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Saddlery & Tack including reader questions answered
ASKED QUESTIONS
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bits should be washed in clean water and dried with a clean cloth after they have been used. Also if tack gets wet and muddy it should not be left or it is likely to become brittle or may stretch. Remove mud and dirt with a warm damp cloth and allow it to dry at room temperature, and then apply a leather conditioner. It is advisable therefore to thoroughly clean your saddle and bridle at least once a week. The aim of thorough cleaning is to remove all dirt and grease and then to feed and condition the leather. There are numerous products available on the market for conditioning leather. Always read manufacturer’s instructions carefully to make sure the product is suitable for your particular type of leather. Whether you use a sponge, brush or cloth to clean and apply
QUESTION: free from cracks. product make sure it is not too “My friend’s tack always looks much cleaner than mine, is there a ‘best process’ I should go through when cleaning my saddle and bridle?” ANSWER: As we all know, If allowed to dry out, leather becomes brittle and weak, making it prone to splitting. Pay particular attention to abrasive so that the leather isn’t scratched. To clean metalwork you can use a metal polish, this will leave buckles and stirrups etc looking brighter and clean. Never use polishes on bits though as they may be harmful to your horse. investing in good quality tack is straps which are Even if you think you have likely to be one of the most subjected to a washed a polish off there is likely expensive and important lot of stress e.g. a residue is left behind which purchases you make for you and girth straps and you cannot see. your horse. Once you have the stirrup leathers. down to check underneath it Your horse changes shape right saddle, bridle and other Make sure stitching is secure, and lifting up all flaps. To check regularly. The frequency of these tack accessories it is then over to metalwork e.g. buckles are not a bridle properly it will need to changes will relate to his age, you to ensure they remain in damaged and that holes have be taken apart as buckles often training, management and so good condition and last for not become enlarged. If the tack hide cracks in the leather. on. Try to develop an eye to years. is in poor condition it can injure Steps to maintain leather must recognise these changes. Viewed Your saddle and bridle should be you and your horse or cause a be taken to ensure it stays on a daily basis, the changes checked each time you tack up serious accident. supple and safe. Ideally tack may seem inconsequential but and a more in depth look taken Checks to tack should be should be cleaned every time it over a period of just a week or so when cleaning. In general thorough; this will involve has been used, but this is not they can be surprisingly leather should be supple and turning your saddle upside always possible. At the very least substantial. Have your saddle 58
checked regularly and always use a Qualified Saddle Fitter. If a saddle is good quality and well cared for it should last for years, and if it still fits your horse there is no need to replace it. You might like to replace certain parts though such as the girth straps and stirrup leathers. Stitching may also need re-doing on certain parts of your saddle or bridle after a few years.
www.master saddlers.co.uk
Your Questions Answered...
QUESTION: “What are some quick checks I can make day to
day to ensure my horse’s saddle fits him well between visits from the saddler.”
ANSWER: “Once a saddle phones with a video function, has been selected and carefully and these are a huge help with fitted by a SMS qualified saddle saddle fitting. Get a friend to fitter there are four main film you riding the horse at all elements to the fit that you can paces, not galloping about in watch out for. These are balance, the distance but rather more up clearance, stability and close so that you can see the straightness. Balance can be balance of the saddle as the seen initially when standing by horse works. the tacked- up horse. “On some horses the saddle will “The saddle should look level, so stay level, some horses drop that the rider will sit in the their back under the saddle and centre of the saddle. However, some lift. The film will show you this is just a preliminary view, what is happening. Stability can and nothing can be assumed be checked at the same time as from this until the horse is being any lifting, bouncing ridden. “Luckily these days we all have Continued overleaf... FORMER SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS’ PRESIDENT, KAY HASTILOW PROVIDES ADVICE ON MAKING SADDLE FITTING CHECKS AT HOME.
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or movement in the saddle will also be apparent. “When you are being filmed, take some footage from behind and in front as you are riding on a straight line, walk and trot. You will see any slippage over to one side or the other or any excessive movement and of course you will do this on the right rein and the left. It will also pick up any faults that you are developing as well. “Clearance should be checked both before moving off and after some work. Remember to check both the front and the back of the saddle. Make sure that there is sufficient clearance so that, when the horse is working there is no contact from the saddle to the top or sides of the spine. Best to get a friend to check this whilst you are mounted so that you can sit straight. “PLEASE do not be tempted to have someone run their hand under the front part of the panel and on down the underside of the knee roll whilst you are sitting on it as you should expect there to be pressure here at that time. If there isn’t, then what is supporting your weight? I hear this all the time from so called ‘experts’ who believe that you should be able to do this, not realising that to get good distribution of weight and pressure THE WHOLE AREA OF THE PANEL that is supported by the tree must bear the pressures as evenly over its length as possible.”
