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Saddle Testimonials
"It sits on the horse's back perfectly."
"Thanks so much for the excellent saddle. It fits both myself and the horse perfectly and is great to ride in. I mostly ride for pleasure nowadays but still do the occasional mustering job.
I wanted to try a swinging fender saddle, simply because I liked the look of them and the thought of no more leg pinching also appealed. So, I went and did what a lot of people do and purchased what looked like a good swinging fender saddle from a catalogue and paid very little for it. You know the saying!! "You get what you pay for" and in this case I did, a cheap saddle that was terrible to ride in and didn't sit well on the horses back. Well, being the highly intelligent person I am I went and did the same thing again expecting a different result. Obviously I'm a slow learner and eventually I realized that to get a quality saddle that was going to suit both myself and my horse I was going to have to pay for it.
I then started looking and over a period of many months I had spoken with friends and saddle shop owners and searched the internet and magazines. There are plenty of saddles to choose from but the ones that caught my eye were your saddles. They looked like great value for money! After reading the catalogue and viewing the DVD, I ordered the Station Special and as promised it was delivered to me 12 weeks later. This is a very well made saddle. It sits on the horse's back perfectly. It is comfortable and secure and because of the spring bar fender mounts you can get your feet forward when required. The saddle also sits extremely low on the horse's back which is excellent.
I was happy with the saddle when I first rode in it and the more I use it the more I am glad that I decided to purchase a Kent saddle. Also I haven't come across a more friendly or helpful group of people and I really appreciated that.
Great product, great value, great people. What more could I have asked for?
I'm more than happy to recommend your products as fantastic value for money."
Phil Ryder,
Clermont, Qld
"With the rough side out on the Kent saddle I feel really secure."
"I have lived in the River Heads area of Hervey Bay for 58 years. I rode a horse to school then had to round up the milking cows on the way home from school every day til I left school at the age of 14.
I milked cows for 40 years, every day, seven days a week, on the horse every afternoon rounding up the milkers. The part I liked best was when taking the cows to their day paddock in the early morning, on turning for home I could let the horse go and as he got faster the cool morning breeze was exhilarating. I also ran beef cattle along with the dairying. Ticks and buffalo flies kept me busy so had plenty of horse riding.
I ceased milking in 1991 and now just concentrate on beef cattle. I run 100 odd breeders and then fatten the weaners.
I recently bought the Point Vernon butchery and supply it with prime spayed heifers and steers. My wife and I are in our 70's. She does most of the book work, so having to supply the butcher shop every other week with cattle means extra mustering and having a custom made Kent Saddle makes the extra riding more comfortable.
CABLE RIGGING - Some horses have a deep chest and lean flank, others more like a beer barrel. So it is obvious the cable rigging being adjustable is a good system in my opinion.
TREE TO SUIT THE HORSE - with the Kent saddle custom made to fit my horse "Matthew", he is more relaxed to mount, and to ride. He has settled down to the point where he will slow canter with a loose rein.
COMFORT - With the Kent saddle custom made to my size I don't have chafing any more after a hard ride, being so comfortable it is a pleasure to ride.
SWINGING FENDER - I have been riding horses for over sixty years and I wish I'd had the privilege of using the swinging fender for the period. No more skin off the insides of my knees, no more pinching my legs between stirrup straps and saddle flap.
ROUGH OUT - With the rough side out on the Kent saddle I feel really secure. My horse can prop and turn and take off and I feel as though I am a part of the horse."
Norm Gillespie,
Scarness, Qld
"I love my Kent Saddle and so do my horses."
"I love my Kent Saddle and so do my horses. The old saddles I used were giving my two horses sore backs, and we had to keep getting someone every few months to fix and work on their backs to get them right again (at quite a large expense for my mum). One in particular hated being saddled and wouldn't stand still, now he is a good boy and just stands there for me. Mum says I look good in my 'Deb Dress'!
