TESTIMONIALS

Dear John
I am just writing to let you know how happy I am with the "Arapaho Wade"
I must admit I was hesitant at the start spending so much money on a saddle and purchasing over the phone but your professional and knowledge made it easy for me to make the right decision.
I thank you for your honesty and help in choosing the different components of my saddle, because without that it wouldn't be the perfect saddle it is.
I love my saddle because it fits me and my horses love it as well because they finally have a saddle that fits them also.
Every inch of the saddle is made with quality craftsmanship and I get so many comments at every outing at how nice my saddle is and I am sure it will only get better with age.
All the best to you John
Natasha O'Brien
Kyancutta SA

Dear John,

How can I thank you enough? From our very first phone conversation you made me feel at ease with ordering my new saddle over the phone. Being very new to western riding and this being my first western saddle, you explained everything in great detail to make sure I understood exactly what I would be getting. From our many conversations I knew my new saddle would be exactly what I pictured and John it was this and much more. When you sent me the photo I was in awe, you said it would look so much better in real life but I was extremely happy with how it looked on paper. When it arrived and I opened the box you were right, it was just beautiful. When I rang to tell you how happy I was, I said the “Golden Lily” had taken pride of place in the lounge room. From the first ride I felt so comfortable and we haven’t looked back since. I have attended several clinics where we rode all day and I could have kept riding. I love the design, the colour, the silver work and the fantastic hand carved lilies.

I cannot recommend you highly enough John, you are never too busy to answer many many questions and I appreciate all your advice. I am the happiest lady in Melbourne and really looking forward to the show season in my new saddle. Thanks for my “Golden Lily”, your attention to detail is superb.

Best Wishes,
Sharyn Kennedy

Dear John,

As a beginner rider and very new to this industry, it was very pleasing to find such an honest and easy going person. You talked to me for quite sometime to find out what I was going to be doing with my horse and in what direction I would like to go with my riding. You took the time to come out and see my horse and worked out what tree was best suited to my baby and me.

From the first moment I sat in one of your saddle I fell in love, this was the most comfortable chair I had ever sat in. It’s been a couple years since you made that first saddle (which I still own, love and use daily) and now I’m purchasing my second one…and I can’t wait.

I wish to thank you for all your time, effort and patience.

Vicki McNamara

Dear John,

I remember the first time I went into your website I got Goosebumps,

Your work was so beautiful.

It was pretty scary ordering a saddle over the phone and internet.
You were so helpful and made me feel very comfortable.
And everything was spot on from the start to the end.
WOW
Thankyou so much for making me a beautiful saddle! Your craftsmanship and
attention to detail is quiet incredible. I'm very pleased with it and can't
wait to show it off.
Thanks for great service and advise and your friendship.

From one very happy customer.

Tracy Patterson
Wodonga
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Dear John,

It is certainly refreshing to be able to purchase an expensive item over the phone/internet and have it arrive in good time and in perfect condition.

It has been a pleasure doing business with you and the saddle looks great. I will send photo when I get a chance to do so.

I have only ridden in the saddle for a short while and it is a perfect fit for the smaller horse. The saddle is still a little tight behind the shoulders (where the skirt begins beneath the swell) on the big horse. It is the best fit so far however and I know it will soften and become more allowing over the next few rides. I will keep in touch.

Your name is on the saddle for those who want the same! I know the ex national reining champion, Ian Bruce will be interested in a local saddle maker who can produce a saddle of better quality than circle Y.

Regards

Cate

My sincerest apology in my delay in writing to you, and all the folks out there who may be reading this and are considering purchasing a saddle from you.

I first came across John Allington Saddles via the Internet, and whilst I was currently riding in a stock saddle, a western saddle was always my dream, and my ideal saddle

Follow your heart and trust your inner feelings, I did, and was not disappointed.

First I guess you need to understand that from my prospective this was saddle fitting for dummies 101.

I have had my first horse “Charm” a quarter cross appy for four years now and this has been a learning process for me. I can tell you is that my mare is extremely stocky and round and short backed as well. To find a saddle to fit her that would not end up in me riding side-saddle, leaning or hurting her, was impossible! (Or so I thought, but I was wrong).

At first I was nervous, as a friend had recently, had saddle made locally and fitted which ended in disaster, - I have had no experience and knew nothing of fitting saddles and was un sure after this friends experience and my lack of knowledge how I could possibly end up with the perfect fitting saddle, via the internet and telephone.

