Miriam Bowler Saddlery

13/03/2025

New cards delivered today 😊

04/03/2025

Do you ever worry about parting with your horse while out on the trail?
My personal bridles always have engraved 'dog tags' on them, with a name and two phone numbers. The usual rider and someone else local who knows rider and horse in case of a broken phone or unconscious rider.
In the event of a stranger catching your loose horse, hopefully an alert can be raised and everyone reunited quickly.

03/03/2025

When you have a brief 'spider panic' moment.
Tieing off all the loose ends and saw 'Huntsmans legs'.....
It's probably time I had a lunch break....🕷️

25/02/2025

Plastic (synthetic) trees and tree points.
The tree point on the tip is an added extra to the tree that sits in the 'tree pockets'. It gives more length to the rigid tree shape, giving better weight bearing surface. The tree points usually have a little flex in them so they are a little more forgiving if the saddle isn't a perfect fit.
However, it's common for them to get 'stretched out'.
It's definately not uncommon to pop the front of a saddle out to change an adjustable gullet, and realise the ends of the tree points are left in the pockets.
Saddle no1
Pics 1 and 2 have intact tree points. However the ends of the plastic tree have cracked right through. This makes this saddle irreparably broken and it's heading for the bin. (It's rare that a synthetic saddle would be worth the cost of a tree replacement)
Saddle no2
Pics 3, 4 and 5 are of cracked points. But the tree is fine. So these points were removed and replaced with leather points (a more traditional option)

22/02/2025

Saddle fitting is a tough gig. And I really try to avoid it. I'm a qualified saddler, not a saddle fitter. It makes me very happy to know that there are good fitters in my area that I am very happy to work with so that we can give a great team service.

Hold tight everyone, I have my brave pants on this morning and this post could be a smidge controversial and probably too lengthy but stay with me 😬

Here’s my admission… When I was on the road saddle fitting one of the parts of the job that I really hated was selling saddles. To a great extent I would avoid it like the plague. Don’t get me wrong, there was also a huge amount of job satisfaction when you witnessed the difference a new saddle made for someone’s partnership with their horse and I definitely had my opinions on the quality of some brands over others. However, as a saddle fitter you start to recognise when the process of buying a new saddle won’t work or be the magic fix the rider is looking for and that’s not fun.

Let me explain.. as we know there are many *many* elements that go into a correctly fitting saddle. Remember each rider / horse combination is unique. Here are just some of the physical variables:

For the horse : back shape, back width, back length, asymmetry of any sort both static and in movement at all gaits, hoof condition, position of girth groove, age, breed, previous injury…

For the rider : height, weight, length of leg, fitness, previous injuries / ailments, rider ability, rider asymmetry..

Imagine aiming to find a perfect saddle to suit any combination of all of the above and more. Then add to that budget, availability, adaptability “I want a saddle I can use for my next horse or my other horse”, market awareness of a particular brand or what your mate rides in or thinks is good. It’s a minefield.

Then there are two brains we need to look after. For the most part the brain of the horse is decipherable if we look at instinct and what comes naturally to a prey animal. Sometimes soured with the experiences they have had with humans. The human brain though, that’s a lot more complicated. I definitely came to the realisation that as a saddle fitter you need to be across human expectation first and foremost and really understand the partnership (or not) between that particular horse and rider. It’s really really tough.

I have so many fabulous saddle fitting friends and have heard their stories of the challenges trying to help clients. Going above and beyond to help fix things when sometimes just one element doesn’t align (normally the brain bit) and it all goes pear shaped. I have witnessed many having to give refunds on saddles when it’s absolutely not their fault but the expectation of a magic fix isn’t fulfilled.

Something to consider when you employ a saddle fitter : if they are traveling to you with saddles for you to try and the means to adjust your saddle having trained or qualified under a reputable training model (I’m with the Society of Master Saddlers) THEY CARE and they want to try to fix your saddle fitting issues. If they sell you a saddle it’s for the same reason. Of course they make a commission on the sale of the saddle but frankly at times it’s negligible given the outlay for their business. Manufacturers don’t give saddle fitters demo saddles they have to buy them, then there’s insurance, their vehicle, their training and so on.

Ok enough rambling! I might have had too much coffee this morning! 🤣🤔 If you read this to the end – thank you!

Hope everyone is out enjoying time with their horses this weekend.

Photo of my daughter and her pony just because I love these two. We are getting ready for an interschools comp next week. Fingers crossed it won't be the predicted 40 degrees 🥵 this pom cannot cope with that!

Lucy x

21/02/2025

Some creative patching to keep this tired saddle tidy and serviceable for a while longer.

06/02/2025

Are your girth points all equal and level?
If they're not, then there will be uneven pressure on your saddle as you girth up, making it very hard to keep your saddle centred, balanced and level, eventually affecting the balance in the saddle panels and flocking. And that affects your body balance and most definately your horses balance and muscle tone.

22/01/2025

Did you know that I don't just 'make stuff'.
Actually a very large part of my working day is often repairs and alterations.
Have you bought an off the peg bridle that you really liked, but it just fits wrong?
Buckles up round the ears, straps too long and flappy etc etc.
I can help alter it so it looks nicer and fits more comfortably.
Bridles that look like the image below just make me cringe.