Kate with Dude at the Maldon Campdraft
I must explain, all my friends made their Deb this year, I didn't want to and instead spent the money that I would have used making my Deb, on my saddle. Money better spent, than on all that Deb stuff and I will have my saddle forever, some girls are trying to sell their dresses already.
I use the saddle at home on our farm, helping Dad with stock-work and just riding and jumping for fun. I've ridden in it at Inter-school Gymkhanas and cleaned up in Handy Mount and Games classes! I use it at our Pony Club meets. I've just starting campdrafting and it is great for that too. I just don't move at all, I sit there secure and in comfort and just enjoy the thrill of cutting and trying to get around the course. Great fun!
Kate on Delta with pet dog, Lilly
Mum can't believe how good the care and service of Lyle and the Kent family is, and how personal it is and the follow up, even after we received the saddle.
At the same time, Mum ordered a stock-whip for my brother's birthday, and he loves it, he couldn't believe it when he got it. He is practising all the time and getting good too!
I love my Saddle, thanks heaps!"
Kate Stuart
Serpentine, Vic
"This stool suits me well."
"Not having anything to do with cable rigging before, I was very sceptical of the set up. I rode all my horses with a flank girth. I could not see how the cable rigging would work on different shapes and ages of horses without the flank girth. "But I bought one," and this set up has proved every bit as good as was promised by Kent Saddlery. I regularly use it on the colts up to my "hand over" horse.
I have bought this saddle to fit a large range of horses. This saddle goes on to my Clydesdale mare one day to my young Quarter horse colts the next day,.. with no trouble, a change of girth and off again. Places that I muster will range from the coastal flood plains, chinee apple paddocks, river crossings, black soil flats and mountain range country; this stool suits me well."
Jayson O'Keefe
Fern Lea Station, Brandon, Qld
"It was the best Birthday present!"
"My Southern Drafter Saddle fits my two Quarter Horses excellently. It is so comfortable to ride in and it sits on their backs nicely. I would recommend this saddle to anyone, if they are campdrafting, Gymkhanaing, mustering or just pleasure riding. The Southern Drafter knee pads and seat make me feel secure and safe for the unexpected.
Thank you so much for such an excellent saddle and I'm glad I dealt with Kent Saddlery as the staff are very helpful and professional in this area of work, and are very prompt with country orders.
Thanks."
Amanda McKnight,
Quilpie, Qld
"Cable rigging is a very ingenious feature"
"The saddle is excellent, I have ridden in it just about every day since I received it. Just after the new year, we took three horses from Tasmania on a campdrafting trip. The new saddle was superb to use in these events, very comfortable and secure. The cable rigging is a very ingenious feature and allows the saddle to fit a wide range of horses and find a natural point of balance. The shape of the tree you sent me now also fits my horse exceptionally well. Thank you for your time and support helping me find the ideal tree-shape for my horse. Her gaits and stride have improved remarkably since I have been riding in your saddle. I consistently recommend you guys to everyone I know.
Kind regards"
Sam Morgan
Underwood, Tas
Sam riding CLIFFDEN MYSTIC at the Yarram Campdraft, Vic
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"I'm loving it"
"I would just like to say how much I love my new Kent Saddlery Saddle. As a kid I learnt to ride chasing cows but now days I mainly ride and coach dressage and jumping and do a little cattle work. Until recently I mainly rode in my dressage saddle but since I got my new stock saddle I choose it unless I am training for a competition. As I had it custom made it fits me perfectly and with a range of horses that I use it on it gives a good fit. The extra padding in the seat has been wonderful and the cable rigging has allowed me more girth adjustability.
Even my kids love it. I have a fat pony which in the past I normally would need a breastplate on, but with my new saddle there is no need.
Sophie and Liam testing out the new saddle
Living around the corner from the Saddlery has given me great opportunity to take advantage of the great service that the Kent family provides. Lastly I would just like to thank Ben for the work he has done with my horses and my students horses over the years..
