Sophia Stratford receives a National Saddlery Award from Prime Warden of the Saddlers Company, Benjamin Laurie.

Sophia Stratford has had one of the most exciting weeks of her trainee saddlemaking career, with two surprises that have been beyond her wildest dreams. 

Firstly, the Cambridge twenty-year-old has won an award at the prestigious Society of Master Saddlers National Saddlery Competition which brings together craftspeople from the UK and other countries.  

“I entered a headcollar and a face dropper for a driving bridle, and came away with fourth place plus a premium award for my face dropper! So, pleased with this, the standard of work was outstanding, and it was pretty cool to see my work on display alongside such impressive items,” she says.

Saddlery designed and crafted by Sophia Stratford while on her training course.

Secondly, this week Sophia learned that she is to be gifted an extensive set of saddlery tools by the family of a late saddlemaker and craftsman here in New Zealand.  The family had read about Sophia’s endeavours learning to become a saddlemaker in England,  and reached out to ESNZ to get in contact with her.

The family had kept everything in storage and decided it was time for the tools to be used again by someone passionate about saddlemaking, as Sophia obviously is.  When they contacted Sophia, she was delighted to hear about the generous gesture. 

“The offer left me pretty much speechless and rather emotional!” says Sophia.

The tools include everything from stools to sewing clamps, sewing machines including a antique hand cranked No.6, electric machines for sewing lighter leather and canvas, and all the tools in between.

“It’s so incredibly generous and would make a huge difference to me – not only are such specialised tools expensive, there are fewer companies producing them these days so it can be tricky to track down the right equipment in England, let alone in New Zealand.

“I also feel quite honoured that they thought of me and are willing to pass on these tools which have such sentimental value.”

Sophia Stratford and Digger taught each other about jumping and saddles.

ESNZ first met Sophia in 2023, when she was UK bound and selling her beloved horse to help raise the $50k that she needed to begin her two-year full-time course, which is followed by a one-year apprenticeship.

Last year, she won the Master’s Lorinery Achievement Award for Best Overall Student, second prize in Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers Harness Martingale Making Competition and was awarded the Saddlers’ Company Capel Manor College Undergraduate Bursary.

In 2024, Sophia Stratford won the Master’s Lorinery Achievement Award for Best Overall Student.

Sophia says there is so much more to saddle fitting than seat and gullet size.

“I would really love to make a difference and improve horse welfare, but more specifically I want to make this career more accessible to Kiwis.”

According to the Society of Master Saddlers website there are just six fully qualified saddle fitters in New Zealand, which suggests that Sophia is likely to become highly sought after once she graduates in a year’s time.

Here is our earlier story:

https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/2023/06/saddlemaker-uk-bound-to-chase-her-dream/