Hermes Essentielle come in either standard or wide tree.One pifall of this saddle is that it doesn't come in half sizes (15"-18" whole sizes only). A forward flap is not offered as an option either. However, if this saddle will fit you and your horse, I highly recommend it. Note that Hermes Essentielle saddles wide tree has a 4" opening at the gullet. This is generally considered a "medium" and is suitable for most warmblood sport horses. The standard tree is less than 4" inches and suitable for most thoroughbred sport horses.
As I've mentioned a couple of times, the price is the worst part of this saddle because it puts it out of reach for most people. However, I can't deny that the Hermes Essentielle Saddle is in a class all by itself. Although rated "5" for both quality and comfort, a rating of "2" for price makes the Overall Value rating a 4. Other Hermes models are the Steinkraus and the newer Brasilia. All are made with wonderful quality French leather and are very well balanced and comfortable to ride in. The price point is similar to that of the Hermes Essentielle. Back to saddle reviews.
Quality- 5
Comfort- 5
Price- 2
Overall Value- 4
This is my Hermes saddle review and I chose in particular to do a Hermes Essentielle saddle review because I feel it is the epitome of a great hunter jumper saddle. The Hermes Essentielle is the saddle that I use myself.
Hermes has been in the saddle making business in France for a long time (much longer than they have been making Birken handbags). Hermes knows a thing or two about make an incredible saddle to love and maybe pass down to posterity. The down side? You might have to keep this saddle in the family like an heirloom due to the price. They cost like a used econo car and way more than some horses!
However, to sit in the Hermes Essentielle is to love it. It is not only high quality but artfully made. I mean really, you could put it a gallery and just contemplate it all day. The buffalo hide seat is grippy and will hold you right in place. The optional thigh block is integrated into the padded flap for a super-close contact feel with the support of blocks. The shape is perfect. For horse comfort, the Hermes Essentielle come in either standard or wide tree.One pifall of this saddle is that it doesn't come in half sizes (15"-18" whole sizes only). A forward flap is not offered as an option either. However, if this saddle will fit you and your horse, I highly recommend it. Note that Hermes Essentielle saddles wide tree has a 4" opening at the gullet. This is generally considered a "medium" and is suitable for most warmblood sport horses. The standard tree is less than 4" inches and suitable for most thoroughbred sport horses.
As I've mentioned a couple of times, the price is the worst part of this saddle because it puts it out of reach for most people. However, I can't deny that the Hermes Essentielle Saddle is in a class all by itself. Although rated "5" for both quality and comfort, a rating of "2" for price makes the Overall Value rating a 4. Other Hermes models are the Steinkraus and the newer Brasilia. All are made with wonderful quality French leather and are very well balanced and comfortable to ride in. The price point is similar to that of the Hermes Essentielle. Back to saddle reviews.
