Our Story

The Quantum Saddle was the idea of Andrew Stockford. Andrew was an extreme sports fanatic involved in skiing, skydiving, canoeing, rock climbing and ice climbing. In all of these sports Andrew was used to dealing with high-tech equipment where the use of modern materials is commonplace, due to their minimal weight yet significant strength.

Andrew’s day job was running the family business of Quay Equestrian and therefore he regularly came into contact with horses and saddles. He was amazed to discover the technique of making saddles has not changed significantly in over 200 years.

As a result, he parcelled up a traditional saddle and posted it to industrial designers, Seymour Powell, with the comment “We should be able to do better than this.”.

This was in 1999! Quantum Saddle was born.

Development of Quantum AMS

Seymour Powell leapt at the idea and a team was assembled to take the development of the saddle forward. The team consisted of Andrew Stockford (Quantum Saddle), Dick Powell and Dan Walker (Seymour Powell), Colin Jaggard (equestrian expert), Robert Uings (ARRK), Jez Smith and Andy Bathe (Cambridge Veterinary Practice).

The first stage of the design was to understand the many roles a saddle has to perform, and to establish the stresses and forces it must deal with.

ARRK (formerly MSX), industrial engineers, were instructed to thoroughly analyse the performance characteristics of a traditional saddle. From these results the Quantum AMS was designed and engineered.

Initial prototypes were tested for pressure distribution, tested to establish the best materials, tested to improve the horse’s freedom, and tested to destruction to ensure the materials and design could withstand the rigours of the most extreme riding.

The results were very impressive, with the improvement in load distribution having a noticeable affect on the horse and the horse’s performance.

Once the engineering design had been finalised it was then necessary to make the product look fantastic. With expert guidance from Master Saddler, Patrick Keane, at Patrick Saddlery we have blended the ultra modern with a very high quality leather finish to create what we believe is a world beating saddle.

The Quantum AMS Saddle is the result of much trial and testing and we believe it will bring the concept of the saddle into the 21st Century and will enable you and your horse to perform to your best.