Maxine Sayers Saddlery

22/05/2024

Pleased to announce that I am now also a fully qualified bridle fitter 🎉 I can now provide my clients with a bridle and bit fitting service along side my continuing saddle fitting.

03/03/2024

Anyone in Weymouth area need me- last minute cancellation tomorrow afternoon has freed up some time! PM me! X

22/12/2023

Wishing all my new,old and future clients a very Merry Christmas 🎄 thank you for your continued support and all the best for 2024 🥂

29/10/2023

Most people know about fitting nosebands too low but having a noseband too high can also be just as detrimental.

The first white circle shows the area of the infraorbital foramen ( it can vary from horse to horse), a hole directly into the horse's skull. This tiny hole has the infraorbital vein, artery and nerve enters the skull. The nerve affects the upper lip and cheek, the nostrils and lower parts of the face just to name a few. So in turn, if your nose band is sitting right up on top and tight around that hole, it could compress that area and cause significant pain and discomfort.

The second yellow circle shows where the transverse facial vein, angularis oculi artery and veins as well as the obvious cheek bone. Again, if you have the noseband higher right against a cheekbone it can cause discomfort from rubbing.

But also not forgetting you ALWAYS should fit your nosebad any style with the correct tightness of TWO fingers on the FRONT of the horse to ensure your horses comfort.

11/08/2023

Study day! Preparation for the Qualified bridle fitting course in two weeks! 🤓😅

22/07/2023

‼️ STOLEN SUE CARSON SADDLES ‼️

We are saddened to hear that a number of Sue Carson Saddles have recently been stolen in the New Forest Area.

If you are thinking of purchasing a second hand Sue Carson Saddle that is not directly through us we ask you to please contact us before purchasing so we can trace the saddle numbers.

All of our saddles are bespoke made and fully traceable via our unique tracking system. We urge you to contact us on 01629 540343, via our website or directly through our social media prior to purchasing any Sue Carson Saddle.

Any information regarding this matter would be greatly received. Please share far and wide to try and locate these saddles and to bring criminals to justice.

19/07/2023

Very interesting time spent in Walsall visiting a few manufacturers. And watching stirrup bars and buckles being cast and lots of other exciting ‘bits’ made at Abbey England.

18/07/2023

Nicole Jooste/ Nix Eventing The most dedicated, determined and talented rider who I proudly sponsor. Had a fantastic run at Moreton BE on Sunday.

22/04/2023

So lucky to live and work in such a beautiful part of the world 😍

30/03/2023

** THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme relates to girth pressures. Despite some opinions, findings from a peer reviewed study, which we did some time ago, girth pressures are at their highest in the region behind the elbows. Of course, as the girth passes over the sternum, there is sternal pressure, but these pressures are considerably lower than the pressures found behind the elbows when horses were in trot, canter, gallop and when jumping.

As a point for consideration - where do horses get girth rubs…..?

Girth pressures occur every stride and are closely linked to the stance phase of the FL. Girth pressures are of a magnitude which can cause discomfort, but can be reduced with girth design. When selecting a girth, it is important to consider girth fit and design in relation to the horses anatomy 🤓

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

14/03/2023

This month we have teamed up with WOW Saddles to offer you a Free Space Girth as a prize. The massive success of this girth has changed the lives of many horses allowing them to move more freely and comfortably.

LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE our post to be in with a chance to win a girth.

We will be drawing one lucky winner on 3rd April 2023
GOOD LUCK 🍀🍀

04/03/2023

Great day at the National Equine Show at the NEC. Fantastic to see the Society of Master Saddlers Fit 4 welfare stand so busy.

02/03/2023

28/02/2023

I apologise to anyone waiting to hear back from me, my father passed away a few days ago 😢I am trying to catch up but if you don’t hear back please send another message. Xx

17/02/2023

**THURSDAY RESEARCH MEME**

Todays research meme features our training roller research. In that study, we found areas of high pressure directly on the midline of the back when using a training roller. When using a training roller, ensure that the roller is well padded, creating a gullet and providing clearance of the midline.

For more information www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/

31/12/2022

Wishing all my fantastic clients a very Happy New Year 🥂🥳 Looking forward to seeing you all in 2023 🐴🐎💕

23/12/2022

MERRY CHRISTMAS 🎄 to all my wonderful clients. Thank you for making 2022 a great year.

05/12/2022

Look who I met at a yard I was visiting today 😍 Nutley farm have the most amazing Christmas display- everyone should go as it’s all in aid of the Air Ambulance too!

02/12/2022

Anyone know the owners???

