Professional Memberships

A Qualified Fitter member must pass the Society of Master Saddlers Qualified (Saddle or Bridle) Fitting Assessment and derive most of their business from the fitting and provision of saddles or bridles. Saddle Fitters must also hold the Society Flocking qualification, and both should have recourse to the services of a qualified (or higher) Saddler. The Fitter must have been training for at least one year, have all insurances in place, and be recommended by three SMS members.

The Society of Masters is a membership organization, a training provider, and an End-Point Assessor. Part of a long tradition of Guilds or Liveries going back to the 1100s, the SMS was started by and for a group of retailing Master Saddlers in 1966. It has since developed into an international organization representing not only retailers but individual craft saddlers and saddle and bridle fitters, as well as manufacturers and suppliers to the trade.

There are nearly 600 members in 15 different countries.