All our products are unsurpassed in the realm of horse riding equipment. With three decades dedicated to research and development, we've honed our designs to deliver maximum Ethical Equine Performance (EEP) always at the forefront of our thinking.

Ethical Equine Performance

“A way of going that is offered willingly and that is as close to the horse’s natural unrestricted ability.”

David Kempsell MD First Thought Equine Ltd

The DMK range of saddles are designed with a focus on a sole discipline. The seats and flaps are fixed, and therefore are not interchangeable. An advantage of this is that the block can be placed higher on the seat/flap, which provides superior support for the rider through any movement.
A perfect example of this is our Pinnacle Dressage Saddle below.

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Our Competitor range is entirely modular, meaning all of its components are completely interchangeable throughout the life of the saddle. You can mix and match any seat, Flap, panel and headplate making it an ideal saddle for adapting to multiple disciplines and multiple horses

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The FreeSpace Bridle cheek pieces are held away from the face by a loosely fitted noseband, creating space between the cheek straps, noseband, and the horse’s head. The anatomical headpiece features soft, adjustable padding that provides a gap for the occipital bone and nuchal ligament. This ligament offers stability and elasticity to the cervical spine, linking to the supraspinous ligament that supports the back under the saddle.

The adjustable FreeSpace Browband prevents the headpiece from pressing into the base of the ears, avoiding discomfort that could increase stress and adrenaline levels. The padding also keeps the bridle away from the TMJ joint, a major area affecting the entire body, including the neck and abdominal muscles. Pressure on the TMJ joint can disrupt movement and hinder the horse’s ability to lift its back or maintain balance when turning.

The noseband allows for jaw movement and is supported by soft, shaped foam pads on the nasal bone and lower jaw. A properly fitted noseband avoids overtightening, which can cause tension and unsteady head carriage. Unique buckles positioned away from facial nerves and blood vessels ensure easy, quick adjustments.

THE GIRTH WITH SPACE TO MOVE

This new innovative patented design has an Active Cushion Sternum Plate that has two parts.

The outer is a reinforced plate that will not give under girth tension. This is spaced away from the horse by the Active Cushion which holds the Sternum Plate away from the horse’s rib cage. The Sternum Plate makes the girth straps bridge the pectoral muscles and it is this lack of pressure that is the key to allowing the horse to engage by the use of an unimpeded Rectus Abdominus and better leg retraction due to the Ascending Pectoral muscles not being squashed!

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TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS FROM REAL, EVERY DAY RIDERS ALL OVER THE WORLD

Gemma Hart

"When I first bought Rupert he came with a WOW dressage saddle. I wasn’t sure what all the fuss was about till I rode in it!!! Rupert was a sharp , young pony who moved very big for his size. I couldn’t believe how secure I felt in this saddle!!

I bought a jump saddle with wool flocking as that was all I could afford at the time. It became very obvious that he went so much better in his dressage saddle, so I saved up and bought him a WOW jump saddle the following summer.

Rupert sustained a field injury so spent 18 months on rehab. During that time he changed shape regularly, so having a saddle that was so adjustable was amazing!

When my 12 year old decided she wanted to start riding him, we felt she needed a saddle that would fit her as well as she was tiny! We bought a Duskin Saddles Dressage and the improvement in how she rode was incredible!

We use the FreeSpace Girth with all my saddles as I feel that Rupert’s comfort is really important to me."

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Emma Louise Read

2023-01-30

I can’t recommend WOW enough! This is the second horse I have had a saddle fitted from them now and I wouldn’t go elsewhere! The different styles and designs are endless so you will be able to design the right saddle to fit you and fit your horse as well as looking fabulous! The differences I have found in my own riding and horses way of going since getting one of these saddles is incredible!

Gillian Higgins

2021-02-21

Absolutely love my wow saddles. Think the flexible nature of fitting, allowed by the interchangeable saddle and tree parts as well as the flair system, is brilliant. So great to know that as my horses change shape through the season so can his saddle. Dave, Maggie and the team are so knowledgeable and professional. Great to know the best and latest science and engineering has gone into the production of these saddles. Would definitely recommend to all equestrians.

