Migrating South - With Eventer Kelly Sult-Ransom

For those of us that like to chase the sun for our own benefit, sometimes it is a simple as packing a case and catching a plane, but Kelly gives us some insight into what is involved when you are a dedicated event rider to keep going through the winter months in the USA:

I have recently packed up 7 ponies, 2 dogs, a working student and a semi load of hay and traveled to Aiken, South Carolina for the winter months! Being in PA I have come to realize that in order to keep going through the winter months I must travel to warmer weather! As i'm sure my horses very much appreciate this idea!

But in fact is very exhausting getting everything organized and cleaned to get ready for the move. It's also quite itchy and cold getting 6 horses clipped! And trying to get all my tack polished and shined is a job in itself, while trying to keep up with riding and giving many lessons. As I am very dedicated and love teaching my wonderful students, I taught up until the day before I left! Also fitting in a semi trailer load of hay with over 500 bales of hay with the wonderful help of my mom and dad!




Finally was ready to hit the road with two trailers in tow. Which my awesome friend Heather Warner pulled one of the horse trailers, and I drove the other while following my dad driving the semi! We left around 6:30 pm and drove through the night getting to Aiken, South Carolina around 7 a.m...Unloaded the horses and they all enjoyed a good roll in the pasture and took very long afternoon nap! 



Went to the first horse show of the season with 2 of the young ones and had a blast! Out of 15 riders I finished 5th and 7th in the open preliminary! It was my first real test to get to know the feel of my awesome new Loxley mono event saddle from Bliss Of London! I was able to feel the horse underneath me and rode more accurately! Which in fact paid off and rode better! My next show is this weekend, and will be my horses last preliminary before the big move to intermediate! Also am excited to ride in the William Fox-Pitt clinic next week!

I will definitely keep everyone posted and take lots of pictures!

Kelly Sult-Ransom

English Saddlery Design.

For generations the saddlery market has been the epitome of English heritage, elegance and style. The chosen sport for many of our Royal family whether 3 Day Eventing, Dressage, Flat Racing or Polo. Even the term for riding astride is known the world over as English Riding. So with this most illustrious of heritage how are today’s top English saddle makers taking on the increased competition from Europe to ensure that even in these changing times English Saddles are still the most sought after in the world.

Whilst it is true that the external design of the saddle has certainly become a key factor in saddlery, first and foremost the emphasis is on how the saddle fits the horse. This is something Nikki Newcombe, Managing Director of bespoke saddle makers Bliss of London, is a firm believer in. “There has to be a balance between the craftsman’s exceptional technique and a designer’s vision,” she states. “Yes, customers want a saddle which looks amazing, and feels luxurious, however they also want their horse to perform at its very best and feel that the saddle unifies their partnership and enhances their connection, contact and control.”

“We have noticed many differing demands from our clients and these form the basis of Bliss of London’s objectives,” Nikki goes on to say. “For example, riders want to feel that ‘broken in’ feel straight away so soft and supple leather is a necessity and we have sourced some of the most luxurious leathers from around the globe to offer customers something ‘above average’ and exceptional.”

“The saddlery market is becoming more and more bespoke,” Nikki explains. “Clients are now asking for individual styling on their saddles to demonstrate their personality and tastes. This can be anything from contrasting stitching, contrasting leather finishes, diamantes or quilting and with access to modern technology we can now offer traditional British craftsmanship, along with cutting edge design, which makes this a very exciting time in the industry!”

“We do of course have our more traditional customers that insist on the classic understated elegance that is more familiar and will always be produced at Bliss’s workshops in England alongside our other unique and personalised saddles”.

 “Saddle manufacturing has gone full circle,” Nikki says. “Many years ago saddle making was not about production savings and speed, it was about creating a true luxury item which demonstrated artisan’s skill, with hours of time lavished upon them to ensure that perfection was achieved. Customers are now once again insisting on quality, craftsmanship, reputation and service, along with a saddle that is fitted to both horse and rider, whilst still allowing for creative freedom. All this is at the heart of Bliss of London’s philosophy.”

