19 minute read
Saddlery and Tack
Your Questions Answered...
QUESTION: “What should I expect from my saddle fitting appointment? Is
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there anything I need to do to prepare my horse?”
ANSWER: “There are
two types of saddle fitting appointments – to buy a ‘new’ saddle or to check your existing saddle. For simplicity I will cover buying a saddle.
“For the saddle fitter we would like the horse to be inside, or at least under cover, clean and dry. He should be used to being handled, and to strangers coming to him. Good manners make things much easier with a fitting. “You should have a bridle, stirrups, leathers, assorted sizes of girths and a saddle cloth, ideally not too thick, to hand. You will need to have hat and boots and body protector if you use one ready so that you can ride, and there should be a safe, enclosed area (a secure field is fine) to ride in. If the saddle is for jumping it is advisable to have a couple of jumps in place ready. “The fitter might have taken details before your visit but they will need to know height, age, sex, colour and breed type of your horse. How long he has been in your ownership, what fitness level he is at and what your aims and ambitions are with him. Has he or you had any old injuries that might affect his/your way of going. Likewise recent injuries. “The fitter will take a description, look at his conformation as regards saddle fitting and check for areas of asymmetry, discomfort or sores, noting anything that might be relevant. “They should ask to see the horse walk and trot in-hand to see if the way he moves might influence the saddle fit. “They should discuss your requirements and what might be suitable for both you and your horse. It may be that you want a specific brand or style of saddle but the fitter thinks this an unsuitable choice for you both, explaining why and advising something similar but not what you asked for. This isn’t a sales pitch – if we know that your choice will lead to problems we would usually walk away rather than sell an unsuitable saddle. The welfare of the horse is the uppermost importance for us at all times. “Having tried suitable saddles and selected two or three to try, each will be girthed up with irons and leathers fitted and a saddle cloth beneath the saddle. You will be invited to mount and try each saddle at walk, trot, canter if you are happy to do so and jump if that is a requirement for the saddle. “If you or your horse obviously dislike the saddle you will be asked to stop and try others. Be aware that a saddle must be seen ridden in by you on the horse in question to confirm a good fit. No one can say that a saddle fits without this! “Having decided on the saddle that you want, any alterations or changes that you require will be discussed, and then you get down to the nitty gritty of cost, payment, delivery (if having a similar saddle to that tried made) and paperwork. A record of the visit, templates and measurements should be taken and the fitting form shared with you. Terms and conditions, the right to cancel contract and other relevant paperwork should be dealt with. A saddle made specifically for you MUST be ridden in on the horse before the sale is complete and follow up visits to check the fit should be discussed. “This is a brief overview of what to expect but you can see that it is thorough and takes time so please allow up to a couple of hours - you cannot fit this in during your lunch hour!”
www.mastersaddlers.co.uk
KAY HASTILOW MASTER SADDLER, MASTER SADDLE FITTER, TRAINED AS A BENCH SADDLER IN THE LATE 1960s. KAY SET UP HER OWN BUSINESS IN THE 1970s. THEN IN 1995 THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS SET UP THEIR COURSE AND QUALIFICATION FOR SADDLE FITTING AND KAY TAUGHT ON THIS COURSE FROM THEN UNTIL 2021, FOR MOST OF THIS TIME AS LEAD LECTURER.
The new ergonomically shaped Satinox bits from Sprenger are made of high-quality stainless steel and are characterised by excellent workmanship and tested material quality.
Explains Lindsay: “For riders wanting the expertise and research and development that Sprenger bring to their collections, the Satinox range is ideal and offers excellent value. “They have been developed with both affordability and Sprenger excellence in mind to extend the range to a wider audience. “The 11-strong collection includes Snaffles, Mullen Mouth, Eggbutts, D-rings, Weymouths and Bradoons to cover all eventualities and whether competing in dressage, showjumping or eventing. “The Satin mouthpiece with its matt surface ensures a pleasant feeling on the tongue and the curbed shape of the bits gives the tongue plenty of room. They provide an even distribution of IN THIS ISSUE SPRENGER BITTING CONSULTANT, LINDSAY MIDDLETON LOOKS AT THE NEW SATINOX RANGE AND WHY THE COLLECTION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
pressure and achieve a direct and precise effect.” The Satinox range offers a comprehensive selection of models for all types of horses, disciplines and training levels, creating an attractive basic bit range with an outstanding price performance ratio.
www.zebraproducts.com
PRODUCT NEWS...