Thank you
Beck"
Rebecca Poole
Stanthorpe, Qld
"Mustering and gymkhanas, it works well in both places."
"I got my Kent Saddle for Christmas one year and then went away to boarding school. Every holidays when I come home my saddle still feels the same and is really easy to look after, and you can't notice any scratches from near misses. It's hard on my horses that I am only home from school a short time and need them to perform well, and my Kent saddle makes it comfortable and easy for the horse and me. I mostly use my Kent Saddle for mustering and gymkhanas, it works well in both places.
With Thanks,"
Sam Mason
Windorah, Qld
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Photographer Shelly Dillon, Jundah Qld
Sam is 14 years old, and comes from Windorah, in far South West Qld's Channel Country. He is currently a boarder at St Brendans school in Yeppoon, Qld, where he completed Year 9 in 2009. He started riding at a young age, stopped for a while, then became very interested again, with encouragement from 'Dogga' Weston from "Tanbar Station". Sam helps out with the mustering at Tanbar whenever it fits in with school holidays. Sam competes regularly in local gymkhanas, recently winning Leading Rider of the Day at Betoota, the Juvenile Barrel Race at Bedourie, and Leading Rider of the Day at Birdsville. He won the Men's Flag Race (see photo) at Windorah, riding 'Cricket'. Sam also owns a grey mare which he describes as "my best gymkhana horse". Sam's mother, Barbara,describes Sam as "very competitive", and in March 2010, he is travelling to New Zealand for two weeks as part of the school boys Rodeo team. Asked about what he's planning for the future Sam is enthusiastic, "Bull Riding. I want to go somewhere with that!"
"It's like riding along in a lounge chair"
"I have been very pleased with my saddle. Once I found my rhythm the Western Drafter proved to be extremely comfortable for me and more importantly my horses. It doesn't pinch my legs or rub the horses backs. The cable rigging was a worthwhile addition because in my opinion it makes it easier to fit the girth properly and for it to adapt to different horses. Overall the makers of the saddle have done a great job resulting in a neat finish. I encourage the team at Kents to keep up the good work in the future. I'm fifteen years old and in grade 10 at Townsville Grammar school in 2009, where I seem to spend a lot more time pushing pens across paper than I do pushing cattle through the scrub.
Being a boarder there I only get to come home during the holidays so I often don't get to ride in my Kent as much as I'd like. But when I am using it, I am mostly mustering in thick timber country or campdrafting. I have had my Kent saddle for over twelve months now and after riding in old stock saddles for six or seven years it's like riding along in a lounge chair."
Sam Woodhouse
Beeantha Station, Melia, Qld
"Fits me and my stock horse like a dream"
"Very happy with my saddle. Wanting the best the first time round and not having the
money to make mistakes, I am thrilled. Fits me and my stock horse like a dream. Very
well made, lovely leather.
Being an older woman and a new rider I knew I needed a saddle to keep me safe
on the trail. You just sink into it and stay wedged....great feeling!
Love the cable rigging, gives you more flexibility with position. And the girth stays
in position well. Being small with short legs I like the closeness to my horse the
saddle gives me. I even have dressage lessons in this saddle.
Thanks Ben for our chats and your advice and patience. It was hard to have a
saddle tailor made over the phone, and via diagrams, measurements and photos.
You made me feel secure and that I could step out in trust.
May your business continue to grow and flourish and may you always be an open,
happy family within that business. You can't imagine how nice it is to phone you and
have a friendly family member take your call."
Fay Stephenson
Kangaroo Valley, NSW
"No more aches and pains anywhere"
"I have been riding for about 20 years, but never had a new saddle. My Kent Saddle was a
gift from my partner, who had purchased one the year before. My saddle fitted my horse
and myself perfectly and I couldn't believe how easy it was to carry and handle. As we do
a lot of mustering, I used to have problems with aching feet; this is no longer the case, no
more aches and pains anywhere due to my custom made saddle.