To find out more about the Bliss of London collection tel: 0207 1188 123.

For me, my saddle is a very personal thing. I am very loyal to my saddles and I spend a huge amount of time in and around them. As they are the gateway to communication with my horses when I am riding, both of us have to have our needs met for us to perform at our best.

When my top horse, Wonderboy, matured and changed shape, his previously well-fitting saddle stopped working for him. His back muscles have broadened out from under the stirrup bars through the back of the saddle – there was nothing for it, he had to have a new saddle!

As a rider who has ridden many different horses, I have ridden on many of the leading brands and I had a fair idea of what I like and what I really can’t stand to ride on. I trawled the internet, looking for something that would suit Wonderboy’s wide back and my need for support but a close, narrow feel. I had saddlers out to fit him, I tried saddles from the internet, wasting time while my chiropractor moaned at me that his saddle was damaging his muscles.

Then, one fortunate day, I came across Bliss of London saddles! I emailed Nikki for information, as it seemed to me that the only way forward would be a custom-made saddle as most modern saddles have the same width to the back of the tree regardless of the front measurement. Nikki reassured me that it should be possible to match my requirements with the horse’s comfort. She came out to me with all the Bliss dressage models in a variety of sizes. We spent a long time, seeing which tree shapes fitted Wondeboy best and which blocks, leathers and seats worked for me. It was the Paramour dressage, covered in nubuck, that seemed to be the best so I rode Wonderboy in that for the rest of his work session that day – he did the most enormous spook/ handstand combo and neither me nor the saddle moved an inch – SOLD! I was so comfortable and balanced that I forgot about the saddle and just rode, proof that it was perfect for me.

Back in the yard, Nikki took great pains to measure Wonderboy carefully so that the perfect tree could be used for his saddle, noting what gussets and panel shapes he would want, whether serge or leather covering would suit his back better. Then, over a cup of coffee we worked out the personalised shape to the thigh blocks for me and some of the finishing touches. Nikki and I agreed on a Maple leaf behind my leg and a fine red line around the seat and back of the cantle.

A couple of weeks later, and my saddle arrived. It is beautiful! Nikki came out and checked the fit, which was spot on. The nubuck covering gives great security and meant that it did not need that awkward breaking-in period. I have been using that saddle since April this year, I have been around Europe competing with it and it has been fantastic. I am sure it has played a massive part in our great results – Wonderboy and I are currently 9^th in the FEI World Rankings!

In fact, my saddle has been such a success that I bought a second one, custom-made to fit my up-and-coming horse, Double Agent. She has improved so much since having her own saddle; greater freedom of movement and willingness to work.

I whole-heartedly recommend Bliss of London saddles for their wonderful attention to detail, both in the fit for horse and rider and the aesthetics. One of life’s strange things is that when a saddle fits this well, you don’t notice it- you just ride the horse and feel the harmony.    

Bert Sheffield - Canadian International Para Equestrian Dressage Rider- No2 in the FEI World Rankings and is the top placed Grade III rider.

Bert Sheffield - Canadian International Para Equestrian Dressage Rider-  No2 in the FEI World Rankings and is the top placed Grade III rider. 

Bert has had a busy few weeks! First the exiting news that she has been selected to represent Canada at WEG with one of the three horses that she has qualified . Training with Gareth Hughes has been intense and her own level of fitness with her own personal coach. Riding in thunderstorms and dashing off for new hat and boot fittings plus new bridles for the boys and girl. And finally a very exciting film and photo shoot but more on that later.

Canadian rider Bert Sheffield qualifies for WEG – Twice!

 Canadian rider Bert Sheffield qualifies for WEG – Twice!

