FOCUSONSADDLING
Herewetalk to SMSMasterSaddle Fitter and Qualified Saddler, SamWuczkeabout her busylifeinthe industry and her love forcompeting with her Welsh Section D, Corinthian.
SAM AND CORINTHIAN CANTER TO SUCCESS
to do within the equine industry after Ihad finished. Ispent the next year working as asupermarket assistant and then movedontoacustomer serviceadvisor role in abank call centrefor six months, which Ireally wasnot enjoying at all. In July 2006 Ihad aphone call from Rosslyn at RB
1
Equestrian asking me if Iwould liketotrain to become asaddle fitter at which Ijumped at the chanceand handed in my notice at my current job the next day. Afterqualifying as asaddle fitter in 2011 Ithenbegan my apprenticeship in saddlery in 2017. Ihavealwaysbeen creativeand studied Alevel Art
and Textilesatschool, so it wasgreat to be given the opportunitytoenhancethese skills. Ireally enjoyedworking with leather and learning to makeitems from scratch including bridles, headcollars, martingalesand girths. OnceIcompleted my Level2and 3inBridlework
Ithen movedontomyLevel 2and 3Saddle Making which really helped me gain agreater understanding of howasaddle is put together from scratch and also the amount of work and time that goesintomaking one. In February 2019 Ientered my Stallion In Hand Bridle for
the Trainee Bridle classatthe National Saddlery Competition at SaddlersHall in London, which is held everyyearand was very pleased to be presented with apremium awardfor my workmanship.I completed my apprenticeship in February 2020 and had my Advanced Saddlery Apprenticeship Certificate presented to me by The PrincessRoyalatSaddlers’ Hall. In March 2021 Iwas officially accepted as aQualified Saddler and in May2021I wasapprovedasaMasterSaddle Fitter.
2007after yearsofsharing and loaning friends’ horses. Corinthian is my Welsh SectionDwho Ipurchased as a two-year-old and is now16years of
age.Ithad alwaysbeen my dreamtoget ayoungstertoback and train myself. We have had greatfun together competing in showing,
2 58
dressage and jumping and fun rides. He’sagreat all- rounder and is full of character. We have competed at Equifest, TrailblazersDressage Championships and qualified forBDPetplan Area Festivals. He lovesgoing out to competitions but particularly enjoys the showing as I think he likes an audienceand lovesthe atmosphere.
Arehorsesyour hobby– if so tell us abit more? Yes. Justafter Istarted working at RB Equestrian, Idecided to buy my firsthorse in February
Howdid you firstbecome interested in saddle fitting and saddleryingeneral as acareer? Icompleted aBsc (Hons)inEquine Studiesin2005 and likealot of people struggled to find ajob Iwanted
satisfying when youcan solveaproblem and improve a horse’sway of going by changing or adjusting asaddle’s fit. It’s greatwhen the customer knows the horse well also as theycan often really feel the differenceinthe changes that aremadeonthe day, which canalso improve on their position and balanceinthe saddle,aswell and their horsesway of going. Ialso liketoinvolvethe customer in the fittingbyhelping and educating them on what they should be looking out for, and regular checks theycan makethemselves to keep an eyeonthe horse’ssaddle fit.
3 4 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER2021
Arethereany down sides? Sometimespeople have their mind set on acertain saddle brand theywould liketobe fitted to their horse because maybe their
friend mayhavethe same saddle,ortheyhavesat in the saddle and liked it. Iwould alwaysadvise when looking to purchase asaddle to keep an open mind, as the saddle youmay have your heart set on maynot be the best fitfor youoryour horse on the day.
What is it about your job youenjoy the most? No two days arethe same.I enjoymeeting different customersand their horses. It is so
Forthe latest
newsvisitwww.centralhorsenews.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
