“AH Saddles Ltd supply high quality, traditionally handmade, English leather saddles. Our mission is to achieve an exceptional fit for the modern, wider horse and pony, and our range of saddles are designed by Andrea Hicks who has specialised in difficult to fit breeds for over 20 years.
“To create an exceptional saddle demands great care in the selection of materials and components, and skilful craftsmanship in its construction. Fundamental to the correct fit of a saddle is the design of the tree, which must follow the shape of a horse's back, and so a carefully selected range of tree shapes suited to the specialist fitting needs of wider and sometimes flatter breeds underpins our designs. We combine this with panels that are predominantly close contact as we have found this provides better all-round stability on wider breeds and allows the rider to feel close to the horse. These panels are all wool flocked to allow adjustment to fit you and your horse. At AH Saddles we prefer wool flocking as it is breathable. This natural property of the fibre helps keep a horse's back cooler and provides a much more comfortable ride for both horse and rider. Our saddles also incorporate four strap girthing to further aid fitting these breeds.”
My many years’ experience with these saddles means I can so often get a stable and functionally correct fit, allowing the horse to really be able to move, and the rider the security to step up a level, where everything else has failed. It is still important to consider horse and rider straightness, but there are more adjustments possible with these saddles to help with stability.
I sometimes have a few saddles in stock for fitting on the day. Other models may be held at head office for immediate supply, some may need to be made to order (though still a standard saddle with ridden trial) and other customers will require a customised saddle. As the saddles are built on the same trees across the ranges even if I don’t have the exact model you’ll usually get to ride in the same seat and a similar, if not identical, flap.
I only work with brands I truly love. Until 2021 I worked with only one brand of saddle and one brand of saddle pad, but more recently I’ve had some exciting developments in my business and can now offer two brands for each. All four of these are exceptional in their field, offering manufacturing quality as well as performing well above any others that I’ve come across over the years. None of the four are “tack shop” brands – they’re specialist, the best of the best and for my discerning customers who seek out the best solutions for the challenges they face for them and their horses.
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