Posted: 23rd January 2020 | Back to news feed
Abbey England launched its third Saddlery Scholarship with a prize of £500 worth of workshop tools and the lucky winner for 2020 is Zoe Hurst from Wiltshire.
Zoe studied leatherworking at Capel Manor College and is currently completing the Friends of the Cotswolds Craft Apprenticeship at Cirencester Saddlery under the experienced tutelage of Master Saddler, Laurence Pearman.
Competing in the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) Competition at BETA International and also Herefordshire County Show, Zoe placed third in the Trainee Harness class, first overall and won the Overall Entried Special Award. She was awarded the Coach Harness Makers Bursary at the end of her first year training and the Graduate Bursary at the end of her second year, and has completed her Level 3 Bespoke Saddler qualification.
Zoe’s interest in saddlery came from her love of horses and growing interest in textiles and construction. Her interest in textiles led her to become curious as to how saddlery and tack was produced and after some research, she realised that was the path she wanted to take.
Said Zoe: “When I think of saddlery, I see an industry steeped in history and tradition, but that’s not all I see. The industry is in revival and I am excited for its future. Leather is such a unique material and requires a specific way of working with it and the techniques and skills required to simply stitch it are incredible and make it such a specialist craft which deserves more recognition.”
Her passion is for harness work but her training so far has mainly centred around bridle work and saddlery. She particularly enjoys the variety of the work, applying her knowledge and techniques on different items, which can vary from a bespoke design bridle, to replicating a World War II anti-tank gun gaiter, to a simple saddle reflock, in just a few days.
Zoe hopes eventually to become a fully qualified saddler and saddle fitter and to be put forward by the Society of Master Saddlers (SMS) to qualify as a Master Saddler. She would also like to study further in harness making and learn how to make and fit full collars.
Said Zoe: “I am really delighted to have won the Abbey England Scholarship. I have found one of the hardest parts of becoming a saddler is sourcing affordable quality tools as there have been so many traditional companies gone out of business. The high quality tools available from Abbey England are solidly constructed, well priced and reliable and are easily accessible from their website.
Said Richard Brown of Abbey England: “We are very happy to be able to provide support to another up-and-coming trainee saddler to enable her to achieve her dreams within the industry. It’s fantastic to have seen the enthusiasm for this traditional craft in the many applications we received for the scholarship and we wish Zoe all the best for her future career.”
For further information visit www.abbeyengland.com
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