Nikki Serge

2020-03-03

Finally an innovative solution that is fully customizable for both the horse and rider without compromising quality and craftsmanship.
Patricia Cooper was thorough, knowledgeable and patient working with my horse and I until we got it right!

Stephanie Jane Quintrell

2019-11-14

WOW is most definitely the word used to describe my new saddle. Maggie and the team have gone out of their way to make me the most incredible saddle. As a newly disabled rider, I am facing many challenges, and have been unable to even contemplate getting in the saddle until now. My new saddle arrived this week and I couldn’t love it more. Not only is it beautifully and carefully made to the specification I gave, but it’s is so stylish to look at. It’s a truly classy saddle, which will eventually allow me to ride again. What I love most, is the saddle is so subtly adapted, that on first look, one would not even know it was adapted and not just a very pretty classic saddle. For now the saddle sits in my view so I can admire it daily, but once the final fitting has been done and things settled for me, this saddle will get me riding again. Maggie has given me customer service of a quality I could never have imagined. She truly is a special person, her generosity and kindness will be remembered forever. For a girl who has always pretty much had to ‘make do’ with saddles for my horses, I am now going to be sitting on something of outstanding quality and design. Thank you WOW, from the bottom of my heart, for getting me to the next step of getting me back in the saddle.

Jackie Flynn

2019-10-03

Have been dealing twice with Mel. This lady has the patience of a saint. Is so helpful , knowledgeable about her product. Nothing is a bother to her. I cannot recommend her enough.

WOW EVENTS

WOW NEWS

EXPLORE OUR LATEST BLOG ARTICLES

Here's a peek of what's under your seat

Do you know how the trees of our saddles work? Back in 2003, our saddles featured heavier resin trees, but through continual innovation, we introduced a leather/plastic tree in 2006 and a fully plastic tree in 2015 with a carbon fibre Y-bar, making our saddles lighter yet stronger with each iteration. We haven't stopped there though, making new developments and tweaks, to ensure we're providing the best experience for you and your horse.

First Thought Equine Wins Prestige Award 2025

First Thought Equine Ltd (FTE) are proud to announce that we have been awarded Equestrian Equipment Retailer of the Year at the 2025...

Bare Bones of the Matter – Featuring WOW Saddles

We’re thrilled to share that David Kempsell of WOW Saddles features in The Bare Bones of the Matter – a brand-new online documentary...

Mid-September Shutdown Reminder

Please note we will soon be closing our offices for our mid-September shutdown (12-21 September 2025) and our last working day is Thursday 11th September 2025 and we’ll be back in the office on Monday 22nd September.

Inside the workshop [photos]

Every part of a WOW Saddle is made right here in our Kent countryside workshop. On 29 July 2025 we took a little wander around the...

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WOW AMBASSADORS

TRIED AND TRUSTED BY THE VERY BEST RIDERS

Katie Watson

We have an event and livery yard in County Durham with horses ranging from 3 year olds to 4*. We've had one of our best season yet, Wilf (pictured is modelling his wow stud girth and jump saddle with a flat seat and Tapner Xc flaps)has shown huge promise for the future, he's only 9 and has made very light work of the step up to 4*.
Claude, my established 4* horse finished with a super double clear at Blenheim 4* L having had some super 4* s runs this year.
The younger horses are showing huge promise too, with 7 year old Louis being selected to go to the world young horse championships later this month at Le Lion.
Indy has also had a super season finishing top of the 6 year old league and winning 4 events including his first 2*s.
I've used Wow saddles for the last 20 years and simply wouldn't use any other saddles on my horses. Lizzie from Priory Saddlery does a super job of fitting them and it's brilliant to know they're comfortable in their work all the time.
I love the new Free Space girth and have been using that for dressage alongside my Wow stud girths for jumping.

