I was delighted to be invited back to ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฉ๐ in Italy last week to finish the tour of the factory that was cut short with my fainting โepisodeโ back in July. I got a massive welcome from hotel and Equipe staff alike with lots of rejoinders to โbe careful this timeโ. Luckily I had my husband along to act as chaperone!
The first afternoon was taken up with a demonstration of some new Equipe saddle models, including the new โ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ณ๐๐๐๐ญ๐กโ dressage saddle which I have on order. This is now being made with foam rather than flocked panels, and will be a very useful and different saddle to the normal Equipe dressage saddles.
There was also an example of the sensational new monoflap โ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐โ jump saddle (previously only available as a doubleflap). Boulevards have a curvier tree, shorter panels and a slightly deeper seat than Expression, Synergy or EQS.
Most Equipe saddles can be ordered with thicker front or rear panels, and with the different tree shapes and girthing options, there is an Equipe saddle to suit most horse conformations. They can also be made with more forward cut or longer flaps, and different blocks according to rider choice.
๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ฉ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐! On the tour with me was master saddler Chris Harper, who is authorised by Equipe to carry out any adjustments for UK customers. He can normally get saddles back within a week of receipt, so ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ซ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค!
The second day was a tour of the factory, where the processes were explained and demonstrated. The attention to detail is quite mind blowing! We saw knee and thigh blocks being made from scratch, the leather hides (all from North Italy) being minutely examined for flaws and the use of cutting edge computer technology to ensure that each saddle is perfect and exactly as ordered. All ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฏ๐!
And, best of all, I got home from Italy unscathed and brimming with enthusiasm!
I do of course carry many English brands as well as Equipe, and would be happy to come out a do a fitting or a saddle check; please call or message me on 07941 512933.
