Gini Woodward of Saddle Exchange took the time to answer questions about saddle fitting as a career.
How much of your day/week is related to horses?
All day at least 5 days a week every week.
What is it exactly that you do?
I’m a saddle fitter.
In this field of work, is it possible to be a full time professional and earning a liveable income?
Yes.
What are the general steps taken to be employed in such a role?
You need to undertake an apprenticeship. Our agents and retail partners take anything from 9 months to around 2 years to train.
Favourite horse memory?
This is a difficult one… so many. I’ve had so many moments of joy with my own horses but I think my best memory of the last year has to be when I found out a customer of ours who we had worked very closely with and I had seen grow hugely in her horsemanship and who’s pony had improved immeasurably in the 18 months I had known them had just won the European Pony eventing Championship.
I still get emotional when I watch the video of her cross country and show jumping, sentimental old soul that I am!
Future goals?
As our brand awareness now spreads around Europe, our goal is to have a team of retail partners and accredited agents through the UK , Europe and the world, who can fit saddles where ever and whenever they are needed without having to wait a month or more for a visit from either me or my husband.
Best thing about your sport/profession?
I get to spend my days with horses and their owners. There is immense satisfaction in providing a well fitting saddle to someone who has had problems and then coming back in 3 months, 6 months, a year and seeing how they have improved.
“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle” – Winston Churchill
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