A Family Affair

Real Saddles made by Real People

Horses are in Peter Horobin’s blood. His father was a top steeplechase jockey living in Germany, and when Peter discovered that he had grown too large to follow in his footsteps, he tried the next best thing... an apprenticeship with the top German saddle making company, Passier.
Even today, Peter still gets up at 5.30 to ride track at Mornington racecourse. His father, Keith still rides, as does brother Mark, while another brother, Gary, is a farrier. But after the track work is done, Peter focuses on what is Australia’s fastest growing saddlery business.

“I had my first trade stand at the Werribee Three Day Event, back when it was on the lawns of the Mansion, and people would come up and say,'who’s using your saddles’, and there weren’t any I could point to. It’s a bit different now with top riders all over Australia using our saddles, our sponsored riders include Michael Baker, Olivia Bunn, Glennis Barrey, Sue Hearn, Kate Boyes and Maurice Bruce.”

“I still remember the first trip north to the NSW State Championships, and I sold two saddles in one day!”

Peter finished his apprenticeship with Passier in 1980, and moved to Australia the same year and immediately set up shop – making saddles: “Because of my family’s involvement with racing, it was racing saddles then, but after a while I got sick of making the same old thing, and thought it was time to get back to doing what I did best, making dressage saddles. From then on, it just got bigger and bigger. More and more riders are aware that they can enjoy their riding more in a saddle that is made just for them – specially when you consider that our custom made saddles still cost less than the imported mass market saddles!”

Since then Peter has been a regular at most major equestrian events, not only to sell his saddles but also listening to the riders, refining his techniques. Perhaps his most successful innovation so far has been the amazone saddle – the first saddle that has been designed to suit the female anatomy. Riders just cannot believe the difference the saddle makes not only to their comfort, but also their ability to sit correctly and effectively, until they try one that is!

Peter and Julie now run the small team at Peter Horobin Saddlery, which consists of family, including son Rhys and daughter Marlee along with a small team of employees. Finding that new saddle is an enjoyable experience. I think visitors like the old fashioned feel of our workshop, the smell and texture of fine leather, and the tradition of craftsmanship that we keep alive. It is even better that we can combine that wonderful tradition with the latest innovations to produce saddles that riders really love.”

 

Rhys, Peter's son is comleting an apprenticeship in becoming a master saddler.

Rhys, Peter and Ray in the workshop.

Enjoying his job, rhys working away at a saddle.


With all the saddles manafacutered in the workshop, Peter completes the final touches to a custom made pony saddle.