Frequently Asked Questions

• How should I care for my Duett Saddle?
• What type of saddle should I buy?
• How much should I spend on a new saddle?
• How do I know if the saddle fits?
• Where can I buy a Duett Saddle?
• How can I pay?
• What is your refund policy?
• If I pay by card, will my details be safe?
• How long will the saddle last?
• When can I expect delivery of my new saddle?
• What makes Duett Saddles different to other saddle manufacturers?
• How long has Duett Saddles been trading?
• Do you have any vacancies?
• How many Duett Saddles are in use today?
• I already have a saddle fitter, will you work with them?
• How much does it cost to call an 0845 number?

How should I care for my Duett saddle?
You’ve done your research and have bought a Duett saddle that works for you and your horse.  Good saddles are an investment, and are built to last with proper care.  But what constitutes “proper”?  While there is a lot of conflicting views out there regarding soaps, conditioners and oils, two things are generally agreed upon:  your saddle needs to be kept clean, and needs to be conditioned.

CLEANING:
Ideally, you should wipe your tack down with a damp cloth after each ride.  This will not only keep your tack cleaner, it will also allow early detection of any problems, like loose stitching or excessive wear. We recommend cleaning  tack at least once a week, with a “take everything apart” cleaning every couple months.  For everyday cleaning use warm water; if using soap, a good proprietary brand of glycerine or other vegetable based oil soap specifically for saddlery. For really dirty tack, we suggest Effax leather combi tack cleaner & conditioner. Always use just enough water to remove the dirt - don’t saturate the leather.  We advise against using  abrasive pads – they can mar the leather’s finish. 

CONDITIONING:
Tanning processes have changed over the past few decades, and many companies no longer recommend oiling your new saddle.  Nubuck leather shouldn’t be oiled or conditioned at all - just cleaned with soap and water, and buffed with a dry sponge to bring the nap back.  If you’re in doubt, give us a call.  Failing to condition frequently enough can dry the leather and make it prone to cracking; conversely, over-conditioning (particularly with a conditioner with a heavy oil content) can weaken and stretch the skin’s fibres, which will make your leather limp and floppy.  Either will take years off the useful life of your saddle.

It’s hard to go wrong with a good conditioner, and a good selection is available nowadays. Apply a thin coat to ALL leather parts of the saddle:  and both sides of the flaps,  If this disappears immediately, give it another thin coat; if the conditioner isn’t absorbed in a minute or two, wipe off the excess without applying more

.MAINTAINING THE FLOCKING:   
If your new saddle is wool-flocked, you  may need to have the flocking and saddle fit checked after about 10-20 hrs of riding.  We recommend that you have the fit checked every 6-12 months, depending on how often you ride and how much your horse’s back changes. 

MISCELLANEOUS POINTS:

• Leather is a natural product and should be stored in a dry place away from direct sunlight and extremes of temperature. This should help to prevent loss of colour and hardening of the leather.
• Your saddle should be stored on a saddle rack whenever possible. 
• Use your saddle cover to keep dust from collecting, and to protect it against scratches, knocks and bumps.
• Tipping your saddle up on the pommel is fine occasionally, but habitually storing it like that can wrinkle the flaps (especially on a close-contact or all-purpose saddle), and can scuff up the flaps and pommel. 
• Don’t stack saddles, as this can cause divots in wool-flocked saddles where the panels rest on the cantle of the saddle below. 
• Don't place your saddle on doors, fences or gates without padding underneath, as this will also mark and wear the gullet underneath.
• Don't place your saddle directly on to concrete or lean it against a wall as this will wear the leather and scratch it, especially the cantle and pommel.
• Run your irons up rather than flipping them over the seat  (for long-term storage, remove your irons and leathers completely).
• Keep your saddle in a dry (and if possible, temperature-controlled) area – no damp basements.  Damp storage conditions encourage the growth of mould and mildew.
• While tacking up, be sure your saddle is out of reach of your (or any!) horse.  A curious nose can send your saddle crashing to the ground (which can scuff or tear the leather, or even crack the tree) and keep it from collecting tooth marks.
• Always mount from a mounting block (or equivalent).  While it’s a good idea to be able to mount from the ground if necessary, making a habit of it is tough on your horse’s back, the saddle’s flocking, and can eventually twist the tree.
• If the saddle gets wet, allow it to dry out slowly. Do not put it next to any direct heat. When it's dry clean and feed it, it may take several feedings to restore it to its former condition.

