KB Saddlery

04/02/2025

https://kayhastilowmastersaddler.blogspot.com/2021/01/busting-myths-8-bald-patches-have.html?fbclid=IwAR3Z3gVgwImXpmCXMzHrj7xNnjQVsZ0SalTMM3yRRZrK67AfvMXcFrL87Ok&m=1

There are many myths that have been going around with regards to saddlery and the use thereof. In this series of posts, I endeavour to sho...

01/02/2025

The Focused Equestrian Boot Camp Days Hours Minutes Seconds The Focused Equestrian Boot Camp begins 3rd February 2025 It’s 2025.. let us help you to find your focus. EquiTeam are delighted to host our first online Focussed Equestrian Boot Camp! What better way to share our resources than to invite...

16/01/2025

Another brilliant post by the amazing Poppy Webber - Qualified Saddle Fitter

It’s all about physics… Your saddle (or saddle fitter) is not a miracle worker. If your horse is a barrel, and there is a bit of wonkiness somewhere (you or the horse) and your saddle slips to the side… your saddle isn’t necessarily to blame. Instead, get it checked and if it’s ok, work on making the horse less of a barrel shape… and straightening them (and yourself!) up so there is less unevenness.

If your horse has big wide ribs and an itty bitty shoulder… or a girth groove that’s inches in front of the girth line… maybe your saddle slips forward. That’s physics. Your girth will always pull into the narrowest place. Sometimes changing your girth or the girthing on the saddle can help.

If your horse has massive shoulders, and hoiks them up into the air when they jump… those massive shoulders can push the saddle back. That’s physics. Again sometimes girths and girthing can help. But saddles can’t defy the laws of physics.

If you or your horse is uneven then yes we can pad/flock/shim saddles to help. But… working on evening them up is much more beneficial.

Sometimes, in an attempt to hold a saddle still, to fight against the laws of physics (and often to keep the rider happy), we can end up clamping a saddle too much. Personally I would rather see a saddle shunt forward/to the side/backwards a little bit if the alternative is to clamp it too much the other way.

What do you think?

24/12/2024

Wishing all my clients a merry Christmas and a happy new year I hope 2025 is going to be an amazing year for everyone 🎉🎉🎉
Look forward to seeing everyone next year x

24/12/2024

London was a blast

11/09/2024

💥We have this lovely 18” Fairfax Rebecca monoflap adjustable Dressage saddle.
It’s just four months old with very light use, and in excellent condition.
ℹ️A lovely comfy saddle with big blocks for added rider security.
Available to try, or we can post to buyer.

£2,000

21/08/2024

🧡I'm very excited to be at the Defender Blair Castle International Horse Trials this week, on the Albion Saddlemakers Co. Ltd stand, which can be found in block one, on stand two.
Chris Evans Equine Sports Massage & Saddle Fitting Services and I will be on the stand all week, so we would love for you to come and say hello to us.😁

🍀Good luck to all of my clients competing this weekend - as always please do let us know how you get on as we love seeing your results 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

29/07/2024

🙏Thank you for your patience over the last week whilst we were trying to reschedule bookings due to Kevin being off poorly.
🧡Thankfully Kevin is starting to feel better and will be at work on Wednesday catching up on all of his delayed appointments.

Thank you for your understanding - image of Kevin from when he was feeling less grim!

23/07/2024

Sincere apologies, due to the doctors orders Kevin is having to take a few days off. He is hopeful that he will be good to go once the antibiotics kick in and he’s had some rest. Sincerest apologies he will be in touch to get clients rescheduled due to this

22/07/2024

Brilliant post by poppy Webber 👌🏻

Your saddle is not a miracle worker. If your horse is a barrel, and there is a bit of wonkiness somewhere (you or the horse) and your saddle slips to the side… your saddle isn’t necessarily to blame. Instead, get it checked and if it’s ok, work on making the horse less of a barrel shape… and straightening them (and yourself!) up so there is less unevenness.

If your horse has big wide ribs and an itty bitty shoulder… or a girth groove that’s inches in front of the girth line… maybe your saddle slips forward. That’s physics. Your girth will always pull into the narrowest place. Sometimes changing your girth or the girthing on the saddle can help.

