SPECIAL FEATURE in July/August 2008 Ireland’s Equestrian.

4th Jul 2008

 Steven Smith & Quality VH at Bramham Horse Trials compete comfortably in their Sue Carson saddle. Photo by Fiona Scott-Maxwell.

Sitting Comfortably

Steven Smith is an equestrian household name, especially in the north of the country where he has held the title for leading event rider for the last 14 consecutive years. But it is only in recent times that he has been able to shine on the international stage, leading him to his first Olympic team listing at the age of 45. For a lad that could ride before he could walk this is something of a surprise. “Inside Ireland we’ve won everything”, says Steven, referring to his own and his elder brother, Trevor’s success, adding, “Trevor rode at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and competed as much as myself but now he’s into his music and I do most of the riding.” The brothers’ were steeped in horses from a young age – their grandfather riding and their father then providing them with show jumping ponies. Steven says, “It’s interesting because when we came into horses Dad started to be less into it because he saw it as being bigger and more dangerous and today he’ll say, ‘I think you should stop that sport but if you want to continue then you must mind how you go!” In contrast, their mother has become more interested to find out what’s going on, particularly now as Steven says, “I’m pulling out all the stops to go to the Olympics, Europeans and then Worlds in 2010!” But the brothers also rely heavily on another member of the Smith family – Steven’s wife, Jenny. “Only for her we’d be completely lost. She’s the backbone of us and keeps the customers happy and organises all the entertaining”, eludes Steven, referring in particular to the dealing side of the business. Indeed in the early days the brothers were primarily producers of young horse – particularly for the show jumping market where they were regulars on the National circuit, competing at venues such as the Royal Dublin Show and Millstreet International. However all the horses were sold as Steven explains, “Every time we said we wanted to keep a horse, it was sold off”, though the brothers are proud that many future international champions owed their first two years’ of training to them. Today, international buyers still flock to their yard on the borders of Co Down and Co Armagh and, while Steven specialises in eventing now, he’s not averse to competing internationally in show jumping too. He says, “I ride for the Ringfort Stud and am just about to take on Ringfort Cruise, a stallion that was an Army show jumper last year, because I hope the experience of jumping in some Grand Prix classes will improve my show jumping over the 1.30m courses on the event horses.” It’s a bit of a return to Steven’s early days and, but for a yard full of horses, he’d not have ventured in to the world of eventing. Steven says, “I had too many horses on the yard so I decided to take six of them to an event. People later told me I was mad and that you normally only put one horse in first off, but they finished first, second and third and first, second and third in the two sections.” Steven’s elation was dispelled the following day as he says, “I had a phone call the next morning when I was told it was customary to stay for the prizegiving but I had no idea and each year I’ve had to learn a bit more.” And despite his success on the national stage – including winning Necarne CCI* in his first year and taking three CCI*** titles, a CCI** title and two CIC*** titles – his first National leading rider title arrived in 2006 – the year that he met Sue Carson.

The Sue Carson Saddle:

Steven explains, “Sue Carson was a judge at Ballendenisk CIC*** World Cup qualifier two years’ ago where I remember coming down the centre line feeling distinctly uncomfortable in the saddle.” Later that day, Sue sought Steven out and offered to help. Steven says, “She’d come to my yard three years’ previously looking for horses so she knew a bit about my set up, but I hadn’t known she was an International Small Tour dressage rider, a judge or a saddler then. She offered for me to call in at her place in England on the way to Saumur CCI*** in France the following week, so I did.” Even under the time constraints – typically a Sue Carson saddle made to fit both horse and rider takes four/six weeks to complete – Sue was able to lend the 6’1” Steven a near-perfect air-flocked dressage saddle for the event having taken Steven’s leg measurements and been sent a template of the horse’s shape beforehand. “It took me a couple of days to get used to it but then it just clicked with me and I finished the dressage phase in sixth place. It was a very good start”, says Steven, adding, “You definitely get a mark better per movement if you are comfortable in the saddle.” However, Steven has not been selfish in his own discovery of the Sue Carson Saddles and while he’s gone from one uncomfortable saddle for all his horses to virtually a saddle to suit each one, he’s also encouraged many other riders and pupils to try them out. “Riding Club riders to professionals can only say good things about them”, he says, adding, “I told one guy I teach just to have a try and he called me today to say it’s like chalk and cheese and he’s going up the placings.” And just as Steven was first introduced to Sue Carson Saddles through the dressage phase, he says, “Most people I know buy a dressage saddle and then see it works out really well so buy a jumping saddle as Sue’s got such a great selection.” Indeed one of the advantages of the saddles is that they can be adjusted by up to a ‘fit and a half’ to mould to the horse no matter what its body condition.