That’s right, - “THE PERFECT FITTING SADDLE”. Once you have begun speaking with this gentleman Mr John Allington, you will understand the care and attention to detail to each individual person needs that I am talking about. Nothing is standardised, John will take all the pain and hard guess work out to provide a finished product to exacting standards, with good old fashioned courteous care and attention to detail based on years of experience which is evidently and apparently sadly lacking with in this industry.

All of my questions and concerns were welcomed and satisfied and John worked with me and my Charms needs to produce the perfect saddle for us both, which is practical, functional, extremely comfortable for both of us and looks fantastic!!!!!!-

You owe it to yourself to at least consider speaking with Mr John Allington about your prospective new investment, Which face it folks – we are not just trying to do ourselves justice by investing in a piece of equipment which will not only look great, and last us a lifetime,-

With sincerest thanks and gratitude for all of your patience, hard work, care attention John, -You are a true gentleman true to his word and thanks to you, we can now look forward to many long comfortable rides together!! Happy Trails My friend!

Hello John,

We would just like to thank you for all the hard work and effort you put into making our daughters first saddle , the Sharni Maree. It is just beautiful and the detail in the carving is amazing. The first time Sharni saw the saddle she said that it looked exactly how she had pictured it, and of course could not wait to have her first ride in it. My husband and daughter both ride in it and find this saddle extremely comfortable. We just can’t believe how well it fits the horse’s back, given that you only had a few photos and cardboard templates to go on. Everyone that has seen this saddle absolutely loves it just like we do, I think you will be getting a lot of phone calls in the future. After purchasing this saddle we know that our next one will also have to be a John Allinghton. Sharni would like to say thank you very much and she said to tell you that she adores her new saddle.

Thanking you
Donna & Mal Pearse
Moranbah
QLD

Just letting you know that I have received my lovely saddle and rode in it twice and love it, it is such a pleasure to ride in a saddle that does not hurt my back and it looks great on Jim. Someone else rode in it yesterday and could not get how comfortable it was. I have been telling everyone if they want a really good saddle to speak to you. I will be doing my first show on Tuesday after not showing for about eight years and will be using the saddle and bridle. I am sure it will bring me good luck. Once again I cannot thank you enough for the great saddle and keep up the excellent work.

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Hello John

My daughter and I started our search for the “perfect” reining saddle over 10 months ago. We searched our local Western Australian market extensively and couldn’t find a saddle with the quality of workmanship and leather we were hoping for, so our search extended to the internet. We found your website and were very impressed with you knowledge and workmanship. After a few initial emails we contacted you by telephone, described our quarter horse to you and our saddle requirements, and together we came up with a design. Whilst we totally respect and appreciate that you never make two saddles the same, by searching your web pages we were able to give you ideas on what we liked and the shape we wanted our saddle to have. Throughout this design stage you were incredibly patient and helpful, and at no time did we feel under any pressure. Living on the other side of the country to you, I must say at times I felt a little nervous that maybe I hadn’t conveyed our desires to you properly and maybe our saddle would turn out differently to our expectations. How wrong I was.

After six weeks of building our saddle, you sent us photos and we were thrilled with the result. Our saddle arrived by post shortly after and it exceeded all our expectations. Despite having seen the photographs, we were “blown away” by the quality of your workmanship and attention to detail. Our saddle (which you have named Swan River) is a fabulous piece of work which is not only incredibly comfortable to ride in, but fits our horse like a glove, and even he is totally impressed! Our saddle really stands out in the show ring, is a real eye catcher and we have had nothing but rave reviews from everyone. A sincere thank you John from Alyce and I, we are thrilled with our “Swan River”. Regards Bethany Pegus

I wish to thank you for your wonderful saddle. It is a great saddle to ride in and very comfortable for both myself and my horse. The care you took with the workmanship is second to none and to be able to explain to you what I wanted.

That is what I got and is just first class. I would recommend that anyone looking for a good saddle to contact you

I am writing to thank you for my saddle. I have had my Quarter Horse X Arab for 12 mths and could not find a saddle to fit her. Being a sensitive mare with a short back . I had Hugh problems from the saddle's moving too far forward over the shoulder and rubbing her. To the saddles being too long for her back. She was always bucking and biting me when I saddled her up. I found you on the internet and I was a little sceptical as you would be. I put my trust into you and you did it.

I must say that my research paid off and I am glad that you were the one I picked to make my saddle. As you know, my reason for getting a new saddle was due to the pressure points at the bottom of my horses wither, caused by my old western pleasure saddle. Well, I must say that during my first ride I've realised that there was more things wrong with my old saddle than I thought and when I dismounted it was good to see sweat all over. I am absolutely delighted with my new saddle. The seat puts me in the correct position and makes my riding easier and more comfortable. I love the workmanship. John you have done everything as you promised and I will be more then happy to promote your work up here in the Northern Territory. Thank you.

