Andrea Patterson, who grew up in County Durham and now runs Castle House Saddlery, has been appointed the next President of the Society of Master Saddlers.
The Society is the UK’s leading representative body for the trade, covering the manufacture, retail, repair and fitting of saddles, with its qualifications and standards recognised internationally.
Andrea will begin her 12-month presidency from September 2025, taking over from current President Catherine Baker. She has already served as Vice President and Director of the Society, making her a perfect choice to take on the top role.
As one of the most highly qualified saddle fitters in the North of England, Andrea holds Master Saddle Fitter status, a distinction that takes a minimum of seven years to achieve and involves extensive training, previous qualifications and ongoing quality checks. She is also a British Horse Society Stage III Coach, a trainer and lecturer on saddle fitting across the North of England and an NVQ assessor and verifier for saddle fitting.
Her career with horses began early, riding her first pony at the age of two, followed by a successful competitive career across several equestrian disciplines. Andrea founded Castle House Saddlery in 2007 having had a successful career in Local Governement.
The Society of Master Saddlers, established in 1966, plays a vital role in safeguarding the welfare of horses and riders by promoting the highest standards in saddlery and saddle fitting. For horse owners, choosing an SMS-qualified fitter provides reassurance that their saddle has been fitted by a trained and accredited professional, something that can have a huge impact on a horse’s comfort, health and performance.
Andrea commented:
“It is a huge honour to be appointed President of the Society of Master Saddlers. Having dedicated much of my life to horses and to the craft of saddle fitting, I am passionate about raising awareness of the difference correct saddle fit makes to horse comfort and welfare, enabling them to perform at their very best. I look forward to representing our members and continuing the Society’s work to uphold the highest professional standards.”
Learn more about Andrea and Castle House Saddlery’s saddle fitting services here: https://castlehousesaddlery.co.uk/
Explore the Society of Master Saddlers here: https://www.mastersaddlers.co.uk/