The Equipe Rarity Grip Saddle has been specially designed with the younger rider in mind, making it a great junior pony saddle. It is an elegant and very comfortable jumping saddle crafted in refined leather equipped with a synthetic tree that favours the seating of the rider, whilst adapting itself perfectly to the structure of the pony. RRP: £2,475. www.zebraproducts.co.uk
Your Questions Answered...
QUESTION: “How do I find a good saddle fitter and trust they’re going to do a
good job of either fitting a new saddle or checking my current one? What qualifications should I look out for?”
ANSWER: “The best way
to find a good saddle fitter is often by word of mouth from your instructor, musculoskeletal practitioner or other equestrian professional. However, it is really important that you check that the person who has been recommended to you is qualified.
”On the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) website you can search to check that the person is a Registered Qualified Saddle Fitter or Registered Master Saddle Fitter (RQ/MSF) or you can search by area to find a RQ/MSF in your area if you haven’t been recommended anyone. “All SMS RQ/MSF have spent time in the trade learning not only about fitting the saddle, but also studying horse anatomy, biomechanics, saddle design, rider requirements and bringing all of these elements together to ensure the best fit and comfort for both you and your horse. “They will be able to assess your existing saddle and adjust if appropriate or fit a new saddle for you and your horse. By using an SMS member you have the added assurance that they are fully insured, undertake regular CPD to keep their knowledge current and that there is a process in place to support you should an issue arise.”
www.mastersaddlers.co.uk
SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS’ PRESIDENT, MASTER SADDLER, MASTER BRIDLE MAKER, MASTER HARNESS MAKER, REGISTERED MASTER SADDLE FITTER AND REGISTERED QUALIFIED BRIDLE FITTER, HELEN READER, PROVIDES ADVICE
NEW ONLINE TRAINING LOOKS AT EQUINE WELFARE ISSUES
Thanks to an innovative collaboration between the Society of Master Saddlers, The Horse Trust and Redwings Horse Sanctuary, new online training has been made available for saddlery fitters looking at emerging welfare issues.
The training provides saddlery fitters with guidance and understanding of the current government legislation in this thought-provoking area of the industry. The advice has been developed to help provide saddlery fitters with the latest developments and information on welfare issues and will assist them in clarifying actions or decisions taken in the course of their professional duties. Past President of the Society of Master Saddlers, Ted Boggis, said, “The severity of animal neglect ranges from mistakes by inexperienced owners to gross mistreatment. In these straited times horse welfare will undoubtedly suffer as owners struggle to balance the needs of their families against the well-being of their horses. This course provides a new dimension to the skills of those professional SMS members who fit saddles and bridles, allowing them to address welfare issues non-confrontationally through improved communication skills and understanding of their clients' circumstances, as well as defining confidential reporting channels for the most egregious cases.”
www.horsetrust.org.uk/training-courses/saddlery-fitters/
PRODUCT NEWS...
The Equipe E-Carbon EK-26 includes the Special and GC as used by top showjumper Ben Maher. The Equipe EK-26 Special and EK-26 GC Jump Saddles are the most popular style from the E-Carbon range chosen by many professional and amateur riders alike. Crafted with a patent-pending carbon fibre tree, comprising of carbon and three-composite fibres that can be personalised in shape and thickness. Alongside the carbon fibre tree the EK-26 Special and EK-26 GC feature the innovative shock-absorbing system D.S.B (Damping System EQ Bridge). RRP: Equipe EK-26 Special Jump Saddle from £4,370. Equipe EK-26 GC Jump Saddle from £4,370. www.zebraproducts.co.uk
Equitex Pony Half Pad. RRP: £159. www.equitex.co
POPPY WEBBER Comments on...
D IS FOR: DON’T GET ME STARTED!
One of my biggest bugbears as a Saddle Fitter is when people describe the width of the saddle using a ‘D to D’ measurement.
If you have somehow managed to avoid hearing this terminology, or are unsure of what I mean, have a browse of some social media saddle selling pages and you’ll see people advertising saddles for sale saying something along the lines of ‘7 inches D to D’. By this, they mean the distance between the two D rings at the front of the saddle. You know, the little metal dooby-wotsits that you attach your breastplate to, or your little ‘oh **** strap’, or indeed your packed lunch… Whatever you like. But people like to measure between them, because they believe it correlates in some way to the width of the saddle. They are wrong. Because D rings are placed any old where really. They don’t form an integral part of the saddle, and, as such, they don’t have to be placed in a set position. In fact, they’re screwed in wherever the saddler feels like it… By placing them half an inch lower, you could increase the distance between them by a few inches. Depending on where the D rings are placed, a medium saddle can measure the same as an extra wide saddle! You see, the width is actually determined by the ANGLE of the HEAD of the tree (the front of the saddle). Just to confuse matters there isn’t an official standard - for example, a 90 degree angle can be a medium or a medium wide, depending on the manufacturer. So, if you’re ever tempted to measure your D rings… think QUALIFIED SADDLE FITTER FOR THE SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS, COVERING CAMBRIDGESHIRE, LINCOLNSHIRE, NORFOLK AND SURROUNDING AREAS, POPPY ALSO WRITES ADVICE POSTS ON PEEWEE SADDLERY’S SOCIAL MEDIA.
