| There are still a number of country saddlemakers in the U.K. who will
make a saddle to an individual order. While the volume manufacturers
produce hundreds of saddles a year and all seem to be located in
Walsall in the Midlands for some historical reason these local
saddlers produce only a few saddles and may be located anywhere.
There are several trade organizations in the U.K. you might contact if
you are really serious about tracing the origin of this particular
saddle. One is "The Society of Master Saddlers" but I don't have an
address for them. The initials in your note don't match any of the
members of the Society of Master Saddlers listed in their magazine
advertisements. Another organization is the "British Equestrian Trade
Association" whose address is: Wothersome Grange, Bramham, Wetherby,
West Yorkshire, LS23 6LY, England; Telephone (0)532-892267. BETA sells
a directory (13.50 pounds sterling) which lists more than 16,000
suppliers of equestrian services of one kind or another.
This information I extracted from one of the riding magazines I brought
back from England on my just completed trip.
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