LARA EDWARDS LAUNCHES CATHEDRAL EQUINE
International British dressage rider, Lara Edwards has launched a new and exciting range of leatherwork and other essential equine accessories.
The Cathedral Equine range aims to provide quality products that are durable, comfortable and stylish at a price that is affordable to all. Using her knowledge of the equestrian industry through her years of working with various brands and making good use of her business degree, Lara relished the task of sourcing and creating the fantastic products that are in the range. At the heart of the Cathedral Equine range is an extensive selection of bridles from practical everyday snaffle bridles to bridles with added bling that cater for a rider’s individual taste as well as comfort for the horse, all available at a reasonable price. To completely customise your Cathedral Equine bridle, there are a number of headpieces, nosebands and browbands available to buy separately. The range also includes essential items like reins, head collars and lead ropes, as well as stunning dog collars and leads and belts for the rider. Said Lara, “To have my own range allows me to use my own experience to create products that I hope riders will love. “I wanted the range to appeal to riders of every discipline and to every budget; Cathedral “Equine bridles are excellent value for money without compromising on the craftsmanship.” Lara with be combining building her new business venture with her competing commitments, riding at international level with her top horse Felix (Jazzed Up) and bringing her own homebred horses up through the ranks.
www.cathedral-equine.co.uk ‘If your saddle fits, you shouldn’t use a half pad.’ We’ve all heard that, yep? In fact, we’ve probably even heard that if your saddle fits you don’t need to use a saddle cloth at all. Is this true? Should you not be using a saddle cloth?
I try to explain this by using a shoe analogy. Your shoes can fit, but no-one (literally no-one) wants to wear their shoes without socks (yuck, think about the sweaty feet sliding around and how stinky your shoes would get). The saddle cloth acts as a bit of a buffer against the the saddle, and helps soak up the sweat; it protects the leather, the flocking and your horse’s back. But what about half pads? Surely half pads are a big ‘nono’. Because if your shoes fit, you don’t want to squeeze a big fat pair of slipper socks in there too, do you? Your shoes wouldn’t fit anymore. So, does that mean that half pads are the work of the devil, reserved only for people with illfitting saddles, who don’t care about their horse and just want to look super cool with half a sheep under their saddle? Well, this is where my sock/shoe analogy fails miserably. Keep reading… Recently there has been a lot of
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF POPPY WEBBER
BY POPPY WEBBER, QUALIFIED SADDLE FITTER FOR THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS, COVERING CAMBRIDGESHIRE, LINCOLNSHIRE, NORFOLK AND SURROUNDING AREAS. SHE ALSO WRITES REGULAR ADVICE POSTS ON PEEWEE SADDLERY’S SOCIAL MEDIA.
research* and pressure testing undertaken on the subject of half pads proving that half pads do NOT affect the fit of the saddle. In many cases, even when used with a well-fitting saddle; they absorb shock and help distribute the pressure. As a saddle fitter, I often see horses who definitely prefer having a half pad between their saddle and saddle cloth. They can also be excellent for helping to fill in muscle wastage (atrophy). And, there’s no denying it… sometimes a little bit of fluff can look cute too. So, what do you need to know, if you’re thinking of using a half pad? Well, the important thing to check is that it has a clear gullet on the underside, so it doesn’t impinge (pinch) the spine; and if you’re using a fluffy one, it has got to be real lambskin (in my opinion the faux stuff doesn’t do the same job and can cause sores). Oh, and one more thing, a very essential thing to remember… do not EVER put gel directly onto your horse’s back. Because that causes many more problems than it cures.
www.peeweesaddlery.co.uk
EQUIAMI ‘HOW TO’ GUIDES
EquiAmi, manufacturer of the patented lunge aid which is endorsed by leading event riders and racehorse trainers, is pleased to announce the launch of a new range of how-to guides and videos.
These videos will enable the brand to educate horse owners on the fit and function of the aid whilst online. The EquiAmi is a patented lunge aid popular with both professional and leisure riders. It is widely used by riders to educate their horses in selfcarriage and accepting contact and is perfect for use with rehabilitation of horses from injury. It works by placing the horse in a self-centering loop which aims to replicate the movement of a rider as they lengthen and shorten and adjust for circles and transitions.
www.equiami.com
Suggested Products...
The range of saddle pads from Yaris Equestrian features the Jumping Saddle Pad, the Hi Wither Saddle Pad and the Close Contact Saddle Pad, each pad is made from hardwearing polyester/cotton quilting with durable wadding inside. A luxury lambs wool pad sits on the withers for added comfort. RRP: from £37. www.yarisequestrian.co.uk Equitex Classic Dressage Saddle Pad and close contact/jump pads. RRP: from £199. Personalised and team colours available. www.thesaddlepad company.com