If your horse has massive shoulders, and hoiks them up into the air when they jump… those massive shoulders can push the saddle back. That’s physics. Again sometimes girths and girthing can help. But saddles can’t defy the laws of physics.

If you or your horse is uneven then yes we can pad/flock/shim saddles to help. But… working on evening them up is much more beneficial.

Sometimes, in an attempt to hold a saddle still, to fight against the laws of physics (and often to keep the rider happy), we can end up clamping a saddle too much. Personally I would rather see a saddle shunt forward/to the side/backwards a little bit if the alternative is to clamp it too much the other way.
What do you think?

13/07/2024

🥳Well, where to even start!😁
Last week I was down at Moulton College doing training with The Society of Master Saddlers but what I didn’t tell (almost) anyone is that I also did my final exams whilst I was there and I’m thrilled to say I passed all my exams and I am now a fully qualified Saddle Fitter 🥰

🧡I can’t thank everyone who has helped and supported me along the way and continue to do so as in this job you are constantly learning and progressing, and I will always strive to be the best I can be.

🥳I’d also like to congratulate Chris Evans from Chris Evans Equine Sports Massage & Saddle Fitting Services on passing his exams too, we have trained together, have both been mentored by the incredible Kay Hastilow and Jen Roy, so it is amazing to both have completed our exams and passed together 🎉

Kevin x

11/07/2024

🤩How awesome does this look...!🤩
🤤My sponsored rider, Liz, is raising money for her son's grassroots rugby team (Howe U14's) and certainly knows how to make most equestrians drool with this jump set!🤣

➡It's just £10 to enter, so if you would like to be in with a chance of winning have a look at: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/win-two-jump-4-joy-showjumps-1?exp=exp-pledge&expv=A

🏉I'm delighted to support grassroots sports, (and would be even more delighted if I won!!), so if you can give it a share and help them reach their target that would be so appreciated.

If you have any questions please contact Liz and she will be happy to answer any queries x

15/06/2024

It’s taken me until now to realise the benefits of having a good woman in my life!🤣🤣🤣
📅Ruth has transformed my diary in such a positive way and it is now full until mid-August onwards!

🧡Appointments are already being taken for September, so if you would like an appointment please book in advance, I really dislike not being able to accommodate anyone, or feeling like I’m letting anyone down!

💡We do have some spaces before then but these slots are reserved for emergency fittings and reflocking, so if you have any immediate issues please be assured that we can still come and see you.

🙏Lastly, a massive thank you, it feels very surreal to be writing this saying I’m fully booked until mid-August, I am truly grateful for every single one of my lovely clients.

Kevin 🧡

13/06/2024

😁It's not every day you get to see one of your sponsored riders on an actual lorry!!!
🤩🤩Wow Steph and Atty - this is next level fame - we are so very proud.
Well done Baileys Horse Feeds - they look incredible!

12/06/2024

You don’t have to be alone to feel lonely.

Riders Minds offer some brilliant resources to help us all look after ourselves, if you haven’t come across them have a look at their website.
📷 You might recognise the ‘models’ in this picture 💜

💕𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆.

ℹ️This week is Loneliness Awareness Week, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness. It's all about creating supportive communities by having open, honest conversations.
Loneliness is a natural human emotion - we are hardwired to need social connections. By talking about it, we can support ourselves and others.

💜𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩
🌍Live webchat: https://ridersminds.org/
🇬🇧Live text support: 07480 488 103
🇬🇧Call the helpline: 0800 088 2073

28/05/2024

🙏Wow -thank you to everyone who has nominated me for the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) Equine Fitter of the Year Award 2024, I am truly humbled and very proud to receive this email.

💕It means so much that people have taken the time to put me forward for this prestigious award, if you would like to do the same nominations are still open here: https://forms.gle/cZn5TNAb5ULuuhVEA

Good luck to everyone else who has been nominated, thank you to the award sponsors Equine Fitters Directory, and thank you so much again to everyone who has nominated (I don't get to find out who you are to personally thank you).

Kevin 😁