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Here are some photos Melissa is over the moon I think she will sleep with it tonight there are a couple of things I will talk to you about Melissa loves your choice of all the silver and the carvings. We had her horse saddled up and Ron was riding her up and down the fence waiting for her.

You are a man of your word a rare person these days and I surly appreciate all you have done for us

I am having a really great time in my saddle, can't believe it's so comfortable. It's almost a crime to have to go to work instead of going for a ride. I'm afraid I've made a few people envious. I haven’t taken any photos of it on the digital camera yet but when I do I will be sure to send you one. I have recommended you to everyone that has seen my saddle, so hopefully you will get a few sales. Well that’s all for now, hope all is well. Regards Joanne

Hi John, Sorry to take so long to get back to you. I rode in the saddle on the weekend, comfort wise its everything I could ask for and the horse that has a soreness problem in his shoulder and hesitates when picking up his nearside lead, went straight into a relaxed lope with no hesitation each time I asked, he normally only does that in an English saddle. I would be happy to let anyone look at the saddle if need be or talk to them

Hi John
>
> Sorry for taking so long to contact you, but as is the case with all of us
> these days I've been pretty busy. The saddle is great. So both the horse and I are comfortable and happy. I really put it to the test Saturday week ago, when we did a 30km, 5hour ride
>The horse had no problems at all (I did, but that was due to too much time
> in the saddle when I wasn't used to it - and being a glutton for punishment
> I did another 3 hours the next day). Also, if you ever have a customer
> wanting a reference I'd be happy to speak to them, and be brutally honest
> and tell them about the great service and my wonderful saddle.
>
> How are things with you? I really enjoy all the emails you send, they are
> always inspiring.
>
> Keep well, regards
>
> Jenny

I kept the saddle in the lounge for a couple of weeks because it was such a fine piece of work; even non-horsy people admired it. I had to take it to the tack room when hubby complained of the sweaty horse smell, honestly! I love the finish and colour of my saddle its a very classy looking bit of gear.

I only had three weeks to get used to it before I went on a five day horsemanship clinic with Ken Faulkner, so based on past experience with other western saddles I took my old half breed with me as well, just in case. Needless to say the half-breed stayed in the truck, we rode for up to six hours a day and the horse has never had a moments soreness. I found the saddle very comfy and wasn't any stiffer than I would have been in any saddle (I don’t normally ride for that long five days in a row). The pre-trained stirrups are wonderful, takes all the strain out of my knees.

So there you have it, universal acclaim from all who have seen it including my very fussy hubby (who also said it should do me until I am ready to ride a gopher! - motorized wheelchair for oldies!)

I have sent you a photo of me and my horse half way through a 25km training level endurance ride back in August. The saddle you made for me was a delight to use for the ride ,which was in very rugged country. It has been so wet here this winter that I haven't been doing much with Mickey. Anyway we finished the ride in fair time ( we did stop for coffee and cake along the way!) and in the after ride vet check Mickey got all A's for his checks, including muscle and back soreness. The saddle didn't move an inch going up and down hills and crossing creeks etc. I enjoyed myse4lf so much I am going to do another one in a couple of weeks.

There are only two words to describe my John Allington Saddle and they are “absolutely fantastic”.

My previous saddle was a very old, very heavy, calf roping saddle. I nearly fell over trying to saddle my horse because of the weight of the saddle plus it was like sitting on a plank of wood. Coming from a dressage background this was most distressing and uncomfortable!

After speaking with John and seeing his expertise first hand I was greatly reassured and confident that John would be able to make a saddle that was best suited for my horse and myself. John’s knowledge in horsemanship and saddlery is unbelievable but most importantly he listened to exactly what I was looking for in my saddle. I was after a deeper seat and more contact with my horse than most western saddles allowed and of course not a back breaker to lift – all this and still be comfortable for my horse too. John understood what I wanted and the outcome is just wonderful. John knows how to please both horse and rider. Also John’s patience in answering my many questions was most appreciated!

I now am the very proud owner of a lightweight but extremely strong/hardy saddle that is comfortable (for both myself and my horse) to ride in for 2 hours, all day, a weekend away or at a competition.

The quality in the workmanship and finishing touches on my saddle are wonderful and are not unique to just my saddle either but to every saddle John makes. John takes great pride in his work and his vast knowledge will ensure that each person will receive a saddle that works best for the individual person and their horse.