…..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!