again! Instead, check for a manufacturer’s mark (often stamped under the left flap, or on the left stirrup bar). Or you can even try lining up a gullet bar with the front of the saddle, as this can give you a rough idea. But... the only true way to know what width the saddle is, is to ask a professional. And even then, the only way that they can say for sure is to take the panel off (the squishy part of the saddle) and look at the bare front of the tree. Saying that, they’ll be able to make a very good educated guess just by looking at the saddle from the front.
Find your Qualified Saddle Fitter here: www.mastersaddlers.co.uk
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE:
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU MOVE A MOBILE FIELD SHELTER? VALE STABLES EXPLAIN
How frequently you decide to move your mobile field shelter will be your choice. There are plenty of benefits to moving your mobile field shelter more often, and the trick for horse owners is to gauge the best moment to move it. After all, making sure your horses feel comfortable throughout all twelve months of the year is paramount.
Having a mobile field shelter provides you with the luxury of being able to move it around, and this is something you should take advantage of. Planning regulations Be wary about thinking that a mobile field shelter will always be exempt from laws on planning permission. This isn’t always the case in practice. In 2011, a horse owner in Wales failed to move his mobile shelter often enough and as a result, received a fine of £1,230 from the local council! In order for a mobile field shelter to be exempt from these laws, a council will expect you to move the shelter regularly and have the appropriate means of moving it. This is so that it can in fact be classed as ‘mobile’ rather than a permanent structure. To avoid falling foul and getting a hefty fine, you should look to move it every 1-2 months. Weather changes Changes in weather will have a major impact on your horses’ well-being and your field. The summertime and warmer weather can always pose challenges for horse owners, and summer 2022 has been a real scorcher with heat waves across the country. In warmer weather, try placing your mobile field shelter in the cooler, shaded areas. In the winter, mobile field shelters help keep horses warm and snug out of the cold weather, rain, sleet, and snow. Horses struggle to feed off muddy areas where they don't have sufficient access to grass, so it’s important to move your mobile shelter to a more grassy area whenever you see the ground becoming too boggy. Protect from winds Storms in recent years in the UK have seen winds as powerful as 100mph! That’s no fun for your horse so make sure you do all you can to protect them from strong winds. Not only will being out of the elements be more comfortable for your horse, but it will also protect them against debris such as tree branches that may blow into their path. If you are experiencing strong winds, angle your mobile field shelter away from the wind to offer somewhere more safe and comfortable for your horse. Hopefully, this should help avoid your horse becoming anxious and a flight risk in more extreme conditions.
Changes in behaviour As horse owners, we all like to think we know their personalities and little traits inside out. We can learn a lot about our horses’ feelings from their actions and how they behave. Has your horse started behaving a bit different to usual? A change in behaviour could indicate they are becoming frustrated with not having access to fresh grass to graze on, and this is a sign that you should act quickly and move your mobile field shelter to a new area.
Looking for an alternative to a permanent shelter? A mobile field shelter from Vale Stables that you can move around as much as you like is a great solution, particularly when you consider just how unpredictable the weather can be nowadays. Taking good care of your horses usually requires a lot of adapting to different circumstances, and getting a mobile field shelter can help you to be that bit more flexible.
www.valestables.com
When you spot grass
Looking after your pasture properly means allowing certain areas to rest and regrow. Overgrazing will significantly reduce the amount of grass and nutrients available to your horse, having an adverse impact on their health. Keep your eyes peeled for areas of fresh patches of grass in your field and move your mobile field shelter over there when you spot them emerging. This allows your horse to always have fresh grass to feed on.
Your questions answered INSURING YOUR STABLE YARD
Insuring your equestrian property, and everything in it, shouldn’t be a stressful experience. It can however be confusing knowing what is covered, what could be covered and how certain policies can work together. Equestrian insurance specialists, Shearwater Insurance, understand this niche market and the importance of getting equestrian property insurance tailored to meet your individual needs.
