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Custom Made Saddles
“Custom made” and “handcrafted” are terms used quite loosely at times. What does it mean to buy a handcrafted custom made Kent Saddle? It means the saddle is handmade in our workshop to suit each individual customer. Information provided helps us to customise the saddle to suit rider and horse.
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The information we require is listed on our web page “Fitting a Saddle”, and saddle options are shown on the page "Saddle Options". A complimentary DVD is also available to help you choose your saddle. Kent Saddlery has been in business for 22 years and offers expertise from a depth of experience. Lyle spent five years working on properties and cattle stations in the Northern Territory during he 1960's. Ben has had four years of experience on Northern cattle stations and continues his involvement with horse training. Daniel also has had some Northern experience, so when you ask questions about saddles, there is always someone available to give you advice to help you make the right choice. In 2010 we passed the 2000 mark of saddles made and sold. We now find that with so many saddles out there, satisfied customers do our promoting for us with orders coming from every region of Australia. |
Lyle handcrafting a custom made saddle. |
Once you have made your choices, the specifications are sent to Bob Wattus our saddle tree maker, and he and his team manufactures the saddle tree according to individual specifications. The tree is returned to us, labelled with your name. (We require a deposit of $600 with your saddle order; this covers the cost of the saddle tree.) Each saddle has an individual number which is recorded, together with all the information and specifications for that saddle. If you've had the opportunity to ride in a Kent Saddle, like it, and are interested in buying a similar saddle, simply phone with the saddle number and we can give you the relevant information.
Keep in mind that if you are riding in someone else's saddle, it may not be the right size, and the fenders may be the wrong length, which is not conducive to a comfortable ride. As a general guide, we recommend that if you are sitting in the saddle on the horse with the fenders the correct length, and there is room for the width of the flat of your hand between your thigh and the back of the knee pad, then the saddle is a good fit. Shortening the fenders changes the angle of your thighs and results in a tighter fit in the saddle.
| Conversely, lengthening the fenders gives more room. Sometimes the rider either gains or loses weight between the time of ordering until delivery, and obviously this will affect saddle fit. In the unlikely event that the saddle doesn't fit you or your horse as well as you'd like, we will work with you for a good outcome. We ask that you don't oil the saddle until you're satisfied that it's the right fit. A brochure on saddle care, together with a tub of Kent Saddlery Leather Conditioner, comes with every saddle. See our Saddle Care page. |
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When ordering a customised Kent Saddle it is necessary to allow sufficient time for the saddle tree to be made, and for the saddle to be made and delivered. The team at Kent Saddlery understand that when you order a saddle you want it as quickly as possible, and we do all we can to complete your order in reasonable time.
Kent Saddlery is committed to customising a saddle to suit you and your horse.
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