West Sussex Saddlery Awards

When Andrew Hastilow won third prize in the hotly contest Open Saddle Class at the competition run by the Society of Master Saddlers this year, he was continuing a long tradition within the family run business of Hastilow Competition Saddles.
By The Newsroom
Published 21st Feb 2006, 13:55 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 03:49 BST

The business was originally founded by his elder brother Ian and his partner Sarah Bowler. They were joined by Ian's father Frank, a Master Saddler, and Ian's brother Andrew, who completed an apprenticeship and studied in Australia for six months before joining the family business.

They are now based in a nursery at Shillinglee, where Sarah oversees the nursery and keeps her own horses on land at the rear of the barn they use as a saddle workshop.

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Frank, who has won many awards himself in past years, started as an appretnice with Cliff Barnsby at Walsall, graduating to teach students, leaving after 25 years to start his own business, and later joined Ian.

Andrew's award-winning dressage saddle was made from gtop of the range English calf for softness and feel and featured some unique features. The main feature was a knee pad that had been moulded to give a clean line, and a gusste down the front so that the horse had a little more stability.

Donna Couzins has been an apprentice with the family-run firm for 18 months and entered the the class for apprentices who have not been in training for three years with a bridle. Although unplaced, the quality of her entry held its own amongst more than 20 entries from all over the country.

Ian Hastilow is currently completing his year of office as president of the Society of Master Saddlers, and has concentrated on improving education during his term at the helm.

For full story see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette February 23