Award-winning saddler is on a mission to pass on knowledge to others.
Jan Guldborg has been named ETN/Society of Master Saddlers Bench Saddler of the Month for July/August.
The award, presented in conjunction with the Society of Master Saddlers, recognises those who uphold the highest standards of leathercraft skills.
About Jan Guldborg
The journey into saddlery wasn’t a conventional one for Jan Guldborg who is based in Tappernøje, Demark.
Having enjoyed making things from an early age, at 16 he trained as a blacksmith. He was also competing in dressage and eventing, and working as a riding instructor.
When he turned 18, Jan joined the Royal Danish Regiment of Hussars, a riding section within the Danish military, where he rose to the rank of sergeant major.
Alongside riding and instructing, his responsibilities included ensuring that all equipment was properly maintained. And it was here that his fascination with saddlery began.
“I became more and more interested in how the bridles, headcollars and harnesses were made, how the saddles fitted correctly, and how repairs could be carried out,” Jan recalls.
Curious about who would take over the regiment’s saddlery workshop once the current saddler retired, he posed the question to his major. The ensuing conversation set his new career in motion.
Fruitful travelling
Jan qualified as a Society of Master Saddlers Saddler in 2004. By now, aged 37, he had his own workshop while remaining employed as the main saddler in his regiment.
During the time, he qualified as a Society of Master Saddlers Harness Maker and Saddle Fitter.
“Once I’d decided I wanted to be a saddler, I started looking for an approved saddlery school programme because this kind of education didn’t - and still doesn’t - exist in Denmark,” says Jan.
“I wanted to learn from some of the very best; I found the Saddlery Training Centre in Salisbury and made contact with Mark Romain [who runs it].”
Together Jan and Mark found a way for the Royal Danish Regiment of Hussars to be approved as the place of learning for his apprenticeship.
So, for the next four years, Jan travelled back and forth between Denmark and the UK, learning the craft. He also used the opportunity to improve his English language skills - including saddlery terminology.
Training others and own business
By 2010, Jan had achieved Society of Master Saddlers Master Saddler status and went on to become an approved overseas master for apprentices. “It’s always been very important to me to be an overseas member of the Society of Master Saddlers,” he adds.
Over the years, Jan has trained four new qualified Saddlers within the regiment.
Since leaving the military in 2018, he’s worked full-time running his own saddlery business alongside his wife Tina who manages administration, marketing and their online shop.
Drum horses to disabled riders
The most rewarding part of being a saddler, says Jan, is working with saddles.
“Fitting a saddle to both horse and rider, ensuring comfort and performance is great,” he explains. “Designing and crafting custom saddles is another passion, from sketching the initial design to adding the finishing touches.”
Hand-stitching harnesses, bridles and other custom-made leatherwork is another area he enjoys. Some more unusual pieces of work include reconstructing historical harnesses for museums, crafting saddles for drum horses in his old regiment and designing assistive devices for disabled riders.
Awards and wise words
Jan won the Small Business Class at the Society of Master Saddlers National Competition in 2014. He’s also rightly proud of his apprentices, three of whom have also won awards at the ‘saddlery Oscars’ for their own work.
For those considering a career in saddlery, Jan advises: “You need to be interested in more than just the craft. Understanding horses, their movement, biomechanics and anatomy is essential, as the interaction between saddle, horse and rider is key.
“It’s also important to stay up-to-date with the latest research and developments in these areas.”
Beyond the workshop
Away from work, Jan enjoys hunting [shooting], training dogs and, of course, horses. He and Tina keep horses at their own yard, along with their two Labradors.
Though he has ridden a great deal in the past, back problems have forced Jan to stop. However, he remains deeply connected to the equestrian world thanks to his saddlery work and the couple’s own horses.