Marit Louwerse

I've been using WOW saddles for 15 years already. With a few really nice saddles in our collection a real 'diehard' fan. It's really nice to have my saddles perfectly fitted for my horses.
I have 2 completely different jumping saddles. One DMK with litex seat and the other is more standard, continental flaps with movable blocks. Despite the big differences they are both perfect for me as a rider. They really give me security and comfort, during cross country or with the young green horses. Also the dressage saddles with the equitana flaps are just perfect , I use them with a simple neoprene girth or with the H-girth, depending on the horse.
What I love about WOW is the fact that you can fit them so perfectly, because everything is adjustable. With the smallest adjustments you can make big differences, and with the air in the panels, and the newest technology it's possible to make those tiny changes. Also the horses really love the saddles because of that perfect fit and the possible freedom in the movements. For the young horses it's a big plus the saddles can grow with them.
The most important is ofcourse the perfect fit for both horse and rider, but I also love to customize the saddles with the special colours and pieces of leather, it's all in the details!

Sophie Byford

I’ve ridden my horses exclusively in Wow Saddles since 2017, no other brand offers the innovation, attention to detail and commitment to both horse and rider comfort.
I have competed up to 3* with my top horse Handsome, but as he recovers from a tendon injury I am focusing on the next generation and am very excited to see what they can bring to the team. Handsome’s saddles have been temporarily fitted onto other horses while he’s recuperating so have not sat idle in the tack room.
My first WOW DMK was originally fitted to my 14.2hh event pony, it’s now been used on horses upto 18hh, and is my favourite for starting youngsters.
I now have a number of WOW saddles ranging from xc jump saddles to the latest Pinnacle dressage, due to the versatility of these saddles my fitter (Jenny Basham) is able to customise them to fit the wide range of horses I work with, and of course they all suit me perfectly!
Jenny always ensures my horses and I are able to concentrate on our work together, allowing me to ride with confidence and balance and ensuring excellent weight distribution, freedom of movement and comfort for my horses.
I use various WOW girths, all chosen to suit the individual needs of that horse. Most do particularly well in the FreeSpace, but I also love the Switcha for jumping and the Split Elegance is very useful, particularly for narrow horses.
I'm proud to represent a brand that truly understands and caters to the needs of both riders and horses from any discipline.

Alex Harrison

I love the versatility of my WOW saddle. From a riders point of view, the narrow twist really allows me to wrap my leg around the horse and feel close to them without locking me in.
Their modular design and adjustability allows me to alter them depending on what my horse's need at different times throughout the season and levels of training. Due to the flexibility of the tree and unique panel design everything feels easy! I’m not having to work against my saddle to get the expression I want, the horses WANT to let go over their back and swing under the saddle.

Nicky Hill

My Name is Nicky Hill and I am an event rider currently competing up to 5* level with horses competing at all levels. I am also lucky enough to ride some very good showjumpers competing up to 1m40 level.
I have ridden in WOW saddles since 2018, when I was first lucky enough to sit in one. At Blenheim horse trials Dawn Britnell, an eventing friend and WOW saddle fitter, noted some areas we were struggling in with my top horse and suggested it might be worth trying a WOW saddle. The difference it made for my top horse was quite amazing, he instantly became freer and softer over the back and for the first time was easily maintaining a good 4 beat can’t. The difference was huge, so we managed to get sorted to take a WOW dressage saddle to our first 5* just a few weeks later. In those few weeks his dressage mark went from a 41 at Blenheim, to a 34 in his first 5*, the only change was his saddle!

Since then we have never looked back and I am now very privileged to ride all my horses in WOWs for both jumping and dressage. They are second to none in both comfort and performance for horse and rider. I have some particularly tricky horses to fit a saddle to but with the adjustable nature of the saddles we’ve managed to get them all in perfectly fitting tack.
The new pinnacle saddle has been a real game changer for me (short legs!) and is the first dressage saddle I’ve ridden in that I feel has really allowed me to get my leg into the right position.
Alongside the saddles, the range of girths WOW provide allow even more comfort for the horses. The freedom girth has made a real notable difference to all my horses. It allows a huge range of movement for the forelimbs and they all finally feel like they really can move freely with tack on. We also love the switcha stud girth which all of my horses use xc. It provides super protection and also has a clever design that allows it to be used as a full stud girth or smaller everyday girth. I’m also very impressed with the hidden martingale attachment that limits the risk of horses getting their foot stuck which I have seen happen on a few occasions recently.

I’m very honoured to ride in WOW saddles and can’t speak highly enough of the difference they have made for my horses, without a doubt we would not have achieved many of our results without them.

