The Colne Team

	We are one of the largest Equestrian Retailers in South West England, operated by a keen riding family who understand the needs and demands of both rider and horse. Headed by Maurice Emtage, a former President of the Society of Master Saddlers (2002-03), our extensive experience allows us to give the best possible advice and products to our customers. We supply saddles, equestrian products as well as a complete saddle fitting service to people ranging from the every day recreational rider to the top level international sports men and women of all different disciplines. The Colne Team Maurice Emtage Maurice started Colne Saddlery with his father 40 years ago. The saddlery started by selling riding equipment to customers at the riding school which they ran. Maurice has a wealth of horse experience and knowledge, as he has been involved in the industry for a very long time. His personal horse riding acheivements were achieved in his youth as he show jumped to Grade A level, and enjoyed hunting and blood hounding. Maurice is a master saddler and a QSF. He has been on the executive commitee for many years and was the president in 2002/2003. Maurice has been involved in the formation of the saddle fitting course and is a regular assessor. Maurice has previously trained three apprentices and has just taken on another one for the millenium scheme. Maurice is also a liveryman on the worshipful company of saddles. Where ever possible he will support english made saddlery as he is a great believer in looking after the future of our trade in this country. Rob Biddlecombe Rob rode as an amateur National Hunt jockey for 4 years, and then a professional for 2 years, working for Nigel Twiston-Davies and his father and stepmother, Terry Biddlecombe and Heneritta Knight. Unfortunately Rob had to retire after battling with the scales constantly. He then trained at the saddlery training centre in Salisbury undertaking a four year apprenticeship which he completed to become a qualified saddler in bridle, saddle, and harness making. In 2009 Rob became a qualified 'society of master saddlers saddle fitter'. Rob is a master saddler and a saddle fitter, which gives him the ability to make saddle adjustments on site. Rob splits his time between being at the bench in our workshop, running the trade stand and fitting and selling saddles. Gemma Biddlecombe Gemma has grown up with Colne Saddlery, (literally) as she is Maurice's daughter and is married to Rob. She has a Bsc in Anatomical Science, graduated from Bristol Univeristy, and then a post graduate diploma in animal manipulation from the Mictimoney college of Chiropratics. She also worked for 5 years as a racing secretay for National Hunt trainer Nigel Twiston Davies, and now runs the office admin for the company. Gemma has grown up with horses, and has evented up to intermediate level, and ridden point to pointing. Sarah Glynn Sarah is the manager of our shop based in Gloucester, and not only does she oversee the running of the shop but also takes part in the organising and running of the trade stand. Sarah is a fully qualified riding instructor, who has previously owned a riding school for over 20 years, where she taught children and adults of all levels. Sarah is also hugely involved in the world of showing and has competed at county level for 25 years, with numerous wins including Horse of the Year Show, and The Royal International. Sarah specilises in show cobs and coloureds and has produced and sold countless horses from happy hackers to high level competition horses. Ellie Caisley Ellie is currently doing her apprenticeship with Colne Saddlery as well as working full time at the shop in Gloucester and at the work shop based in Kineton. Ellie also works at all the Colne Saddlery trade stands which run throughout the spring and summer all over the country. Ellie completed her degree in Equine Buisness Managment in 2010 from Hartpury College and has extensive equine knowledge in all fields. She has owned and competed her own horse Dolly in many disciplines. Ellie has also achieved her BHS stages 1 and 2. Katie Evans Katie works between the shop based in Gloucester, the work shop in Kineton, and this show season Katie will also be helping out on some of the trade stands. Katie completed her degree in Equine Sports Science at Hartpury College in 2009. She also has her BHS stages 1, 2 and PTT, and is now studying to become an animal physiotherapy with The College of Animal Physiotherapy. Katie has owned her own horses from a young age, and enjoys taking part in all disciplines from hunting to dressage. Katie has evented to pre-novice level and has trained on a professional dressage yard for two years, training to medium level. Heidi Tilley Heidi works part time in our shop based in Gloucester. Heidi has always owned and competed her own horses in all disciplines. Heidi has hunted for over 20 years and was the hunt groom for the Cotswold for 5 consecutive seasons. She also has a Diploma in Stud management and has worked at the National Stud based in Newmarket.

