Performance Equine - WOW Saddles Sally Talbot-Smith

05/08/2024

Client Jo Edgar and her gorgeous Aussie having a super few days away jumping at Northcote.

01/08/2024

So proud of Leanne and everything she has worked through and achieved over the years with Pete. Huge congratulations! Leanne has used Wows for donkeys years and her recent upgrade to a Pinnacle for Pete was clearly justified!

20/07/2024

A great and to the point post from Poppy!

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?

05/06/2024

Look at that backdrop! I love fitting visits to Vicky Smith and what a pleasure to see her youngster coming on so well.

29/05/2024

12/05/2024

What an absolute legend this horse is!!! Sitting in 13th over night.
He couldn’t have given me a better ride yesterday just cruising round another massive 5*!

I’ve said it for a long time but yesterday I think he proved it to everyone, he really is one of the best xc horses in the world!

Fingers crossed for today, but whatever happens I couldn’t be more proud of him!

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30/04/2024

BADMINTON HORSE TRIALS 2024

It is almost time! We are starting to get all packed ready for our stand at Badminton Horse Trials next week!
Come and see our products, talk to our experts, sit on a WOW saddle!

Will we being seeing you there at our Trade stand?

28/03/2024

27/03/2024

Wow Saddles give you wings!

Nice to be back out on my favourite little 🍊 🚀 for the first time since Jan!!
Even if she has forgotten my opinions also count!! 💥💥

Flex-onWalnut Hill Equine Veterinary ClinicFlex-on Equestrian EquipmentWOW SaddlesTreehouse Sporting ColoursOmega EquineGAIN Equine NutritionStudfast

20/03/2024

This will be a great watch when released. Two very long standing Wow Saddles’ riders!

12/03/2024

Fantastic to hear the difference Wows made to these horses immediately

Exciting Announcement!!!

I am absolutely delighted to share this with you.

Today I proudly became a Wow saddle ambassador.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to work with Aviar and Masters saddles Ltd have been super but both horses needed something different…

Today David Kempsell and Anneliese Lewis came to assess and fit both horses and I have to say I was completely blown away….

Firstly by the science behind the saddles

Secondly, the methodology and tech involved in the fitting the saddle to the horse and getting the girthing just right

Thirdly, the care and attention to get the balance right for me

Finally - the results! Well what can I say other than…..WOW!

Avalon was calm, rideable, forward, loose - her controls felt so direct and light it was just awesome!

Boris….flippin heck!! His panel shape is designed to support his weak area which is his back and allow him to really engage the engine - I will share more details of each specific saddle but I can’t believe the freedom of his movement - he has to now learn how to deal with all this range of movement and I have to learn how to ride him again!

I rode in a much older Wow about 15 years ago and I didn’t fall in love with it - today I expected it to be good but I expected it to feel a bit wooly and indirect - I couldn’t have been more wrong. I was wrong with quite a lot of things today including what I expected to fit the horses and that is not a negative at all - it’s a great and inspiring feeling….because tomorrow I am starting the day not wrong! We have moved forward and we start strong!

I am so excited to be working with WOW Saddles - I’m buzzing and hungry to learn more and will enjoy this journey immensely

I literally can’t rave about them enough.

Here is Boris enjoying his new hind leg! 😂

www.wowsaddles.com

01/03/2024

Info in the current British Dressag magazine on Wow products.

20/01/2024

And Richard will be presenting at the conference. I think we can say Richard has been riding in Wows for more than ‘many years’, it’ll be at least 20 years by now!

20/01/2024

Wow Saddles will have a stand at the conference. That’s because Gillian rides in Wows and has done for many years!

14/12/2023

Did you know that your WOW™ Saddle has THREE stirrup positions?

In addition to the two positions provided by the WOW™ stirrup bar, each seat has a fixing point underneath where a set of UP & OVER STIRRUP LEATHERS can be added by way of a bolt fixing point.

WHICH BAR TO USE?
Its largely down to personal preference as well as individual rider conformation. The front bar or back bar is not about dressage or jumping. Consider the overall picture of the rider in the saddle and how the stirrup position assists a natural fit for the leg. Factors affecting how to attain a ‘Head-Hip-Heel’ balance will include length of femur and lower leg, size of the foot and riding style.

Many Eventers tend to ride XC using the front bar enabling a defensive leg position well in front of the Head-Hip line. Dressage and Showjumpers tend to ride in the Head-Hip-Heel line - in fact seek that outline as desirable.

Julia McLean from WOW™ Saddles Australia says, “we have a number of very tall lady riders who use the front bar as their long femurs then settle into a very natural and effective leg position.” In that instance use of the back bar would likely create a fork seat causing the pelvis to roll forward, the rider’s weight onto the front of the thigh with the lower leg swinging back.

“Conversely” she says, “a number of shorter riders utilising the front bar find themselves in a chair seat with the leg too far in front of the body.” The chair seat causes the rider to sit on their buttocks instead of the seat bones and the rider will be behind the movement.

“I have showjump clients who prefer the back bar as their balance is easier to achieve particularly if they prefer a longer leg profile – likewise the endurance riders who ‘hover’ - as in stand in the stirrups for periods of time” Julia says.

