About Martin Wilkinson Saddlers.....

 

 Martin Wilkinson Saddlers is one of the country's leading saddlers, and offers:

  • Extensive range of both new and used saddles including our own designs customised to fit you and your horse
  • Three fully qualified saddle fitters, for both new and used saddles who can either visit your premises or see you at ours
  • Comprehensive saddlery workshop where you can see our two master saddlers and fellow craftsmen at work
  •  Extensive parking at our fitting centre for both lorries and cars 
  • Comprehensive range of saddlery accessories with experienced advisors who will help you in choosing and fitting a wide selection of bridles, numnahs, girths, reins, irons and the latest designs of tack
  Martin Wilkinson - Master Saddler and Saddle Fitter

Martin spends most of his time visiting customers and their horses on their premises fitting saddles to even the most difficult of backs. He is a Master Saddler, was one of the first in the country to become qualified as a saddle fitter by the Society of Master Saddlers and is now a saddle fitting assessor for the Society and a member of their Executive Committee. If you'd like to know more about Martin then go to the About Martin Wilkinson page on the website.
  Rosemary Neale - Business and Administration Manager

Rosemary joined Martin Wilkinson in September 2007 to cover for maternity leave - and has stayed ever since! Rosemary comes from a background in training and development in both the public and private sectors.  She has run her own management development consultancy, Rosemary Neale and Associates, for the last 15 years providing management training and consultancy in the UK and overseas.  Rosemary now oversees the HR and administration functions.  She owns four ponies and competes in Horse Driving Trials and Private Driving showing classes. She is part owner with Martin of Ruckham Chester, a highly successful dressage pony and model for the new Cygnet pony dressage saddle!

  Kirsty Oxby - Master Saddler and Saddle Fitter

Kirsty is a fully qualified Master Saddler and brings a wealth of experience of saddle fitting having worked previously at Geoff Dean Saddlers, Frogpool Manor and more recently in her own business Kirsty Oxby Saddlers.
  Berry Sharp - Qualified Saddle Fitter

Berry works part time for Martin Wilkinson as a saddle fitter. Berry used to be a high flying Marketing Executive in the City but finally saw the light and gave it all up to do what she really had always wanted to do - be around horses all day! She has been with Martin Wilkinson Saddlers for five years and in her 'spare' time runs a dressage training and livery yard in Hertfordshire with her business partner, Amanda Gover. 
 

Kate Watson - Qualified Saddler and Saddle Fitter

Kate joined Martin Wilkinson from Frogpool Manor Saddlery in Kent in April 2007.  Kate is a fully qualified saddler with six years experience and spends most of her time working in the workshop at The Fint Barn.  She has completed three years of training to become a qualified saddle fitter and hopes to take the exam, the final hurdle, in 2010.  Kate is a mine of information about saddles and saddle fitting problems.  She has had her own horse in the past but now finds that she prefers to have some money in the bank!

 

Sarah Wilkinson - Diary Manager

Sarah joined us in November 2009 and looks after the diaries for Martin, Berry and Kirsty. Previously she worked in London for a travel agent so is well qualified to organise an itinerary! The name is no coincidence as Sarah is Martin's younger daughter so has grown up with the business - literally as she used to earn her pocket money helping Martin out! Sarah has always been involved with horses having started with successful show ponies, through pony club and lately Intro eventing. She doesn't have a horse of her own at the moment but helps sister Emma exercising her two eventers and goes with her to events whenever possible.

Kim Barrel - Administrative Assistant

Kim joined us to try to bring some order to the paperwork created by the business, and to get us e-enabled!  Kim was formerly a PA to a city executive and has worked as a groom on various yards.  She is a keen dressage competitor having brought her four horses on herself and now competes at Medium level.