Katie Aston Saddlery & Leatherwork

23/10/2024

🐎When was the last time you had your saddle reflocked?

After a summer of shows and sponsered rides treat your equine friend and your saddle to a reflock.

**FLOCKING**
The white & pink flocking is the original and as you can see there’s hard balls formed over time & the panel was crammed full.
These lumps can cause pressure points on the horses back.
The grey flocking is what will replace the old in long even strips to create a soft even surface.

22/10/2024

Before & After of a knife sheath repair.

We don’t only do saddlery repairs, lots of different leather items repaired and restored.

Please feel free to private message me for any enquiries, repairs from only £8

21/10/2024

Belt making this weekend ✂️🪡🫶

15/06/2024

Straps for a water pick up hose on the lovely Lord Roberts

28/05/2024

28/05/2024

30/12/2023

Dog Collar & Lead set for a whippet

11/08/2022

Horses are amazingly tolerant, giving creatures.

It unfortunately means they’re often exploited due to the ambitions of the human. After their basic needs are met, you must be very thoughtful in the training of your horse.

Your first duty is to preserve the purity of the paces. What does this mean? Walk has 4 beats, trot has 2, canter has 3, gallop has 4. ALWAYS. If not, something is wrong biomechanically, and your horse is at risk of injury. BTW impure paces can usually be detected in a photograph, even though it is only a “moment in time”, AND this applies to all disciplines.

Strapping a horse’s mouth shut with a crank/flash (or other) noseband very often contributes. The fact is, a horse cannot maintain full range of motion with his hind legs if he can’t move his tongue and jaw. FACT.

For jumping, if the horse bolts off - away from, towards, or after a jump, putting on a bigger bit and a martingale will not fix it. If a horse hesitates or stops, pulling out the whip will NEVER make him more confident.

These are just a few hints that your horse is asking for HELP. Go back. Consolidate the basics. Another wonderful thing about horses is they're retrainable. If you ignore the hints, eventually the horse will either break down, or will SHOUT to get your attention, and you will get hurt.

After all, horses are dangerous. We tell everyone that. But actually they are not. We wouldn’t be able to ride them if they were truly dangerous. You know what’s dangerous? People are.

Ponder this excerpt from Franz Mairinger’s book “Horses are made to be Horses”:

(Picture credit Thinking Art )

28/07/2022

A alteration this morning; shortening of the cheeks on this lunge cavveson too allow more room and be less tight around TMJ and ears to make it more comfortable.
Your buckles should be eye level 🐴

29/06/2022

Foal slip for the lovely Florence at Tandridge Stud

21/06/2022

Girth Straps Restitched today!
Remember to check your stitching even if the straps look ok!

20/06/2022

Before & After of a repair on a riding boot 🥾