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SADDLES: Page 4

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.

Who will fit my saddle?

Philip Ireland, who founded Unicorn Saddlery. Phil is a Society of Master Saddlers qualified saddle fitter, and has more than 20 years of experience. He's also trained in equine anatomy and biomechanics for saddle professionals.

To book a fitting, call 01823 481484.

Why does an SMS qualification matter?

The Society of Master Saddlers trains and assesses saddle fitters and keeps a register of those who qualify.

A qualified fitter will have been tested on how a saddle affects the horse's back and movement, and on how to adjust it correctly.

Unicorn Saddlery is an SMS member and Philip Ireland is a qualified fitter, so the advice you get is backed by a recognised standard, ina dddition to his wealth of experience.

Is a second-hand saddle a good idea?

It can be, as long as it fits.

However, beware that a used saddle may have a damaged tree, uneven flocking or be the wrong width, and none of that shows up in a photo.

Buying from a retailer with a qualified fitter like Unicorn Saddlery means a second-hand saddle can be checked against your horse first, and reflocked or adjusted if needed.