CERTIFICATION CRITERIA FOR ENGLISH SADDLE MAKER

CERTIFICATION CRITERIA FOR

ENGLISH SADDLE MAKER

Able to make these saddle features

1. Seat

Flat seat for close contact saddles

Deep seat for dressage and VSD type saddles

2. Flaps

Solid flaps

Sueded knee inserts

Moulded external knee rolls

3. Panels

Felt panels

Half panels, as found on Lane Fox saddles

3/4 panels with sweat flaps, as found on most close contact saddles

Wool flocked panels as used on most dressage and VSD saddles

Knee rolls built into panels

4. Girth billets

Standard short billet style

Point straps

Long dressage style

5. Saddle accessories (fittings)

Stirrup leathers

Girths

Shaped

3 fold

Balding

Short dressage

Elastic, single and double ended

Hunt appointments

6. Strap goods

Make any kind of bridle: flat, raised, or rolled

Snaffle

Dressage

Pelham

Weymouth

Race

Make all types breast collars: flat, raised, or rolled

Hunt

Race

Polo

Make all types of reins: flat, raised, or rolled

Buckle in and stud hook treatments

Draw reins

Laced reins

Rubber reins

Web reins

Grip bar reins

Plain reins

Braided

Training equipment and miscellaneous strap work

Side reins

Longe cavesons

Long reins

Surcingles

Leads

7. Halters

Breed specific, such as Welsh or Arab

Stable halters or track halters

8. Repairs

Re-stitching on any part of saddle

Replace billets

Replace seat

Replace flaps

Replace skirts

Replace gullet lining

Make new felt panel

Make new flocked panel

Add point strap

Replace nail heads and/or falldown staples

Re-flock panel

Replace stirrup bar(s)

Replace or repair gullet plate and/or head plate

Replace girth elastics

Re-web seat or replace girth strainer webs

Re-stitch any piece of tack or bridlery

Able to fabricate any new part for bridles (such as a cheek piece) or tack

9. English saddle knowledge base

Understand and know the requirements of the types of riding styles:

dressage, eventing, show jumping, polo, flat racing, steeplechasing,

saddleseat, trail riding, and endurance

Know how to fit saddles and saddle trees to horses backs for all of the

above styles of riding

Know basic horse anatomy and horse locomotion

Know basic horse breeds, their physical characteristics, their movement

and how that relates to the various styles of riding

Have knowledge of competition rules for various styles of riding and

how that affects the type equipment used

Understand leather and leather care

Know leather types and terms specific to the English trade

Know about English hardware for saddles and tack