by Saddles | Sep 5, 2019 | Saddle Testimonials and Stories
…..from a 19″ Suzannah on a Jessica tree for a tall man and his Lusitano stallion in the UK through to a tiny, tiny 13″ seat/12.5″ tree Ramsay for a very young little rider and her show pony in Australia and everything in between! Well, not quite everything, but it isn’t far from the truth! Notable this year is that so many saddles have been made to a very individual specification. This is what we do(!) but this year in particular, the need for what we do to get the fit and in some cases the look, is very evident. Here are just a few examples:
A Grandee Elite was made for a UK customer with shorter flaps, wider front leg gussets, a wider gullet, flaps as per the 1450 Impala, Cruiser seat & pads and D rings all round. Also for the UK was another Suzannah on a Jessica tree in two tone Sala with shorter flaps, a square cantle, more forward cut and with three sets of blocks on velcro. Bound for Canada was a Gazelle on a Jessica tree (yes, the Jessica tree featured quite a lot this year!) with Buffaloe skirt & flaps, Cruiser seat & pads, comfort seat,”Milky Bar” patent piping and matching leathers & sheepskin girth. Off to the USA was a Gazelle with balance straps, no thigh pad, deeper rear gussets, wider front leg gussets and two pairs of blocks on velcro. In the process of being made as I write is an Exceed with cobalt blue patent piping for a customer in New Zealand.
Gazelle with matching leathers & sheepskin girth
To finish. I must mention the B word….Brexit. Our business mix is roughly 50:50 UK and the rest of the world. This year has seen a drop off in enquiries from Europe. I fear the Brexit effect. However, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have taken up the slack and 50:50 is still the split….and Iceland has joined our list of countries!
by Saddles | Aug 29, 2019 | Saddle Blog
Yes, I’ve just posted five new special offers:
16 1/2″ XW Ideal Impala with Gazelle flaps & blocks in Military.
17″ Ideal Suzannah MW in a very dark, Dark Havannah!
17 1/2″ Ideal H & C Wide Seat XW Show Cut in Military.
17 1/2″ Ideal FWB XXW on a hooped tree in black with white stitching & piping.
17″ Ideal Nyala Jump/GP MW in black.
You’ll find all these saddles on our Offers page.
This is the Nyala…..
by Saddles | Apr 11, 2019 | Saddle Blog
Nicola from Australia sent us these lovely photos of “our little tiny Ramsay you guys made for our little hunter pony”. It was tiny (!), 14″ and made to a specific specification. Don’t they look a picture!
by Saddles | Mar 15, 2019 | Saddle Testimonials and Stories
……and Jackie went on to say “Huge thank you to you, Ian, and Rob! I didn’t get it until 6pm, but still had an hour of daylight, so I ran out cleaned up a horse and rode in it. I LOVE IT! Thank you! ”
Jackie is the talent behind J S Training and Sales based in Andover, Kansas. She has had two lovely saddles from us in the past and now this fabulous Suzannah Monoflap. It is difficult to do this saddle justice in photos. You really have to see it to believe it! It is made up in calf, the colour is Military with “Milky Bar” patent piping & rolls. Special too is the detailing on the flap. A final subtle touch is the cantle half moon in Buffalo.
The “darker” photos are ones we took before the saddle was shipped. The lighter photos, Jackie took during that first ride. Jackie’s photos better illustrate the colour than do ours!
Here is a link to Jackie’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JSTraining23/ where she has “posted” her saddle!
PS Rob, referred to above, is the boss man at Ideal!
by Saddles | Feb 22, 2019 | Saddle Blog
Having recently posted a “Saddle Story” from Tasmania with some lovely photos of two ponies who had Ramsays built on an H & C tree, I thought a few more words on the merits of this saddle/tree combination would be helpful!
To look at, you can’t tell the difference between a 100% Ramsay and one built on an H & C tree. They look the same and the differences are subtle, but significant. The Ramsay on the H & C tree offers a deeper, wider seat and unlike the pure Ramsay, can be used for prolonged periods. It is very comfortable for the horse/pony, is supportive for the rider and crucially accommodates judges!!!