Steff Parry

Im Steff Parry and I train with my horses to compete in Dressage. I’ve been lucky to compete up to inter 1 level with Grand Prix movements at home. I changed to WOW saddles after a recommendation from our saddle fitter Laura Dempsey. My advanced horse Lexi loved it straight away.
WOW is so easy to work with as so many adjustments can be made. Lex was always quick to tell me when an adjustment was required and equally quick to say “ thanks that feels great”
My home bred Joey, who now steps up to be my main horse, feels exactly the same. Just recently we added the new free space girth to our kit and “wow” I felt the different immediately!!
The team at WOW are constantly researching and helping horses move comfortably with new innovations. I’m very privileged and proud to be a part of this team and so are my horses.

Juliana Kaup

I first got interested in the WOW-Saddles because I was hardly able to sit my geldings trot, as soon as there was even a tiny bit of tension in him I had no chance, I was hopelessly bumping around which in turn obviously led to more tension. WOW was the first saddle that I could not only sit him in properly, it wasn’t even exhausting anymore. And due to the better fit and the freedom the saddle gave him there was also rarely any tension to begin with, and if there was I was able to work him through it productively without being hindered by my own discomfort. Since then I was hooked, I would not buy another brand anymore. All of my horses are happier, move more freely and have considerable better muscles along their top line.
Most recently even my 4* mare, who has always had a rather unique jumping style has suddenly, at sixteen years old, started to actually use her back over the jumps after switching her jumping saddle to WOW.

Steph Quintrell

Prior to July 2019 I was an able bodied, full time working Mum to a very energetic 2-year-old boy and spent my spare time in the saddle riding my beautiful Welsh section D mare, Bubba. But in 2019, mine and my families’ lives were turned upside down when I became suddenly very unwell and was subsequently diagnosed with a complex neurological condition. I became fully dependant on a wheelchair, completely lost the use in my right-hand fingers and lost partial use in my wrist as well, started have seizures and began what would turn out to be an ongoing battle managing my many other debilitating symptoms. Initially I had to stop riding all together, due to the fact I was unable to even hold my own weight up in my chair, let along keep myself upright in the saddle. However, I always knew that sometime and somehow, I would ride again. In the meantime, I spent my time just sitting with my beautiful Bubba and cheeky miniature pony Loki, in their stables and enjoyed that feeling of being there with them. A matter of months after I became unwell was when I met Maggie from Wow saddles and we instantly connected as I told her my story and shared my desire to ride again. From this meeting on, we knew that getting me back in the saddle meant I needed to be getting back in the perfect saddle, perfect for both me and Bubba. Fast forward a couple of years and with the help of my incredibly supportive, and (luckily) physically strong husband Jon, I achieved my dream and started riding again. It felt like a long and slow process of me building strength and both Bubba and me relearning how to ride with the way my body had become, but 4 years on and we are now out regularly cross country jumping, long distance hacking and generally just loving the freedom that riding has given me back. I genuinely believe having a saddle made to measure, with support for me in exactly the right places, that fits Bubba perfectly, and having the ability to adjust the saddle as and when we need to, has played a big part in my journey to not only get back in the saddle, but to get to the point I am at today and to achieve what I have so far. Bubba and I have the most special partnership, with total trust in each other and just the right amount of sassy attitude to keep the spark there when we are out having fun, and we have our sights set on even more for the future. My long-term dream is to successfully compete in para show jumping and at least we will most definitely look the part in my beautiful saddle, complete with crystals and patterned leather that I of course needed to have.

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TESTIMONIALS

TESTIMONIALS FROM REAL, EVERY DAY RIDERS ALL OVER THE WORLD

Emma Louise Read

Gillian Higgins

Nikki Serge

Stephanie Jane Quintrell

Jackie Flynn

WOW EVENTS

WOW NEWS

Here's a peek of what's under your seat

First Thought Equine Wins Prestige Award 2025

Bare Bones of the Matter – Featuring WOW Saddles

Mid-September Shutdown Reminder

Inside the workshop [photos]

WOW AMBASSADORS

TRIED AND TRUSTED BY THE VERY BEST RIDERS