New Saddles in an Old Market: AGM Saddlery’s Arrival
Submitted by: Equineglobe
Phone: 434-242-6697
Email Address: info(at)equineglobe.com
Date Added: 3/11/2010
In an old and competitive market like the saddle industry, newcomers are scarce and they rarely last long. The biggest saddle brands are the oldest saddle brands, the ones that have been bringing the same product to the equine community for decades or more. While tradition is great, saddleries seem to have forgotten that they owe their customers innovation and improvement above all else. No other industry gets away with resisting change; cars and computers have improved drastically over the years and it’s because those customers demand it. So should riders.
Imagine the collective surprise of the saddle industry at the arrival of AGM Saddlery and their new product line, which challenges the market to up their game. The buzz that surrounds AGM is mostly in regards to the way this saddlery stands apart from the rest, the way it takes the classical beauty of traditional saddlery and improves upon its quality, craftsmanship, and design. Is it true, though?
Vincent Eddahri, a native of France, is the AGM distributor for North America, his belief is that it is indeed. “AGM makes a product I use, a product the professionals and top riders in Europe use, and it’s finally a product that North America will be able to benefit from,” he says. “I want to bring the best of France to this side of the Atlantic to give our riders the same competitive edge.”
But new products should be considered closely. Each rider should take a good look at AGM in determining whether it is right for them, just as they do with any other brand. It’s the “getting to know you” process that the rider should always go through before investing in something this important to horse and rider wellness.
AGM, with roots in southwestern France, is in many ways is a classical European saddlery. Like any good saddlery, it is run by knowledgeable horsemen and leather crafters who combine many years of experience in designing and creating each product.
“It’s the craftsmanship that matters most in the making of a saddle,” says Eddahri. “AGM has proven that their saddles are built on strong, durable trees with only the best materials. How can anyone expect to win if their most important piece of equipment isn’t built the best it can be?”
However much the AGM saddles follow these standards of classical craftsmanship, it is a saddlery that also breaks the mold in several ways. “The saddles we offer are designed to improve upon those that have come before us,” Eddahri says. “Their designs are geared toward bettering horse and rider communication. This is reflected in slight changes that improve the rider’s body angles and increase the horse’s comfort. We welcome anyone interested to talk to us and find out about what each design offers and how it makes these saddles the best there is.” And as if to prove him right, several international riders in Germany, France, Finland, and the Netherlands have already been spotted competing in AGM saddles.
And as for customer service? “AGM is a company that is eager to please the rider,” says Eddahri with a nod. “We only hire sales representatives that know the saddles inside and out, and have experience in saddle-fitting to optimize the saddle’s fit for both horse and rider.” Their product line offers a wide range of seat widths, lengths, and depths, with seven different flap sizes from which to choose. For once a saddlery seems well-staffed as well; their representatives were eager to answer any and all questions and to explain every aspect of their product. At the moment these saddles are only available through Equineglobe Boutique.
Visit http://www.equineglobe.com/boutique.aspx
Erika Preve
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