What SMART Saddles’ Queen’s Award for Innovation accolade means for horse & rider comfort, welfare & performance

In April 2021, SMART Saddles (formerly Solution Saddles), under the leadership of Dr. Anne Bondi BHSI, was honoured with The Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Innovation for its SMART™ saddle range.

This mark of recognition is rare and, almost 5 years later, SMART Saddles is still believed to be the only saddle design ever to have received this accolade. Read on to find out more about the significance of this achievement.

 

Rigorous criteria & recognition

The Queen’s Awards are among the most prestigious business accolades in the UK. The Innovation category is awarded only to companies that demonstrate originality, effectiveness, proven benefit to users, and a measurable positive impact. To win, a company must show that its innovation isn’t just novel but useful, reliable, and backed by evidence. Being one of only a few hundred organisations selected in any given year (205 in 2021 across all categories) underscores how exceptional the recognition is.

 

 

SMART Saddles’ Research & Development:

Founded on scientific research, the SMART saddles’ innovative design is grounded in measurable performance including Dr Anne Bondi’s academic work (PhD) and in-house testing, both of which support the patented flexible saddle design.

 

What it means for you and your horses?

SMART Saddles’ award-winning design means that you are getting more than just another version of traditional saddle design:

• Innovation:  SMART Saddles are fundamentally different in how they engage with the horse’s back, thereby affording you the opportunity to try something genuinely different.
• Value over time: Because the SMART design adapts to change (weight, shape, musculature, etc.), you can avoid frequent replacement, providing improved value-for-money.
• Support & fitting service: Innovation is only useful if fitting is good. SMART Saddles operate through approved SMART Advisors nationwide, offering try-before-you-buy Test Rides and trials. With more SMART Advisors available across the country than most other brands, SMART Saddles supports horses and riders in all regions, as well as overseas. SMART Saddles is committed to ongoing training for SMART Advisors, never underestimating that even the best saddle won’t work optimally if it's not properly fitted and maintained.
• Longevity & investment: A patented design, backed by research, SMART Saddles is committed to maintaining quality, ongoing research and development and long-term customer support.

 

SMART Saddles’ commitment to horse & rider comfort, welfare & performance

• Patented and distinctive design: SMART Saddles hold patents for their flexible saddle system. The fully flexible base panels and adjustable features are genuinely different from other saddles on the market.
• Proof through feedback: Over 20 years of users (professional and amateur alike) reporting improvements in comfort, behaviour, performance. Over long periods of time, not just initial trials.
• Business resilience & recognition: Even throughout challenging times, SMART Saddles maintained operations, growth and customer service. The Queen’s Award itself recognises not only innovation but that the business model sustains in “real world” conditions.
• Commitment to welfare: More riders, consumers, and regulatory/sporting bodies are increasingly concerned with equine welfare and social license to operate. SMART Saddles’ commitment to welfare underpins the whole design.

 

 

Why SMART Saddles?

If you’re in the market for a new saddle, or frustrated with your current saddle issues, you can have peace of mind knowing that investing in a SMART saddle can help improve comfort for horse & rider, providing a reliable saddle fit over time with a good support network.

The Queen’s Award for Innovation awarded to SMART Saddles in 2021 is a major validation that the design is respected by experts and peers as a genuinely innovative product with demonstrable performance. Key design features and what they mean in practice can be found below: