The job of a CWD sports saddle expert

Tell me more about your job as a sports saddle expert ?

The cornerstone of our profession is to match the products we manufacture with the expectations of our riders when it comes to new or used saddles, bridles, protective equipment for horses and reins. We also adapt our saddles to horses and riders and provide guidance and advice for our riders. This ensures that riding is always pleasurable and efficient, while respecting the horse’s comfort. Finally, we also do a significant amount of administrative work, including order taking, deliveries and exchanges.

How did you train to do this job ?

In-house training takes place at the workshops in Nontron in Dordogne, which gave us the opportunity to visit the tannery in Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière (24), where we source our vegetable-tanned leathers. There is also the sales training manager who focuses on the various tanning and saddle-making processes. The commercial part involves adapting the saddle to the horse or horses as well as the rider’s morphology and his riding technique. Then there is the part which deals with sales. Training lasts for around a month. To complete the training, each sales representative shadows another sales representative who is already well established in their area, for at least a fortnight. The training the company provides is rich and comprehensive. It covers knowledge about tanning (what makes a great hide, fine leather, what leather and what hide should be used for the different parts of the saddle, etc.). It also includes the design and manufacture of the saddle (everything is done for a reason especially with our R&D office!), the biomechanics of the horse and the rider. Without forgetting understanding customers’ problems as we are there to help them find solutions to progress and continue to enjoy riding!

Do you have any advice for someone who would like to become a sports saddle expert at CWD ?

Above all, you need to be passionate about riding! It is essential to know about riding as a sport in order to know what you are talking about: the biomechanics of the horse, the role of the rider, where shows take place, well-known stallions, high-level results, etc. We are the showcase for the brand, we have to reflect its values and its raison d’être. For some, having contacts and knowledge in the field helps! In short, you mustn’t be afraid of working in the evening and at weekends:  on Sundays at shows, on weekday evenings to equip amateurs who come to the stables after work and during the day with the industry’s professionals.

What kind of support do you provide to CWD riders on a daily basis ?

Our job is based on two essential areas: the sales department dealing with purchases and the sales department which follows up with our customers.

The purchase of CWD equipment :

After a contact has been made and horse and rider’s needs have been assessed, an equipment fitting is carried out. When it comes to saddles, we use our expertise to carry out tests with the horse: we explain to the rider how to take measurements and then try out the saddle in order to put our advice into practice.

Following-up with our customers :

We follow-up the delivery of their products to make sure that everything is going well. We may also travel to carry out product checks and after-sales services. We also like to make so-called “courtesy” visits: we come by to check that everything is fine, we have a coffee and chat with our customers about their plans, their results, their horses, etc. I often say that people should see us more as passionate technicians than as salespeople.

The service we provide to our customers is very important. We need to be efficient, responsive, and fair. This is one of our major strengths compared to other brands. Moreover, the quality of the service we provide justifies our innovations and our supporting role. We seek to offer the best possible service to all our customers, including professional, amateur and leisure riders.

What are the key points about fitting a saddle ?

When the horse stands in the box and is completely still, the saddle must sit correctly and evenly on the horse’s back and pressure must be distributed as evenly as possible. We know that there are areas where the saddle must be in contact with the horse and others where it doesn’t. In particular, the withers must obviously not touch the saddle.

So we check the withers, the shoulders and the back. These are the three main points.

In the majority of cases, tests during movement (in the ring/ indoor school) take place without any padding on the back so as not to disguise the fit. We then check that the saddle is well adjusted to the horse’s back at all gaits. This also enables us to check the rider’s balance, their contact with the horse and their seat. This dynamic test allows the rider to observe their comfort, balance and contact with the horse. Then we adapt the saddle to the riders’ needs. For example, riding with or without saddle pads, if they have a specific objective or are looking to experience sensations when they ride. Riding is a discipline where not just one principle applies.

How does a saddle improve the rider’s position ?

Initially it must improve balance.

Saddles must have an educational aspect, i.e., they must cancel out, or at least limit, the rider’s faults. An appropriate saddle must allow the right balance between horse and rider even if this is not an exact science. Every story, every relationship between a rider and a horse is different. Just being the same size doesn’t mean you can have the same saddle.

Nevertheless, a good saddle can improve the riders balance, seat, stability, comfort and the bond with the horse. Comfort is very important for amateur riders. They may have average balance but if the saddle is comfortable, they will feel positive about it. In this case, it is up to us to explain that comfort goes hand in hand with good balance.