“Some years ago, I wrote an article for a national publication about fitting a saddle to the rider. Stirrup bar position was part of that conversation leading to experimentation with two riders of very different body types, one horse, one saddle just changing the stirrup position with enlightening results”.

UP AND OVER?
The Up&Over Stirrups take the leathers 2 inches further behind the back bar. Julia had the privilege of a ride on a Grand Prix horse whose saddle was set up with Up&Over Stirrups encouraging her to try at home.

“Unexpectedly, the feeling is that my leg is actually more forward and better on the girth while improving alignment and stability. My homebred 17hh horse is too big for me (5’3”) so leg contact is crucial.”

“The horse I rode in the UK was smaller but set up for a taller rider so its worthy of trial.”

“I always encourage clients to swap their stirrups around to find the position that suits them best. On occasion I notice some riders using the back bar still seem to be ‘pulling’ themselves out of the rise – Up&Over will be of benefit no matter the discipline.”

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! UP & OVER STIRRUPS MUST BE USED WITH SAFETY STIRRUPS AS THE LEATHERS DO NOT COME OFF THE SEAT IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.

21/11/2023

I use and love the French made ‘Rid Up’ safety stirrups, sold by Wow and various other companies in the UK.
Wording below from Dawn Britnell.
“Following yet another discussion with a rider about the use of safety stirrups - she does not believe in them as she has never had an issue - I am once again sharing this very scary video. Please note the height of the fences denotes an experienced rider.
In the most recent BHS Magazine there was an article saying all riders should use them.
I agree!
Please note I don’t know or recommend the website attached to the video”

20/11/2023

20/11/2023

Tom Park’s first outing in his Wow, didn’t I say these two had a big future! Off to a fantastic start with a WHP win! Super pic from Mark Helm Photography.

16/11/2023

Lovely afternoon fitting this stunning new nutmeg Pinnacle dressage saddle to Fern Collier’s beautiful Karlos. Fern took over the ride from her sister when Sara went to university last year and they’ve had a fantastic first event season together!

09/11/2023

Fabulous day fitting down at Davison’s yesterday. A long day though now we have Joe’s show jumpers in Wows as well as Richard and Gill’s dressage horses!
Richard is doing a masterclass at Your Horse Live tomorrow at 2pm with the stunning Teo so, if you’re there, make sure you go along to watch.

07/11/2023

Just scrolling through Facebook mindlessly and suddenly spotted a picture of one of my clients being used on a Riding Club post. Jeanette Alberti and her gorgeous Fjord, Maxi, looking awesome!

02/11/2023

Twice a year minimum ideally!

**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays meme relates to the changes in back shape and saddle fit.

The horses back shape (posture) can alter with exercise (if ridden in a correctly fitted saddle), training, seasons etc. Important that the fit of the saddle is checked regularly to reduce the risk of back related dysfunction.

As an example - a saddle that is fitted on day 1, after 90 days of correct training and management (resulting in an improved top line) , will the saddle still be in balance and a optimal fit??

Or a saddle which was “made to measure” for a young horse, will it still fit the same as when the horse has matured??

The horses back is a dynamic platform where it’s movement and shape is influenced by multiple factors. The fit of the saddle must be checked regularly throughout the horses ridden career regardless of what it’s purpose is - hacking or sporting.

🤓

www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

13/10/2023

A busy week seeing some gorgeous horses, and not in the rain for once! Below is Rachel and the lovely Reggie, an ex-racehorse who we’ve switched into BBS panels to help with support during the development of his top line. Then there’s superstar Flame with Vicky in her ‘arena with a view’. Flame is only a few weeks under saddle and was such a good boy!

27/09/2023

Today I fitted a beautiful new saddle with an embossed leather style that I haven’t used before, combined with dark blue stitching, absolutely stunning!
Also today a joy of a refit. The customer turned to Wow for help when she was having terrible slipping issues with her previous saddle. Three months ago I fitted her new Wow Pinnacle and had to use asymmetric girthing to stabilise the saddle and keep it straight. That has enabled the rider to be effective in helping her horse work straighter (it’s hard to correct a horse when you’re being pushed out the side door!) and today, only three months later, we were able to remove the asymmetric girthing and have an even, straight saddle on a horse that, prior to Wows had had consistent right slip issues. Fabulous!

06/09/2023

King bing making Cottesmore leap look like a 100 fence!
I know I’m very biased, but I’m not sure there’s any other horse I’d rather sit on to tackle these courses!

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14/07/2023

04/05/2023

04/05/2023

Badminton we are ready for you!

Please do come down and visit our trade stand, situated inside the World Of The Horse pavilion. Our stand is full of saddles for you to try/ compare/ sit on, and retailers to answer all of your thoughts and questions!

We look forward to seeing you all!

11/04/2023

Another FreeSpace Girth review we had to share! This time from the lovely Claire McNay & her beautiful grey, Skipper!

"Having struggled to find a girth that my young Irish Draught Skipper was 100% comfortable in I was interested to find out more about the WOW FreeSpace girth. I read up about it and spoke to my fabulous fitter Sally who advised on the options available. I decided to go for it and I have been delighted with it. Since using it Skipper has never felt tight and tucked up when I first mount and ride away, and his walk has so much more swing. He's proving to have a big jump as his confidence builds and this girth along with my WOW saddle enables him to move freely and comfortably in all disciplines 👌"