Official FEI Saddle Partner
After years of positive work together on proactive, horse-first educational content, Bates Saddles are immensely proud to cement our relationship as the Official FEI Saddle Partner.
The Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) is the governing body of our equestrian community at all levels, encouraging best practice and good horsemanship world-wide.
This partnership celebrates our shared focus to provide educational building blocks to allow bonds between horse and rider to develop safely, especially under saddle.
Bates Saddles has enjoyed career-long partnerships with many elite riders including German Dressage legend Isabell Werth, pictured with Ron Bates.
“Horse saddles are considered the most important piece of tack, and a key concern of riders is often the impact that their saddle has on their riding,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus explained.
“Riders from all over the world have long relied on Bates Saddles unparalleled expertise to provide sound information on saddle related questions. So, we are extremely pleased to be partnering with them not just for the pride they take in delivering high quality saddlery, but also because horse welfare is always at the heart of their work. We know that it is these shared values that will help us both evolve and grow over the long term in this partnership.”
George Bates, founder of Bates Saddles
Founded by George Bates in 1934, Bates Saddles has passed down through generations of the Bates family and is today proudly run by George's great-granddaughters, Ellen and Emily. They inherited the company from their father Ron Bates, whose role as the Managing Director still keeps him heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the business.
The company’s guiding principle has always been horse welfare and comfort, as well as the strong belief that “comfortable horses perform better”.
As a saddler and experienced horseman, himself, Ron Bates pioneered much of the innovation in the brand, introducing various advancements, such as air cushions, plastic adjustable saddle trees, webbers, and movable blocks on saddles.
Ron’s legacy has been one of reimagining saddle functionality from the horse’s perspective, with his creative solutions becoming the industry benchmark for horse comfort under saddle. His work has also helped position Bates Saddles as a company with unparalleled competitive advantage in the industry.
Innovation has always been the name of the game, and the contribution Bates Saddles have made to the evolution of saddles over time has no comparison. The company’s reputation has been built on its creation of the first adjustable tree, adjustable knee rolls and adjustable girth systems, as well as pioneering changeable gullet plates, the sealed equestrian air cushion panel system, a riser system enabling panel customisation and the close contact adjustable stirrup bars.
Historical Bates Saddles advertising focusing on adjustability through innovation
"Under the governance of the FEI, equestrian sport has evolved over the years to an incredibly high standard of competition and professionalism,” Ron said.
“It is such a joy to collaborate with the FEI on all aspects of horse health around saddles, as an official supplier. It has been my experience that progress is driven through the exchange of knowledge and it is my hope that our collaboration will advance horse and rider happiness under saddle, around the world.
“As competitive standards reach ever new heights, we will leave no stone unturned in driving the future evolution of saddles to deliver on performance.”
As a saddlery company, Bates Saddles have also long been focused on education, not only through research and development, but in sharing what they know with as many equestrians as possible for the good of horses worldwide.
Brothers Ken and Ron Bates, keenly focused on innovation for horse comfort
It was this focus on education and horse welfare which first forged the partnership between the FEI and Bates Saddles, with the latter providing advice to the FEI’s online community, including:
- Checklist for buying a new saddle
- Does my saddle fit?
- Why is my saddle slipping?
- Does my saddle sit correctly?
- Is it me or my saddle?
- How to girth your saddle correctly?
"As my daughters start their equestrian journeys, I'm reminded of how steep the learning curve is for equestrians of all ages,”, Head of Product Innovation at Bates Saddles, Emily Bates said.
“It is rewarding to cultivate sound foundational guidance for riders wherever they are in their unfolding equestrian story. I consider it a huge privilege to form part of the FEI's trusted voice in creating a timeless resource on saddles across all disciplines and experience levels."
For more information on Bates Saddles prestigious partnerships, please visit the links below
