SADDLES: Page 3
At Unicorn Saddlery we sell new and second-hand horse and pony saddles, and we fit them too. We are members of the Society of Master Saddlers; our owner, Philip Ireland, has more than 20 years of experience as an SMS qualified saddle fitter. When you buy from a retailer that also fits, you get advice on width, tree shape and seat size before you commit to a saddle.
We split our range by discipline. General purpose saddles suit hacking, schooling and smaller fences, and are the usual choice for a first pony saddle or an all-rounder. Dressage saddles have a deeper seat and a straighter flap for a longer leg. For a shorter stirrup, our jumping and cross country saddles have a forward-cut flap and more support at the knee.
For leather saddles we stock Black Country Saddles, Ideal and Albion, all made in Walsall, along with Kent & Masters. If you want something lighter and easier to clean, Wintec and Thorowgood make synthetic saddles, and Thorowgood is a popular pick for cobs and wider natives. Wintec, Thorowgood and Bates all use changeable gullets, so the width can be altered as your horse changes shape, and we can help you work out which gullet size you need.
Stock in our second-hand saddles section moves quickly, but we work to keep the website updated. If you see something you want, it's worth moving quickly, but if there's something you need but can't see, give us a ring. Girths, stirrup leathers and saddle pads are in our saddlery range.
Horses change shape with age, fitness and workload, so a saddle that fitted last year may not fit now. Phil can check the fit of a saddle you already own, reflock it or change the gullet, and recommend a replacement if it no longer suits. Fittings can take place in our saddle fitting arena at the Taunton showroom. To book a saddle fitting, call 01823 481484.
