SADDLE FITTING
Auckland Saddle Fit's Sponsored Riders
BRAND AMBASSADORS
Riding Excellence and Honest Feedback in Action
At Auckland Saddle Fit, our team of brand ambassadors play a crucial role. These riders provide invaluable open and honest feedback, even if it means saying "No" when something isn't right for them or their horse. Their input is essential for our ongoing professional growth in this industry.
They are happy to explore new ideas to make sure you and your horse get the most current information, and the best problem solving techniques that work.
The team all owned their own NSC saddles before getting a sponsorship - so you know they believe in what they use. They have had saddle fittings for years, because they know it makes a difference in the horses comfort and helps achieve optimal performance.
Our Sponsored Riders
Tors Rattray
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Tors (Victoria) Rattray is part of the family owned and run business Cheleken Equestrian. Tors has competed throughout most disciplines as a child, but her favourite is Show Jumping, where she is a well-known, tough, competitor.
Some of her favourite horses are ones the Cheleken bred, with her career highlight being able to work with Horses everyday and the spoils of that is enjoying success in the competition arena and the wonderful people that have been met along the way
"Cheleken has been with NSC for over 15 years. The team at NSC has provided us with sound knowledge, expert advice and a great range of saddles to ensure our horses are always comfortable in their work.
Quality saddle fit is essential for both horse and rider to be balanced, work in partnership together and enjoy all types of ridden activities. Christine has been part of the team for over 4 years, and makes sure my team has their saddles rebalanced to suit their individual needs."
Photo Credit: Cheleken Photography
Beth Wilson
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Beth Wilson competes as a 4* eventer. This season she has a list of achievements behind her including her highlight of winning the 2019/2020 Young Rider Series and being selected for the ESNZ Talent Development Squad on Alto et Aldax.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to be a brand ambassador with NSC for just over 2 years. Throughout this time, Christine has regularly fitted my existing saddles and has fitted me and each of my horses with some truly beautifully fitting new saddles.
Having regular saddle fittings has meant my horses are comfortable under their saddles to ensure they can preform at their optimum level. Having a correctly fitted saddle enhances my position, the effectiveness of my aids, and gives me the best security possible in the saddle on my various horses.“
Photo Credit: John Barnfield.
Ashleigh McKinstry
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Ashleigh McKinstry competes as a 4* eventer on her homebred horses. She represented NZ twice as a young rider (under 21's) and spent several years on the ESNZ eventing squads.
"I have been part of the NSC team for 10 years now and Christine has been saddle fitting for me and my horses for the past 4 years.
Some of my career highlights such as Puhinui 3day championship 4* win, Puhinui 3day championship 3*win and the One Day championship 3* win, wouldn’t have been possible without good fitting saddles.
I believe that having regular saddle fitting and adjustments as the horses build up, fill out and their fitness changes, is vital. A poorly fitting saddle will make horses unnecessarily uncomfortable and effect their wellbeing, performance, behaviour and will even effect rider balance."
Photo Credit: Belinda Pratt
Darryll MacDougall
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Darryll MacDougall is a 29 year old eventing rider and coach based in Waimauku, North West Auckland.
She picked up coaching and taking catch rides to fund her entry fees in her teens. By her early twenties her client base had progressively expanded and she had fallen in-love with producing young horses. Having never had Olympic aspirations, she felt she had finally found her place in the sport. “The only thing that could beat a XC round on a good day was a XC round on a good day on a horse you have trained yourself!”
She has a holistic approach to both her training and coaching - Giving young horses a thorough, fun introduction to sporthorse life and helping riders to reach their full potential across all disciplines.
She has been a pony club rally and adult ride coach at local clubs for the past 7 years. More recently she has been promoted to head coach and coached area development squads.
Her current main horse is 6 year old Weiti Gravity, affectionately called Gosh. They have had wins and placings eventing at the lower levels the last couple of years and have had a busy winter of training shows in preparation for the upcoming season. “He came off the truck a pretty gangly, ugly duckling 2 year old, then trotted across the paddock and Mum and I both said ‘Gosh..’ - It stuck! He’s a keeper and I’m pretty excited about him.”
Darryll has relied on Christine for her saddle fitting advice and expertise for over 8 years. She loves the wealth of knowledge that Christine brings to the table and wholeheartedly believes that having your saddle professionally fitted is an essential part of any riders management plan. “There’s a handful of key ingredients that contribute to harmony in a horse and rider partnership and having a saddle that works with you and your horse is right up there!”
Hana Bognuda
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Hi I’m Hana Bognuda, full time rider & show jumper. I have been riding longer than I can remember! I currently ride and manage a stable of up to 12 horses at Webb Show Jumping. Growing up I had to produce all my own ponies as we didn’t have the money to buy school masters! I produced 3 ponies all the way to pony Grand Prix level. I won my first HOY title at 12 years old. I have had to work extremely hard for everything I have, and have taken every opportunity given to me! I worked for NZ show jumping legends Harvey & Ann Wilson where I got into racing and became a jumps jockey for a number of years. Since being back show jumping, I have competed and placed up to horse Grand Prix level. Most recently competing young horses and producing them up through the age series. With a few older horses now on my team, I’m excited to step back up to the bigger tracks!
My only piece of advice I have to give someone wanting to make it in the horse world, without the luxury of a financial backing is “work as hard as you can, then work even harder! Take every opportunity thrown at you and never ever stop learning!”
I have been using the tapestry comfort girths for the past 6 weeks and the change I can feel in my horses is incredible. So much more freedom of movement on the flat and over the jumps! It’s my favourite piece of tack! I’m so excited to be part of Auckland Saddle Fit!
Photo credit: Petapix Photography
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