We are one of the largest Equestrian Retailers in South West England, operated by a keen riding family who understand the needs and demands of both rider and horse.

Headed by Maurice Emtage, a former President of the Society of Master Saddlers (2002-03), our extensive experience allows us to give the best possible advice and products to our customers.

We supply saddles, equestrian products as well as a complete saddle fitting service to people ranging from the every day recreational rider to the top level international sports men and women of all different disciplines.

The Colne Team

Maurice Emtage

Maurice started Colne Saddlery with his father 40 years ago. The saddlery started by selling riding equipment to customers at the riding school which they ran. Maurice has a wealth of horse experience and knowledge, as he has been involved in the industry for a very long time. His personal horse riding acheivements were achieved in his youth as he show jumped to Grade A level, and enjoyed hunting and blood hounding.

Maurice is a master saddler and a QSF. He has been on the executive commitee for many years and was the president in 2002/2003. Maurice has been involved in the formation of the saddle fitting course and is a regular assessor. Maurice has previously trained three apprentices and has just taken on another one for the millenium scheme. Maurice is also a liveryman on the worshipful company of saddles. Where ever possible he will support english made saddlery as he is a great believer in looking after the future of our trade in this country.

Rob Biddlecombe

Rob rode as an amateur National Hunt jockey for 4 years, and then a professional for 2 years, working for Nigel Twiston-Davies and his father and stepmother, Terry Biddlecombe and Heneritta Knight. Unfortunately Rob had to retire after battling with the scales constantly. He then trained at the saddlery training centre in Salisbury undertaking a four year apprenticeship which he completed to become a qualified saddler in bridle, saddle, and harness making. In 2009 Rob became a qualified 'society of master saddlers saddle fitter'. Rob is a master saddler and a saddle fitter, which gives him the ability to make saddle adjustments on site. Rob splits his time between being at the bench in our workshop, running the trade stand and fitting and selling saddles.

Gemma Biddlecombe

Gemma has grown up with Colne Saddlery, (literally) as she is Maurice's daughter and is married to Rob. She has a Bsc in Anatomical Science, graduated from Bristol Univeristy, and then a post graduate diploma in animal manipulation from the Mictimoney college of Chiropratics. She also worked for 5 years as a racing secretay for National Hunt trainer Nigel Twiston Davies, and now runs the office admin for the company. Gemma has grown up with horses, and has evented up to intermediate level, and ridden point to pointing.

Sarah Glynn

Sarah is the manager of our shop based in Gloucester, and not only does she oversee the running of the shop but also takes part in the organising and running of the trade stand. Sarah is a fully qualified riding instructor, who has previously owned a riding school for over 20 years, where she taught children and adults of all levels. Sarah is also hugely involved in the world of showing and has competed at county level for 25 years, with numerous wins including Horse of the Year Show, and The Royal International. Sarah specilises in show cobs and coloureds and has produced and sold countless horses from happy hackers to high level competition horses.

Ellie Caisley

Ellie is currently doing her apprenticeship with Colne Saddlery as well as working full time at the shop in Gloucester and at the work shop based in Kineton. Ellie also works at all the Colne Saddlery trade stands which run throughout the spring and summer all over the country. Ellie completed her degree in Equine Buisness Managment in 2010 from Hartpury College and has extensive equine knowledge in all fields. She has owned and competed her own horse Dolly in many disciplines. Ellie has also achieved her BHS stages 1 and 2.

Katie Evans

Katie works between the shop based in Gloucester, the work shop in Kineton, and this show season Katie will also be helping out on some of the trade stands. Katie completed her degree in Equine Sports Science at Hartpury College in 2009. She also has her BHS stages 1, 2 and PTT, and is now studying to become an animal physiotherapy with The College of Animal Physiotherapy. Katie has owned her own horses from a young age, and enjoys taking part in all disciplines from hunting to dressage. Katie has evented to pre-novice level and has trained on a professional dressage yard for two years, training to medium level.

Heidi Tilley

Heidi works part time in our shop based in Gloucester. Heidi has always owned and competed her own horses in all disciplines. Heidi has hunted for over 20 years and was the hunt groom for the Cotswold for 5 consecutive seasons. She also has a Diploma in Stud management and has worked at the National Stud based in Newmarket.

Last Updated: August 23, 2011

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