Fhoenix and Vogue saddles, plus new treed and other ranges, news

[Heather]

Hi All,


Just wanted to let everyone know that Fiona is giving up the saddle distribution. She and Graeme are moving from Devon to Wales and she wants more time to spend with her Iceys once they move to their new property. I would like to thank Fiona for her efficient handling of sales, and customers!- over this last two years, and needless to say, I am very sorry to lose her. 

With the simulator workshops simply not booking up now, and with me being more than ever tied with the responsibilities with my parents failing health, I cannot go away to teach enough to cover my overheads here. Therefore, I am sorry to have to say that teaching will take the back seat from now on, will still offer the simulator workshops, but probably only three a year in the summer months, and also, of course, teacher training.

I will still try to get to Sarah's to do my clinics as long as I can get cover here, but there will be little option to go away on a monthly basis

I am therefore taking over sales again myself, with Nurseys doing the main order taking and invoicing as they did in the past before Jill Shephard took over.

I will however, be covering customer care calls and emails, so that any technical enquiry can be dealt with by me, or I will put the customer in touch with their nearest retailer.

I am also planning to return to designing and manufacturing treed saddles. I am going up to Walsall to have talks with a saddler friend who was trained by Barrie Swain, and whose Father used to mostly make my saddles at Barrie's and is still also a friend. I hope to revive the St Merryn saddle, but it will hopefully look more like a treed version of the Vogue, which works so well as a design. I have some ideas, most of which I had already tested when making treed saddles, which can be incorporated into the saddles to ensure a better and easier fitting process.

This will be a top of the range, bespoke saddle, and will look absolutely gorgeous!

At the other end of the scale, I am hoping to work with one of the synthetic manufacturers to provide a cheaper treed and treeless saddle.

So hopefully we should soon have an EE saddle to cover all budgets and tastes!

[ChrissieW]

  Good news

[DollysMum]

Great news!

[happy-horses]

Sounds like a very sensible plan     

[TashaKat]

That sounds like a good plan

[kathyt]

That sounds like a good plan

Agreed!

[Freedom]

That sounds great (about the saddles),  

Even more to add to my collection - My tackroom is being taken over by Heather's saddles I have Heather's synthetic Thorowgood dressage saddle plus two Vogues.  

Soon there will be enough to take over the world!  

[Wendy]

Am I the only one who thinks it is bad news? It is very sad that Heather won't be teaching, that is what she does best after all. 

I hope this works for you for the time being, Heather. 

[whisper's mum]

The saddle news is great!  I'm glad you hope to be able to continue the clinics at Sarah's, I hope you'll also still have time for the video lessons? 

[winnieandben]

Good news on the saddles and glad you are finding work to keep you at home but also sad that you wont be out teaching 

[issywizz]

Well thats superb news for me 
Shame you wont be doing so much teaching though Heather-shame for the horses 
But the country desperately needs saddles that fit and are GOOD for the horses backs  so good news on that front 

[Heather]

I just wish I could do more teaching but it just isnt possible now, but I can't let Sarah and our loyal Midlands band down! I will of course, still take people who can make it down here with their horses, for three day courses. 

[issywizz]

Good cos we love you! 

[Wendy]

Good cos we love you! 

What she said. 

[Heather]

Aw , now you are making me cry................