Good management and care will prolong the life and strength of the leather, for your comfort and safety.

What type of saddle should I buy?
Why not call to discuss and ask us to help you decide what type of saddle you should buy? As your riding skills improve what sports or disciplines can you see yourself becoming interested in? Do you see yourself mainly pleasure riding?

How much should I spend on a new saddle?
Saddles range in price from a few hundred to thousands of pounds.  Generally when buying a new saddle you get what you pay for.  You can buy saddles for less than £500, but if they are leather then these will certainly be of overall poor quality.  There are sometimes good reasons to buy a ‘cheap’ saddle.  But for comfort, safety, and durability you’ll want to buy the best you can afford.

You've probably heard the phrase 'fine grain leather'. Good quality has a fine grain--the pores are small--and the leather feels nice and supple.  Poorer leather feels more  like cardboard and has open coarse pores.  They may be covered in a finish that will easily scratch off.

How do I know if the saddle fits?
You need the saddle to fit you as well as your horse. You’ll feel more comfortable and safe in a well fitted saddle. Proper fit for the horse can be overlooked but is essential. Horses with poorly fitted saddles are prone to back pain. A horse may express that pain through what appears to be bad behaviour or poor performance.

Does the saddle sit you in the best position? Saddles come in different seat widths. The only way to make sure the saddle suits you is to try it out and this is why Duett offer a unique home trial policy for all on-line customers – for further details of this fantastic off, click here.
After you decide the type of saddle you want, a proper fit is important. Please see our fitting and sizing page for much more detail.

Where can I buy a Duett Saddle?
Right here

How can I pay?
We accept card, cheque or online payments.

What is your refund policy?
We want to make sure that our customers are 100% happy.
If a product is not up to expectation then we'll look to replace it if possible without undue delay.
We operate a refund policy that is designed to protect not only us but more importantly our customers.

If I pay by card, will my details be safe?
Card details taken over the phone or the web are processed straight away. We use the secure payment gateway WorldPay for all online credit card transactions.

How long will the saddle last?
We guarantee the wood sprung tree for five years and we’d expect this to last much longer under normal conditions.  Well cared for leather, particularly good quality leather as used on all Duett Saddles, will provide great service for many many years.  Our directors have saddles well over five years old, which are used daily in Equestrian businesses and they look as good as new!   See our advice on caring for your saddle above.

When can I expect delivery of my new saddle?
Saddles from stock will normally be delivered within 3-4 working days.  We will inform you immediately should we become aware of any delays.  Saddles not in stock may take up to 6 weeks – we will always keep you informed on progress of your order.  If you are in any doubt, please contact us and we will happily advise.  You can request next working day delivery, but this will cost slightly more – please call us if this is of interest to you once you have placed your order.

What makes Duett Saddles different to other Saddle manufacturers?
We think we can answer this....
1) Duett Saddles specialise in saddles for the wider horse and pony - its not just one of many products that we offer.
2) Duett Saddles is a small and close-run business without  huge overheads - we pass on these savings to our customers.
3) We charge what we feel is a fair price for a great product - we don't base our prices on what others may think customers can afford.
Our happy customers come back to us over and over again. They recommend us to their friends.
If our customers are happy then we're happy - simple as that!

How long has Duett Saddles been trading?
Duett Saddles first started trading in October 2008, although one of the directors has traded Duett saddles successfully for three years prior to our setting up the company “Duett Saddles”.

Do you have any vacancies?
We are currently seeking an ambitious qualified saddle fitter who will wants to specialise in Duett’s Saddles, someone who will be a technical expert and can oversee product development and assist with customer queries regarding fit and suitability – could this be you?
This will suit a self starter who wants responsibility and has the vision to realise this is a fantastic opportunity to get in at an early stage where you can add value from day one and “own” this area of the business.  Please call 0845 299 7175 and choose option 3 to speak with Richard for further details.

How many Duett Saddles are in use today ?
We understand there are over 6,500 currently in use today.

I already have a saddle fitter, will you work with them?
We would be delighted to work alongside your saddle fitter. Please call or email us your contact details and your fitter’s contact details and any relevant details on the type of saddle you are after, what ability you have, what type of riding you do etc.

How much does it cost to call an 0845 number?
An 0845 number is equivalent to a local rate call at all times and is therefore not a premium or national rate number.