Calculating the cost of a SMART Saddle

A SMART saddle is an investment piece for most horse owners, but what are you getting for your money?

With the ever-increasing cost of raw materials, and our commitment to providing fair conditions for our valued SMART Team, SMART Saddles work hard to ensure that when you do invest in a SMART saddle, you are getting more than just a saddle. From our comprehensive trial options, allowing you to test not only the saddles but also the recommended accessories, to the unprecedented adjustability, SMART Saddles provide authentically innovative products and services to help horse and rider alike.

 

What goes into a SMART Saddle?

 

• High-grade, premium leathers:

 

• • Responsibly sourced from long-standing UK suppliers, supporting the UK economy and minimising our carbon footprint
  • Carefully selected to meet our very specific requirements; strong yet malleable leathers in varying weights and thicknesses

 

• Custom CAD Components:

• • Moulded seat parts – the result of years of R&D, micro tweaking and prototyping to create the optimal interface for the rider. Not only does the shape need careful design, but the material itself must offer comfort without losing precision, and flexibility without losing stability.
  • Sheffield steel stirrup hangers – the highest quality steel for safety and strength, meticulously tested and locally sourced.

 

• Skilled saddle makers:

• • Many of the team have worked at SMART Saddles for over a decade and are the only people worldwide able to make a SMART saddle.
  • We proudly pay above the National Living Wage in recognition of the hard work, loyalty, and skills of our staff.
  • SMART saddles are not low-cost, mass-produced goods; they can take up to a week from start to finish to complete. Despite this, we work hard to keep our lead times to under 4 x weeks wherever possible

 

‘’It is a real investment to buy one of these saddles, but if I add up the cost of all the saddles that I've bought that haven't worked and have had to be resold at a loss, I have spent far more in the past than I've spent buying this saddle. This is how I see it; my pony is 10 years old, and hopefully I have 10 more years of riding him; 10 more years of enjoyment, which has increased hugely with the introduction of the SMART Saddle. This will cost me £4 a week. What can you buy these days for £4 that will bring you delight, enjoyment and capture memories for a lifetime?

I couldn’t be happier! Bob Champion (my pony) and I would like to give a big fat THANK YOU to all those involved in helping make this decision, and for all the time and work that has gone into the research and development of these saddles. With one goal: to do the right thing for the horses and therefore the rider too.’’
Emma Elliott, SMART Saddle owner

 

• R&D, R&D, R&D..:
  • The design and development of the SMART Saddle range has been a labour of love from the outset, with significant investment into Research & Development:

 

• • • SMART Saddle co-founder and designer, Dr Anne Bondi, successfully undertook a PhD to investigate and thoroughly understand the three-element interaction of horse, saddle, and rider.
    • To ensure that we understand how the saddle is behaving on the horse’s back, the effect it has on horse and rider, and what happens when we make a change, many, many hours have been spent in-house testing saddles, shims, and materials whilst assisting with the development of the Tekscan CONFORMat pressure mapping system for equine application.
    • 3D scanning of backs and saddles to capture data, revealing dimensional changes that are invisible to the naked eye.
    • Assisting with study days in support of the Saddle Research Trust, helping capture data to inform work that will help the welfare and performance of the ridden horse, learning as we go!
    • Biomechanical analysis using Dartfish software, as well as assisting with the development of the X-Sens system.

 

• SMART Advisors:

• • We believe that education is key; cost should not be a barrier to skilled horsemen and women joining our network of SMART Advisors, so our advisor training is provided at no cost. SMART Advisors are trained to understand horse posture, movement, and horse: saddle: rider interaction as well as saddle fit.
  • Many SMART Advisors join SMART Saddles to share the benefits of the SMART saddle range with other horses and riders, however they too have to earn a living and subsequently earn commission on goods sold in return for their expertise, time and skills.

"What the SMART GP saddle has given me is priceless..."

‘’From the first ride until now she has been a completely different horse to ride. She is easier now than she was when we were competing. With the SMART™ GP saddle, we can trot on a loose rein, canter on a loose rein, we are jumping again (albeit fallen logs in the forest but jumping!) and we can walk afterwards without her getting stressed and tense.  Those who know Annie will realise what a true feat this is!

She doesn't toss her head up in transitions. She doesn't get the strange diamond shaped sweat patch on her shoulder. She's not stiff or sore after a ride. She doesn't rush. She doesn't grab at the bit or run through the bridle. And she hasn't done her silly 2 beat bouncy canter that consistently got me marked down in dressage.  She is relaxed.

Honestly, it's the biggest horsey investment I've ever made ... I think it costs more than the horse did 17 years ago!

But what it's given me is priceless.

It's made me fall back in love with riding. 

The SMART™ GP saddle has given Annie and I the chance to make some more memories even though I'd retired her. It has given my youngster the opportunity to have the best start when the time comes to back her.

So, whilst I really can't afford to be buying saddles ... I can't afford not to ... 

I owe it to Annie to make her life as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. 

We owe every horse that. 

If only I knew 17 years ago what I know now ... our life together could have been very different.

Better late than never I suppose.’’

Jenny Parsons
Wild at Hoof – DEP / MEPA