  Dressage at Bramham. Photo by Fiona Scott-Maxwell.

Sue Carson explains, “One event horse went from a medium to a narrow in the 10 days before competing at a CCI***.” And, while the initial fit encompasses analysis of both the horse and rider to create a saddle consisting of a panel and tree made to fit the horse and its movement, and the seat, flaps and blocks to suit the rider at their stage of training, it is the after-care service that Sue is particularly proud of.

Steven says, “I’m lucky because Sue will come over here every six to eight weeks and will play about with the saddle to get it just right and we need the likes of Sue over here.” And indeed Sue is seeking two representatives for the company who will be able to cover the whole of Ireland between them – helping partnerships like Steven and his hopeful Olympic steed, the 14 year-old jet black 17.1hh gelding, Quality VH, from across the country achieve their potential.

Distributor – Andrea Gray:

 Andrea Gray, hard at work on the stand at Bramham.

Andrea Gray is one such distributor, covering the area north of the M62 in England and all of Scotland. “You go wherever you are needed visiting private individuals to professional yards and basically run your own diary, organise trade stands and your own marketing but the company is very supportive”, says Andrea. And being a rider herself – as are all of the company’s representatives - gives Andrea an empathy and understanding with her clients.

She says, “I am producing my own young horse in British Eventing competitions so it is a passion for me and you have to have that. Before I visit a new client I’ll have an outline of their own and horse’s problems or history and so if that means involving the trainer or the physiotherapist during a fitting session we can accommodate that.” Andrea continues, “Sue Carson Saddles consists of two elements – the saddle is uniquely tailored to both horse and rider and the personal service and after sales service is very, very good.” Sue says, “With Irish riders from grass roots to professionals really upping their game, they need Sue Carson Saddles and so we need some really excellent members of our team to help them achieve their aims – literally to put them in a position to achieve their potential.” However she stresses, “They don’t need to be saddle fitters as we’ll teach them but they do need to be excellent communicators and to have ridden or taught riding to understand the needs of the rider and horse. We want Sue Carson Saddles to become part of their team effort and support the rider whether they are amateur or professional.”

And Finally:

Indeed when I speak to Steven, he’s just completed at Tattersalls International where he ran three horses and says, “I got most enjoyment out of an eight year-old two-star horse, Fernando. We’d changed his saddle and our way of thinking with him and now he’s qualified he might do Barbary CIC***.” But the evidence for the success of Sue Carson Saddles is not merely anecdotal. Recent studies prove that the Sue Carson Saddles enable the horse to have a greater degree of flexion resulting in more ‘push’ from their hind-leg and, with on-going studies with gait analysis experts, all riders now have access to saddles that are at the forefront of technological tack from a company with traditional values such as customer service at its core.

Steven says, “The saddles are very adaptable so we’ve been able to refine the saddles to suit – for instance making them so you don’t get hit up the backside if you get left behind the motion over a fence.” He continues, “It seems silly that you pay the same amount for a saddle whether you want to hack down the road or go jumping, so you may as well choose one that fits your horse’s and your own build perfectly.” This includes special ‘pony’ saddles so it seems the next generation of the Smith family, Steven’s seven year-old daughter, Hollie and her elder cousin, Bonnie, are set to follow in her family’s esteemed stirrups and will, no doubt, do so in Sue Carson Saddles.

Royal Show

4th Jul 2008 (Stoneleigh, Kenilworth)

Meet the team at the Sue Carson trade stand where Sue, Becky, Robin and Ruth will be on hand to offer advice and demonstrate the range of superior saddles and accessories from Sue Carson Saddles Ltd.