30/12/2024

Thankyou for all your kind acknowledgements for my last post.
(If you missed it, please go back a day and read it).
Your cooperation and help to keep my work and personal stuff separate is very much appreciated. I'm looking forward to being able to manage and keep track of particularly work messages much more easily going into 2025.
This will make for a happier mummy and a happier wife.
And that makes a happier household.

Wishing you all a peaceful and happy New Year

Miriam

29/12/2024

A long post, but a very important one, so please bear with me and read through.

I hope you've all enjoyed a peaceful Christmas break and are making your plans and resolutions for the New Year.
I'm making some 'housekeeping rules' for the New Year.
I'm sure that many of you won't realise, but I actually have a 'personal' phone number,and a 'work' phone number.
Two different phone numbers.
Same for my Facebook things.
A 'personal' page, and a 'work' page.
The equestrian service I provide means I walk a constant line between 'friends', 'professional services' and a very grey blurry line between the two.
For example; say someone who I know on a personal friends basis, messages me on a Sunday afternoon, or 7pm in the evening, 'am I home?'.
And then they call around to chat about a work job. Tricky huh?
As many of you know, I try to keep a very small and local business, working from home, to fit and suit my life around my family.
This means my work hours are not fixed '9-5 mon-fri'. I can often be found in the workshop finishing off that last minute job on a Sunday or late at night. And that's my choice. And there are some days where I won't be found in the workshop because I have other plans for that day.
I really believe in good personal customer service.
If you have a genuine 'help!' emergency, I will do whatever I can to get a job done and get you and your horse back on schedule for that weekend show etc.
However, and this is the really important bit. I am very unlikely to answer work related messages and phone calls out of normally accepted working hours. If you message me late in the evening or Sundays, I will get straight back to you next day. I really need to be able to give my own family my attention in the evenings and weekends, so I'm not likely to want to be waiting around for someone to collect/drop off repairs or chat work jobs.

If you've stayed with me for the read this long, Thankyou.
Now I'm asking you to check your contacts list for me.
What phone number are you using for me?
Ending in '742' is a work number
Ending in '626' is a personal number
Messaging contact
Are you sending things to Miriam Bowler Saddlery or Miriam Bowler?
Keeping messages to my work contact details helps me hugely to keep track of work jobs instead of hunting back through lots of different personal and work points of contacts.

Thankyou all for your custom and of course, for your friendship during 2024.
Please help me to go into 2025 respecting the difference between the two so that I don't have to get cranky with that very blurry grey line.

Wishing you all a peaceful and successful 2025

Miriam

09/12/2024

Need a little Christmas pressie for your pup?
Or someone else's pup?
I have just these three sets of collar and lead ready to go.
Made of a sturdy but soft and flexible black leather. Soft on your hands but still strong.
Green stitched collar is 36-48cm
Red stitched collar is 28-40cm
Blue stitched collar is 29-41cm

(I may have a couple of other sizes somewhere if these sizes don't suit, so do ask me)

All measured tightest to longest hole.

Leads measure 140cm with a ring in the hand grip, making it easy to tether the dog round something and clip it up.

$50 each set

I'm happy to post for $15 express post so it'll be there for Christmas.

27/11/2024

When the power is out for hours and hours. It doesn't stop the production of traditional handcrafted leather work. No power tools required for any of the processes. Although some more light for stitching would definitely be a bonus.
Summer Storms. Trees down. Chiltern smashed.

22/11/2024

So you may remember how I'm not a fan of 'sticky' riding pants? I'm sure they wear leather seats.
Endurance riders do so many KMs they are right up there as some of the most balanced riders with the hardest working kit.
This little Australian company designs and makes excellent riding tights, made to stand up to hard wear, with fit and comfort as priority. No sticky seat. And with 2 excellent size phone pockets!
Go support a small Australian business.

Australian Equine Endurance Clothing

21/11/2024

When it's 6.30pm and it's been a long day and you really just wanna spend 10 minutes with your ponies and then find some dinner.
But the bottom falls out of your boys carseat and he's panicking cause he needs the car for work tomorrow.
I'm quite certain emergency car seat repairs wasn't covered in the 4 year saddlery apprenticeship.
The things we do for our kids.
I did at least get a Thankyou....

15/11/2024

Is it time you checked your girth points?

I'm always happy to take the time to do a quick checkover for anyone who would like me to.
No charge for a social and a safety check.
I'd rather catch a minor job for you, than a major disaster if it's ignored and goes horribly wrong.

31/10/2024

Beautiful Ryder saddles ready to be packed in the car for fittings over the next few days 😍😍

Contact us if you are interested in trying a Ryder. The quality of these saddles is exceptional. We know….you haven’t heard of them but we at Danehill want to change that because we LOVE them and want to share the experience!

Ex-demo saddles from a very reasonable $3k including 7 day trial (conditions apply).

Lucy is happy to point you in the right direction if you are looking for something specific. Call or text her on 0408 305349

No question is a silly one and we actually love talking saddles and saddle fit so you are NOT wasting our time!!!!😁😁

18/10/2024

Christening the new bench top with a bridle.
The old plywood top has weathered a decade of bashing and abuse, and was starting to retaliate with some pretty savage under the fingernails splinters.
Lovely neighbour to the rescue.
Mister Fruns you are a top bloke x