My first year as an apprentice has passed very quickly and during this time, I have completed and passed my Level 2 City and Guilds qualification in Saddlery. I have now progressed to Level 3, which involves producing a stallion bridle, a double bridle and girth. My training with Ted Blackburn of Woldingham Saddlers has been extremely valuable and has greatly supported my development.

The wide variety of tasks undertaken during the courses has challenged me to expand my leatherworking skills and knowledge. On some days we may carry out repair or restoration work while on others we may create components such as pads for a trade harness. There are so many elements to harness work, including selecting the correct hide for each part of the harness and ensuring the leather is of the highest quality.

My college is located quite a distance from home, so Mum takes me there and we stay in a local B & B during the course. The programme runs as an intensive four-day session every ten weeks, and this gives me time to practice and work on the skills that I have learned during the course.

Mark Romain is our lecturer at the college, and he is extremely knowledgeable and supportive. As the class size is small, he is able to provide individual guidance and help each student achieve the best possible finished result. I am working towards making a full set of harness as this is what I have always wanted to do.

My dream is to one day drive in the showring with a harness I have made myself. It has been a particularly busy year so far, with the apprenticeship, college and the driving shows, but I am loving every minute.  Now I am learning to drive a car as well!

Leah is training at The Saddlery Training Centre in Salisbury.  For more information, please visit the website – The Saddlery Training Centre – Training Provider

The Saddlery Training Centre was opened by Mark and Dawn Romain in 2000.

We work in close association with The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, The Society of Master Saddlers and UKFT (the saddlery sector skills body).

We also have close links with the City & Guilds of London Institute and the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA).

The Centre is approved for the delivery of the City & Guilds National Saddlery Skill Assessment Scheme.

Mark Romain MBE – Director

Master Saddler Mark Romain has worked in the trade since beginning his saddlery apprenticeship in 1973. Following 13 years working at the bench he became a Saddlery Training Advisor for The Countryside Agency. When that organisation closed in 2000, Mark and his wife Dawn set up The Saddlery Training Centre.

During his career, Mark has contributed to the training of approximately 350 saddlery apprentices and well over 2,500 saddlery short course candidates. In 2014, Mark was awarded an MBE for his ‘services to the saddlery industry and saddlery training in the UK and overseas’ and in 2019 was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by BETA.

Mark is the Society of Master Saddlers Training Officer and has served on their Executive Committee for many years. He was President in 1999/2000. He is also a member of the Saddlers’ Company Saddlery Steering Group, which is the lead body on training and related issues for the Saddlery industry sector.