Village Saddlery, Master Saddlers

Great to see the reinstated Mounted Division in the West Midlands - recognising the invaluable part these horses offer to police teams.

🐴 A generation after the last police horse left the region, West Midlands Police has brought back its Mounted Unit with renewed purpose, modern capability and a powerful connection to the communities it serves.

What began as a cautious operational trial has grown into a confident, forward looking unit blending heritage with modern policing needs. And the reaction? Nothing short of phenomenal.

From packed town centre stop offs to calmer football matchdays, the impact has been immediate:
✨ Visibility and reassurance in communities
🐎 Crowd management advantages that foot patrols simply can’t match
🤝 Public engagement that bridges the gap between officers and the people they serve
🏟️ Safer stadium environments with a more approachable, positive atmosphere
📜 And even a touching moment of history returned home an original WMP ceremonial breastplate rediscovered after more than 20 years.

The return of Belgravia, Bruce, Yonkers, Yve, Yvonne and more horses to come, isn’t just a nod to the past. It’s a strategic investment in community-centred, highly visible policing at a time when it matters more than ever.

Read the full article in 👉 https://content.yudu.com/web/440a7/0A440oc/February-2026/html/index.html?page=18&origin=reader

The stock room clearance continues! An ex demo GFS Elite GP saddle - 17.5” in black, adjustable width. Contact us for more info.

Having a bit of a stock clearance of Riding Boots.
Petrie Windsor - £225
Petrie Elite - £325
Konigs - with or without zips - from £450
Absolute bargains if they are your size.
Message me with your size requirements & I will let you know if anything to suit!

Very sad news 💔 today about Blueberry and Uthopia.

Dear Blueberry,

I love you. I don’t know how to start this with any other words. I knew of course this day would come, but I don’t think I could ever be ready for it. And I’m sitting here, summoning up the courage to write this, knowing I’ll never have the words, knowing they’ll never be enough, but wanting to share something anyway because so many people loved you and it just feels like the right thing to do. You have been and still are so loved.

You have been my constant, my rock. Through the highest highs and the lowest lows, your gentle presence, your steady heartbeat, the silent moments we shared together have been my everything, the place I could always go to. In those quiet moments we had so many conversations without words; you loved me completely, as I am. You saw my heart and I yours.

I’ve never sat on a horse like you, Blueberry. It was always your heart and your mind that made you the best. We grew together, learned together, believed together. You would enter the arena and just know how special you were - I could feel you grow. The hush of the crowd as everyone turned to look at you. It would make me sit a little taller, shoulders back, head up - I just wanted to do you proud, to show the world what you were capable of; I could feel every muscle in your body move, every breath you took, every shiver of excitement and we would just melt into each other, it was like you could hear my heart speak and I yours. A partnership that everyone talks about, but you can’t really know until you’ve experienced it. And we danced Blueberry, didn’t we dance…

You transformed our sport, yes. The London Olympics was the greatest stage and we had no idea how our worlds would change, just a girl and a horse, trying our best.

But the biggest gift of all was the amount of joy you brought to this world. You made people smile every single day of your life. What a rare and special gift that is. You were born to do it, you always knew who needed extra care - so gentle with my children and the many others who met you, particularly those unwell. Seeing eyes light up - what a difference you made. To those who were able to meet you, even if just passing by, you gave hope, love and belief - you genuinely changed people’s lives, just with a touch, a nuzzle, warm breath on a face; just by being you. I’m so glad William and Isabella met you - they will grow up knowing your name, hearing stories about you, looking at pictures and videos of you. You will live on, not just in theirs, but in so many peoples’ hearts, and that gives me great happiness - you deserve to, and will be, remembered forever.

You chose me. And I was forever yours. I don’t know why, or how, but I thank my lucky stars you did. Our story is one that anyone who’s ever loved a horse can relate to - far beyond the medals and the talent, the reason to keep going, the reason we get up in the morning and do what we do, for the simple love of a horse.

You have been, and always will be, my one in a million and it has been the honour of my life to be not only your dance partner but best friend. The magic we had, no one can take from us, and we will dance again one day.

I feel you with me, I know you’re here. I saw a robin after I’d finished my tests the other day - just sitting quietly nearby, watching. Joined by a second before both flying off. You and Uti, always side by side, together always. I miss you both, more than I can say. The robin stayed just long enough for me to know you were there with me. It lifts me, and I will always look for you.

I love you Blueberry.

With every inch of my heart.

Forever and always.

My beautiful, best boy x

As we race towards the end of the year 🙈! Please schedule your 6 monthly/annual saddle check - as we always get a lot of demand in the last few weeks of the year.

On this rainy, windy day a real feel good story for a change.

"Does he want a Polo?" "Oh, that would be nice!" 🐴 Joanna was riding her horse in Middle Rasen and was pleasantly surprised with a kind, and unexpected, interaction with Stuart - a Waitrose delivery driver!

It’s going to be hot, hot, hot the next couple of days!

☀️ Hot Weather Warning for Pet Owners ☀️

Everyone at Wagging Tails Ironbridge is passionate about the wellbeing of all animals, from playful pups to tiny rabbits and majestic horses. With the heatwave upon us, it’s vital to keep our furry friends safe and cool.

🔥 Heatstroke, dehydration, and heat exhaustion are serious risks during hot weather. Here’s how you can help protect your pets:

🐶 Never leave pets in parked cars – Even with windows cracked, temperatures inside can skyrocket in minutes.
💧 Fresh water always – Keep water bowls topped up with clean, cool water. Pop in a few ice cubes for extra refreshment.
🌤️ Avoid midday walks – Stick to early mornings or late evenings. Pavements get dangerously hot and can burn delicate paws.
🏠 Keep indoor spaces cool – Use fans, cooling mats, or damp towels. Close curtains to block out the sun.
🌳 Provide shade outside – If your pet’s outdoors, make sure they have access to cool, shaded, and well-ventilated areas.
⚠️ Know the signs of heatstroke – Watch for excessive panting, drooling, tiredness, vomiting, or collapse. Move your pet to a cooler spot and call your vet immediately.
🐴 Horse owners – Horses can drink 20–40 litres of water a day (even more in extreme heat!). Place buckets in shaded areas and keep them clean to encourage drinking.

Let’s keep our animals safe, happy, and cool this summer!

Village Saddlery are the UK Prestige Saddles repair centre and we see some less than perfect repairs that have been attempted elsewhere.
Main picture 1 shows a thigh block repair on a beautiful X-Contact jump saddle that really had been carried out!! Not by us!

We know that your saddles are a massive investment, and are your pride & joy - would you want that repair on you saddle? Thought not.
We were able to remove the untidy block and put on a new block in a way that it looked just as if it had come out of the factory. As it should do.

We see horses & ponies of all shapes & sizes - it’s part of what makes the job so interesting! From LR Champion ponies to Mounted Police Force horses.

Horse & rider combinations can bring many elements that need to be taken in to consideration when saddle fitting, and mean that adjustments and fine tuning are necessary - all things that we are able to facilitate in our own workshop.