10/11/2022

We have teamed up with Horse & Country TV to produce a mini-series all about fitting saddles and bridles with the welfare of your horse in mind and when you should call your Qualified Bridle or Saddle Fitter.
Click on the link to watch the series

https://horseandcountry.tv/series/279200482

09/09/2022

Inspirational woman. RIP our queen.

26/08/2022

Fantastic day spent with RW physiotherapy looking at rider biomechanics. Very interesting and informative day had by all!

13/05/2022

Try to find the root cause. 🐴

12/04/2022

I am now a Proud sponsor of Nix Eventing. I have known Nix for a few years now and am always impressed with her determination and dedication towards her horses. I’m so excited to see how the team get on this season.

06/04/2022

This is one reason I go on about the importance of girthing!

Posterior Pectorals

This muscle is 1 of the 3 pectoral muscles to help your horse move their foreleg. It is triangular in shape and lies against your horses rib cage just behind their leg.

This muscle is so so over looked, all muscles have the ability to get sore and tight. This particular muscle is where your girth will sit and get tightened. This already puts strain on the muscle.

Here’s a couple of things to think about:

1) over tightening of the girth- the muscle is pinched, cannot lengthen therefore means a shorter stride and compensation
2) wrong shaped girths- usually uneven pressures applied such as too open towards the foreleg and a narrow tight band at the back of the girth. This causes soreness and severe discomfort.
3) sore/tight pectorals with having their girth done up will be painful, this can cause biting, swishing of the tail, kicking, moving away whilst tacking up.

This muscle deserves to be looked after and kept super comfortable 🙌🏼

Next time you go to ride, check your pressures are even throughout your girth, that you haven’t done your girth up very tightly, question if you’re having issues girthing up as to why this may be…

27/02/2022

I had the pleasure of visiting ESP equine to see their water treadmill in action and meet the maker!
Fascinating to see what an improvement 10 minutes walking can make.

22/01/2022

** CENTAUR BIOMECHANICS - 2022 BLOG SERIES**

**GIRTH-MARTINGALE-HORSE INTERFACE – STERNAL PRESSURES**

Previously we have discussed the effect that girth fit, and design can have on pressure distribution and equine locomotion. In brief we have demonstrated that areas of high girth pressures are localised to the regions behind the elbows, and not on the sternum as some may have first thought (1, 2). We have also shown that these pressures were directly related to limb movement, with peak pressures occurring during the stance phase of the forelimbs (1, 2). It is important to note, that these pressures occur every stride and in all gaits.

Although we have shown that girth pressures are highest behind the elbows and not the sternum, we must consider the effect that the girth-martingale-girth interface (or breastplate/other training aids with a girth attachment) has on the girth pressures. Here with particular attention to the pressures caused by the martingale loop, attaching the martingale to the girth. Depending on girth design, martingales generally wrap around the girth, and as a result form two hard edges between the girth and the horse. This as you can imagine, can lead to areas of high pressures…. similar to you wearing a belt and then placing a piece of leather beneath it. We must be mindful of wrapping things around the girth, here a martingale loop, as this will create localised high pressures in the sternal region.

These localised pressures are of a magnitude thought to cause discomfort. In our girth research, we demonstrated that girth pressures had an effect on locomotion (1, 2), by modifying the girth, reducing girth pressures was associated with altered limb movement. Applying the same principles, horses may develop a locomotor strategy to alleviate any discomfort caused, here by the martingale-girth interface.

The purpose of this blog is not to advise on the removal of all martingales. If used correctly, martingales can serve a purpose, however we must consider the martingale-girth-horse interface. Some girths now come equipped with a ring and or clip (B) on the external aspect of the girth, this is useful as it means that the martingale loop can be attached to the ring or clip, and removes the need to wrap the loop around the girth (A) which of course eliminates the sternal pressures caused by the martingale loop.

NB: If you do alter the attachment of the martinglae, it is most likely that the martingale will need to be refitted.

I hope this is of interst.

Please like / follow our page for more blogs and please share to raise awareness.

Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Centaur Biomechanics

Previous blogs http://www.centaurbiomechanics.co.uk/blog/



1. Murray R, Guire R, Fisher M, Fairfax V. Girth pressure measurements reveal high peak pressures that can be avoided using an alternative girth design that also results in increased limb protraction and flexion in the swing phase. Vet J. 2013;198(1):92-7.
2. R. Murray; V. Fairfax; M. Fisher; T. Pfau and R. MacKechnie-Guire. Girth design in galloping racehorses influences limb kinematics, under-girth pressures and force distribution. BEVA Congress 2021. https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.10_13492?af=R

Photo credit: The National Saddle Centre

22/12/2021

🎅🏻I want to wish all my wonderful clients a very Merry Christmas 🎄 and thank you for your continued support this year. Here’s to a fantastic 2022 🎉🥂