Proud Members of:
Mark Romain, MBE
Training Officer
Committee & Other Roles
Management Group, Craft & Membership, Modules & CPDTrainer, Assessor
Laurence Pearman
Liaison Officer
Committee & Other Roles
Management Group, Saddle Fitting, Complaints, Craft & Membership, International, Member Wellbeing, Modules & CPD, Research, TradeTrainer, Assessor
Mark Romain, MBE
Training Officer
Mark’s saddlery apprenticeship started in 1973 and has been assessing since the 1980s. He was a Training Officer for the Rural Development Commission from 1986 until 2000 when he started his own business, The Saddlery Training Centre in Salisbury, with his wife Dawn. Mark’s main focus and interest in the industry is very much on the craft side and works tirelessly on the Apprenticeship schemes, Qualifications, CPD along with upholding professionalism and standards.
Mark is a member of The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, holds an MBE for his services to the saddlery industry, is a Fellow of the Society and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from BETA.
Committee & Other Roles
Trainer, Assessor
Dr Jane Nixon, MRCVS
Veterinary Advisor
Committee & Other Roles
Bridle Fitting, Saddle Fitting, Research, SLO & Welfare
Helen Reader
Executive Director
Committee & Other Roles
Management Group, Craft & Membership, Bridle Fitting, Events, Complaints, SLO & Welfare, Member Wellbeing, Diversity & InclusionTrainer, Assessor
Sue Norton
Executive Director
Committee & Other Roles
Management Group, Saddle Fitting, ResearchTrainer, Assessor
Laurence Pearman
Liaison Officer
Committee & Other Roles
Trainer, Assessor
Helen Reader
Executive Director
Helen is probably one of our most qualified members in the Society, she has been in saddlery industry for 25 years, and in that time has become a Society of Master Saddlers Master Saddler, Master Harness Maker, Master Bridle Maker, Master Saddle Fitter & Qualified Bridle Fitter. Helen became qualified in craft 23 years ago, in saddle fitting 20 years ago and in bridle fitting 4 years ago. She is also a BHS AI and Pony Club A Test holder, she holds a Level 3 Award in Education & Training and Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocational Achievement.
Owning and riding horses for 40 years, Helen still regularly competes her two horses in Dressage, SJ and Eventing both locally and nationally. Helen took on the role of Assessor for the Society 10 years ago and has been lecturing for 6 years. She regularly delivers webinars, demos and write articles for the Society, the BHS, local Pony Clubs & Riding Clubs and her own business. Helen also is Saddlery Advisor as part of the vet lead team for the British Breeding Equine Futurity Bridge.
Helen’s focus and interest within the industry is educating, inspiring and supporting the next generation of saddlers and saddlery fitters. She has a passion for ensuring the comfort and safety of all horses from happy hackers to competition horses through correctly fitted saddlery and therefore improving their performance along with safeguarding the future of riding by continually looking for ways to improve horse welfare. Working together with other para-professionals to achieve the best results for the horse and rider is also an area Helen is keen to develop further as a standard .
Committee & Other Roles
Trainer, Assessor
James Hitchin
Executive Director
Corrie King
Executive Director
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