Here Shearwater’s specialist equine insurance brokers answer key questions regarding stables and equine property insurance, explaining the difference between equine specific and mainstream policies and why a tailored equine policy is best. Why use equestrian specific insurance? Standard household policies are not designed for the nonstandard natures of equestrian properties and buildings, and cover may therefore fall short in some areas. The wording of Equestrian Property Insurance policies are tailored and designed to consider that horses are the main occupants of the buildings and the unique equestrian uses that goes with them. Does running a livery yard require different insurance? When running your equestrian property as a livery yard, whether this is for a commercial venture or whether it is as simple as having a few friends livery to help with running costs, the material damage cover does not differ. For example, the buildings themselves and their content remains the same. However, insuring your equestrian property as a livery yard can offer additional benefits including Money Cover and Assault and Business Interruption cover. The main difference between insuring stables for personal use and as a livery yard is liability. Many clients believe that having DIY liveries does not count as having a livery yard. However, if a horse escaped and caused third party property damage because a gate was left open who would be liable? Specialist Livery Yard Liability insurance can cover you for such circumstances. Additionally, Property Owner’s Liability is included with Livery Yard Liability which protects the yard owner should a member of the public be injured on your land, or in and around your buildings.
www.shearwaterinsurance.co.uk
Are the contents of my stables automatically covered under my household insurance? Standard Household Buildings and Contents policies may extend a level of cover to the stable buildings, but they’re not designed to cover everything your equestrian buildings may house. Some policies may have restrictions on individual values for items, additional security requirements or may exclude certain uses. Mainstream household insurers will not cover all your equestrian specific equipment, such as show jumps, feed and forage, bedding, saddlery and tack. By using an equestrian specific insurer and broker you can be confident in the level of cover that is being provided and take a stress-free approach to equestrian property insurance provision.
By Cheryl Johns
UNDERSTANDING BEST PRACTICE FOR LIVERY YARDS
LAUNCHED IN 2011, LIVERYLIST IS THE UK’S LEADING LIVERY YARD DIRECTORY AND RESOURCE FOR LIVERY YARD OWNERS, AND IN RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN WORKING TIRELESSLY TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIVERY YARDS FOR BOTH YARD OWNERS AND HORSE OWNERS
The past twelve months have been incredibly hard for the equestrian industry: still reeling from the effects of Covid, and now facing spiralling costs to cover horse care, and the recent droughts. This has resulted in grass shortages and increased costs for yard owners, subsequently passed on to liveries, which has given many no option but to seek pastures new.
If you’re looking to change yard, it is important to make sure that you’re choosing a yard that is right for both you and your horse in the long term, as well as offering you the level of service and experience you would expect of a business you are entrusting to look after your equine. Many horse owners are unaware that there are no restrictions on who can open a livery yard. There is no need to have any experience - in business or equine management - nor any formal registration or licensing process. Whilst all livery yards should be aware of welfare and business legislation, as well as basic common sense when it comes to equine care and yard management, this lack of regulation can lead to unpleasant and costly experiences for horse owners who unwittingly find themselves at poorly run yards. With work from LiveryList, Redwings, ABRS+ and other equestrian bodies in recent years, there is becoming an industry expected, albeit not obligatory, level of best practice that should make horse owners understand the questions to ask when considering their next yard, and should help yard owners understand how they can provide a safe and well-run setting for clients, and their equines. When you view a yard, most importantly you should check that the yard and their staff have the experience and competence to provide not only day-to-day equine care, but a high level of health and welfare consideration, such as a biosecurity policy or vaccination requirements, as well as a knowledge of common ailments and a good level of equine first aid. If exercise is included in their livery package, then you also need to feel confident that this can be provided in the manner you’d expect. You can tell a lot by viewing a yard, looking at the level of cleanliness and maintenance, the health and condition of horses on the yard, and speaking to existing liveries. Client care is also a hugely important aspect. Yards should be requesting details of equines, verifying service providers, retaining passports (now a legal obligation for all but pure DIY yards), ensuring all equines are insured, and being insured themselves. Livery contracts should be commonplace to offer clarity as to the livery arrangements between yard owners and their clients. These days there should be a substantial amount of paperwork exchanged between horse owner and yard owner to complete what is, after all, a professional business arrangement. This is just a very basic guide, and it’s also important to be honest with the needs of your own horse so that equally a yard owner can decide if you are the right fit. It is important that both yard owner and horse owner feel the yard is mutually suitable to ensure that a wellchosen livery yard can provide a safe and happy home for your horse for the long term!
