About Us

A lifelong horsewoman, Anki fell in love with close contact saddles whilst working in France in the mid-nineties. Previously, she had ridden in bulkier German and English saddles that were popular with many British competition riders. She discovered riding in close contact saddles made it easy to be balanced, to deepen her leg position and also to feel more sensitively how the horse was moving underneath her.

She extensively researched the different French brands of close contact saddle and eventually settled on Butet; not only a beautifully crafted product, but a company that believed in providing a reliable back-up service to both her and her customers.

Anki has always been passionately interested in the rider’s position and balance, having been brought up at her parents’ training centre Waterstock, a mecca for world-class competitor riders from the sixties to the nineties. Like all the pupils at Waterstock, Anki spent many hours on the lunge, working on her position, learning the value of a well balanced and independent seat.

Simply, she says, if the rider is not balanced and able to follow the horse’s movement freely, their performance is going to be compromised, and you don’t win classes that way.

Although a major back injury cut her own competition career short, Anki still teaches and gets huge satisfaction from helping young riders. Sederholm quickly grew with Anki selecting other high quality products such as Dy’on bridles, Equifit boots and Flex-On Stirrups to complement the saddles that first caught her eye.

Anki always selects her staff from people who have been riders and competitors themselves, so they can advise customers from first hand experience. The whole team loves catching up with customers old and new, and takes particular pride in making the stand a beautiful and welcoming place to visit at shows.

 

Clare first met Anki in 1998, the day she first sat in a Butet saddle – needless to say, she bought the saddle! Eventing up to Advanced level, she hung up her competitive boots whilst completing a law degree. By chance, around about this time, she saw an advertisement to work for Sederholm and applied, becoming Office Manager and taking care of the general day to day running of the business, whilst Annika was busy bringing up her young family.

Several years on, Clare now shares the saddle fitting role with Anki as well as managing the repairs and alterations. Clare shares Anki’s obsession with rider balance – it goes without saying that the saddle must fit the horse, but the rider must be in great balance to be effective and allow the horse to do its job of jumping!

Clare is a familiar voice on the Eventing circuit, commentating on the cross country of many events from grassroots all the way up to Advanced level. She watches thousands of riders each year going cross country and sees (and talks about) the effects of rider balance – both good and bad!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sally is a well known face on the showjumping circuit, having previously competed, concentrating on producing and selling horses up to Foxhunter level.

She then worked at both Addington Manor and Quainton Stud, organising the shows and managing the office.

Following starting a family and welcoming Arthur into the world, she started working in the Sederholm office in March 2021. She now runs the Sederholm office and calmly and efficiently juggles the many roles that running the office entails. If you call or email the office it will usually be Sally who answers your enquiry and keeps the office running like clockwork!

 

 

 

 

 

Katie is a well known face in the showing world, being the daughter of the late, great Rory Gilsenan and as a successful competitor in her own right.

 

She started helping out on the Sederholm trade stand in 2021 and now assists Sally in the office a couple of afternoons a week. She’ll also be a regular feature at shows once again in 2022. She’s very knowledgable and always has some friendly advice to give and a broad smile!