Bert has met the qualification standards of the Canadian Team selection criteria with Bindro T, Double Agent and Wonderboy.

www.facebook.com/BertSheffieldParaEquestrianRider

https://twitter.com/hopalongrider

Ralph Lauren – Spring and Summer 2014 Collection

Ralph Lauren 2014 The Year of the Horse

www.ralphlauren.co.uk

As Ralph Lauren join in the celebrations for 2014 “The Year of the Horse” we are once again delighted to be asked to supply saddles for the stunning window displays at both Bond Street, London and also the Ingam Street, Glasgow store.
The 12 year Chinese astrological cycle is symbolized each year with an animal, for 2014 the Year of the Horse  (馬 午) promises to bring ‘prosperity and success’.  Red envelopes are traditionally given by elders to younger family members for good luck.  In Chinese culture red symbolises good luck and is believed to ward off evil spirits.  This is represented with the impressive red evening gown in the main Bond Street window display alongside The Bliss Liberty Jump Saddle.
Any children born in this year are described as ‘active, energetic, sociable and gifted’. Children also focus strongly in the Glasgow displays that have a classical equestrian theme.

2014 Horses Inside Out Conference

I have just returned from the 7^th Annual Horses Inside Out conference on the topic of “The Back and Beyond” at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.  This insightful conference is brought together by the anatomy and biomechanics author, artist and lecturer Gillian Higgins

The horses ‘back’ and the structure thereof is such a complex interlinking system it was fascinating to learn so much more from other professionals and combine this knowledge with saddle fitting.

The speakers included:

Dr Sue Dyson is a world-renowned expert in equine orthopaedics, with a particular interest in lameness and poor performance in sports horses. Highly skilled in the diagnosis of subtle and complex lameness, Sue is also an expert in diagnostic imaging, radiography, ultrasonography, scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging. Dr Dyson is currently researching the association between hind limb lameness and saddle slip. It was very reassuring listening to her trials and findings which were fabulously exampled and seeing what we saddle fitters are faced with on a daily basis.  The key message was that the majority of saddle slip problems are hind limb lameness related, followed by rider asymmetry as opposed to poor saddle fit.  Also findings showed the lighter the rider the more prevalent the slip.

Dr Theresia Licka is a Professor of Orthopaedics in Vienna. Her principal research interests involve movement analysis in horses.

Her research was very interesting but in especially the work  analysing the pressures exerted from under the saddle and the sandwich effect, as generally we only usually think of the downward pressures.  I was particularly interested in her confirming that excess heat under the saddle can cause tissue damage, which is what we have always seen and proven in practice when saddle fitting.  All the more reason for wool flocked panels, maybe even serge panels and only natural fibre pads!

Dr Wilfried Bechtolsheimer is principal trainer to his daughter, successful Olympic Dressage rider Laura Bechtolsheimer. He has also supported and trained many other top dressage riders including Carl Hester. Dr Bechtolsheimer has competed at top level eventing and dressage representing the UK at the European Championships in 1995. His philosophy is to to ride in a way that is good for the horse physically and fair to him mentally. Harmony is the goal and this was shown in his ‘5 Pillars of Strength’ strategy.  Personally, I was pleased to listen to his belief which I strongly share of a varied exercise programme for all horses including dressage horses, of road work, hacking, gallops, jumping as well as arena work for the horses well being both physically and mentally.

Other speakers included Louise Broom - chartered physiotherapist, Dr Andrew Hemmings - Equine Neuroanatomist, Dr Richard Hepburn is a vet and specialist in internal medicine at the BW Equine Vet Hospital Group.

This was all topped off in the wonderful historic surroundings of the University halls with a very entertaining after dinner speech from Haydn Price, consultant farrier to the BEF.  Some very home truths about the joys of being a husband/father/groom out and about at events – always look at a riders facial expression before commenting on their performance!

There were many saddle fitters from around the world at the conference, I was joined by both Heleen Klumper and Martine Leifstingh from The Netherlands. The event was a fabulous opportunity to speak with other equine professionals from all spheres and continue to develop the ongoing knowledge of saddle fitting.

If you wish to view more of Gillian’s work visit www.horsesinsideout.com or view a great video on this link http://youtu.be/2Bpv_26nqA0

- Nikki Newcombe