As I was a late starter in learning to ride, I had problems with leg commands, but now I
feel that my riding has improved and leg commands are no longer a problem.
Leo, my 5 year old horse, was having trouble getting up into a canter and wasn't keen to
work. He is a different horse now and enjoys working. I feel Leo and I are now working as
a team, and that's all thanks to Kent Saddlery and the thoughtfulness of my partner.
You can see the care and great workmanship that goes into each of your saddles. So thank you for producing such a wonderful saddle."
Cherie Allery
"Well made and great customer service"
"Thanks for an excellent saddle. It has comfort (important when you are over 70) strength and quality workmanship.
I haven't tried drafting in it yet but a black colt gave both the saddle and I a good workout in the roundyard a couple of weeks back.
I am especially glad that I took your advice on the cable rigging. It allows me to position the girth in the right spot no matter what shape the horse. I have had it on six different horses. Also glad I had the oxbows included. A good wide comfortable stirrup. At present the saddle is being used by my partner on a young horse I started. I can tell you I was glad of the extra depth in the seat the first time I rode him.
Rob Virgo's partner, Bina, on Jerilderee Waltz
Thanks again for a terrific product, well made and great customer service.
Regards"
Rob Virgo
Middleton, SA
"I'm sure this will be my last saddle."
"I am extremely pleased with the saddle, comfortable and tough.
My name is Darren Fleetwood and my son is Cody Fleetwood. I am 42 and I am a contract musterer and farrier. I have been riding since I was 6 and had a fair few saddles but never had a saddle that fits as good as a Kent Saddle on all sorts of horses. The cable rigging is ideal for all sorts of horses. I spend about 30 hours a week in the saddle and it is so comfortable. I do a few campdrafts and it is such an all-round saddle. I'm sure this will be my last saddle. Cody is 11 and it has improved his riding so much being comfortable. He is about to start his juvenile campdrafting campaign and he loves his Kent Saddle very much.
The after sale service we received from the Kent family was so good. Its great to see that good old fashion service is still out there.
Thankyou very much."
Darren Fleetwood,
Boggabilla, NSW
"The more I use it the better I like it."
"When I was looking for a new saddle I searched the web and found some interesting options. I, like many others, have purchased other saddles that have failed either me or my horse. Because of my previous experiences I wanted to be confident that what was promised would be delivered. Kent Saddlery have certainly done that. The website gave me the feeling of professionalism and pride in the work undertaken and the sense that my concerns would be important.
The DVD gave me sufficient information and confidence to talk directly to Ben. He listened to me and helped me to choose the right saddle. I am very happy with my saddle, my horse is very happy and I would certainly have no hesitation in recommending the saddle to any of my friends.
Since purchasing my saddle which has cable rigging I have ridden several times including tackling rugged steep mountainous trails at Quirindi. My saddle did not slip and I didn't need a breastplate to keep it in place. The more I use it the more I like it.
I am 52 and live on a small property at Rosebrook which is about 2 hours north of Sydney and started riding when I was 42. I ride Sugar, an 11 year old bay gelding, and we learn natural horsemanship together.
As part of developing my riding we have ridden many trails including Castle Mountain at Quirindi which is very steep and rugged in part, Dungog which again is a mix of challenging trails, as well as local trails at Wollombi and Uffington Forest. Being a nervous rider I required a saddle which allowed me to be safe and comfortable whilst on the trail and I also wanted to have a centred riding position. I have used various saddles but found the Kent saddle fitted my horse, fitted me and allowed me the freedom to develop more refined riding skills. I also appreciated the service provided by Kent Saddlery, and more specifically that I could talk to the saddle maker with my requirements and he understood what I needed and delivered what I wanted.
The more I use it the better I like it. Well done for a great saddle and great service."
Kerry Kreutzer
Rosebrook, NSW
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