Ringoes, NJ (September 23, 2011) – Skylands Saddlery, a full service tack shop specializing in the dressage horse and rider, has been named the United States distributor of Hennig Saddles. These saddles are made by innovative Master Saddler Jochen Hennig, and are considered my many to be the best saddles in the world. Located in Ringoes, New Jersey, Skylands Saddlery is pleased to offer this superior saddle.
Ronni Blasz, President of Skylands Saddlery, is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to carry the saddles and looks forward to expanding the reach within the marketplace. “I think it is a wonderful saddle,” Blasz said. “The quality, innovation and amount of customization that can be done is amazing. To the best of my knowledge, the Hennig is more customizable than the majority of the saddles in the marketplace today.”
Blasz is a big fan of the Hennig saddles and said her goal is to introduce more riders to the brand. With a master’s degree from NYU, Blasz worked for Merrill Lynch for over a decade. At the time she was awarded the title, she was the youngest director at the firm of 50,000 employees. It’s that kind of tenacity and determination that Blasz brings to Skylands Saddlery and that she will incorporate in becoming a Hennig distributor and fitter.
Skylands Saddlery will offer two levels of customization and several “a la carte” options in between. “For now, we can call them custom 1 and custom 2,” Blasz said. “Custom 1 will include numerous custom features for the horse and rider. Custom 2, the level of customization that occurs when Hennigs are sold in Europe, is unbelievable. Examples of these customizations include tracing the legs to determine the exact placement of the thigh blocks and modifying the tree mold so that it matches the horse’s back perfectly. The custom 1 saddles will take 6 to 8 weeks from measurement to delivery, while the custom 2 will take 8 to 12 weeks.”
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Blasz said she is currently examining the pricing structure of the Hennig Saddles and is hoping to be able to reduce the price, despite with the current conversion rate. “My goal is to ensure that the purchase and maintenance will be as affordable as possible,” Blasz said. “There are several prices I’ve already changed with regard to the Hennig, but the rest will be a more challenging but necessary exercise given the current economic conditions at home and abroad.”
Blasz considers Skylands Saddlery unusual in that it is a full service tack shop, and has a full time on-staff saddle fitter. “Many of the tack shops and catalogs currently in existence have decided to stick with low end or ‘stock’ saddles because they do not have the expertise,” she said. Blasz explained the complexity associated with making, measuring for, and servicing Hennig Saddles. “It is very important to know what is on top of and ‘under the hood’ when purchasing a saddle,” she said. “No saddle works for every horse and rider, and even when the tree is adjustable, that is only one piece of the puzzle.”
Blasz has been trained by numerous saddle masters, but she feels that the learning never stops and continues to train on a regular basis. When a client wants to purchase a saddle, Blasz works with the rider and their horse to develop the right solution for them. Riders are welcome and encouraged to visit Skylands to talk about their saddle needs. “Our staff is comprised of knowledgeable and experienced horse people all of whom are currently active in the horse community. We are ready and eager to guide our clients in the selection of products and services for them and their horses. When it comes to customer service, I really believe the saddle fitting component of the equation is critical and I will be partnering with local saddle fitters and building a network in an effort to offer superior levels of service.”
Skylands Saddlery’s stock usually contains between 60 and 80 new and used saddles, including dressage jumping, all-purpose and more. Skylands also carries a complete line of bridles and accessories. New saddles typically include Schleese, Hennig, Passier and Luc Childeric Saddles. Used include all makes and models. For more info on Skylands Saddlery, or Hennig Saddles, visit http://www.skylands-saddlery.com.
