Kay Humphries - any experience of her?

E

Eceni

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 February 2007
Messages
515
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
Hi

Well.... my beautiful new Saddle Co. saddle was riding up my pony's neck at every available opportunity. On the advice of the saddler, we had Kay Humphries out to look at her today...

and, as ever, there was a sharp intake of breath at the sight of what the previous saddler had done (i've never had a saddler out who didn't do that) - and then lots of measurements - and then a new saddle ordered.

I'm running a bit shy of saddlers these days - but she seemed immensely sane, sorted, well-intentioned and able to back up what she was saying with reasonable logic, which leaves me hopeful that I may actually be able to ride up and down a hill, or even - *gasp* - jump a log or two without ending up hugging poor Pony's ears.

anyone else had any experience?

E
 
Yes, she's absolutely brilliant. i've known her for years, used to have her out to do mine but i'm too far away now. most importantly, unlike most saddlers, she's in it for the horses' sakes, not for £££s.
you'll be getting a barrie swain saddle like all of mine then. rest assured, they're fantastic, and can always be adjusted to your horse (he can adjust the tree, not just the flocking, many many times)
most of the earth-shattering stuff i've ever learnt about saddles came from kay. she really really knows her stuff.
 
[ QUOTE ]
she's in it for the horses' sakes, not for £££s.


[/ QUOTE ]

That's exactly what the physio said that I took Forrest to today, Kay comes down to her place quite regularly for clinics and has suggested I get her to take a look at Forrest. I've also currently got a Saddle Company saddle at the mo but don't think it's great for either of us. How much should I expect a saddle might set me back, are they mega money?
 
She sure is in it for the £££, the prices that she charges are astronomical! Incredibly OTT.
I'm sorry but I do not agree with some of the work that she has done. My most special horse was nearly written off .
But I do agree with many of her ideas and concepts. Just not all of them.
 
Kay had my Black Country saddle virtually re=made for my horse who has KS. As you say, she is extremely knowledgeable and spent a lot of time with me and my horse explaining everything and making sure he was completely comfortable. The saddle now has a serge lining and half panel, and even I can see that it now fits him perfectly, whereas with the benefit of hindsight I know that it didn't before. She is more expensive than most, but she travelled from Buckinghamshire to Wiltshire to see me, and I trust her work. I don't know if she's doing so much work with Barrie Swain these days. She did a follow up check at the clinic at Suttons Physio, and came with the saddler so that the fine tuning on the saddle could be changed on the spot, they kept adjusting it until it was absolutely right. I would def use her again.
 
I also highly rate Kay, I attended a clinic she held on saddle fitting and I really liked what she had to say. So much so I asked her to fit my boy with a saddle, yes she wasn't cheap but she spent AGES fitting the saddle and I don't begrudge a penny.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
she's in it for the horses' sakes, not for £££s.


[/ QUOTE ]
How much should I expect a saddle might set me back, are they mega money?

[/ QUOTE ]

Kay said mine would be around £1100 - £1200. She advised NOT one of their semi-flex super-flexible ones. I'm not sure exactly why, but at any rate, I'm fairly sure I'll get something that fits the pony....

at least I hope so. Back to hand-walking, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I can spend the 6 weeks doing ground work, filling in all the holes in her education while we wait for The Perfect Saddle.

good luck with yours

E
 
And...

in the flurry of yesterday, I came away and realised we had discussed a lot about the pony and about what I want to do (TREC, Endurance, but Classical Riding too) and not at all about the fact that I really like deep-seated saddles.

AM I going to end up with a flat-seated saddle?

sigh

E
 
Kay explained that if you have a tree shaped like a banana, and then strap it front and back round the horse, the middle can only go downwards, probably causing problems later on. Her trees are flatter, she lent me a saddle while mine was being altered, and I didn't find that the seat was particularly flat.
 
I have had Kay Humphries saddles for about 14 years and would not waste my money on anyone elses. her saddles are not expensive - look at WOW saddles and Sue Carsons. If you are worried they may be too flat have a chat with her - there are some flat trees and some less flat. My jump saddle is round cantle and a narrower seat and I love it.

My 14 year old saddle looks fantastic and the leather work is wonderful. I have 8 Kay saddles so every horse has at least 2. I never have back problems, and I have had physios and back people out and they have never found any problems that are saddle related.
 
Yep, another vote for Kay.

I also braved the wilds of Walsall to get to Barry Swaine to have a saddle I bought on Ebay altered and they only charged £20 and did it while I waited. (Not sure I could ever find it again.)
 
Another vote for Kay Humphries from me too. Orangehorse I've been to that place in Walsall too - obscure place to find but what fantastic people! Very impressed with them. We've got to go again in the next few weeks.
 
...and another HUGE vote for Kay. What she doesn't know about saddles and anatomy is not worth knowing. Have had numerous saddles from her for numerous horses - some with problems, some without but all the saddles have been super well fitted, comfortable and once you have ridden in a serge back you won't want to loose the feel it gives you.

Sure her saddles are pricey - they are good and because of that don't come up very often for resale and, as a result, hold their value well when they do! She won't sell you the 'latest, greatest style' if it isn't in your or your horses best interests to have it.

Just wish she did western saddles too!!

Jude.
 
Eceni, give her a call and tell her you'd rather had a deep-seated one if at all possible.
fwiw, hers come up on ebay occasionally (i've bought 2 in the last 4 days, one for a friend and one for one of my youngsters) for about £200-£300. as someone said, you can take them to Barrie's place in Walsall (PM me for directions, it's easy peasy to find if you know the right route!) and get them altered to fit for about £25. if it needs a total reflock, that's more obviously, but Barrie can adjust the trees ( as long as it's not an enormous adjustment requd, e.g. from very wide to narrow).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top