To check your tree for soundness hold the pommel against your stomach. Hold the cantle in both hands and see if the saddle makes nasty squeaking or grating noises. It sould have some give in it, but quietly. Next hold the cantle in your belly, grasp the pommel either side and try to move the two sides in and out, again there should be silence and NO movement at all. If you are unsure give it to the saddler to check.

I'm training to become a saddler and the tack that some people bring to the workshop terrifies me! The worst is literally stuck together with packing tape and rivets - and people stake their lives on it.

When buying tack - new or second-hand - check the quality of the leather. It should not look or feel "cardboardy" or flakey. It should be smooth and consistent in texture and thickness, with no ragged edges. Cheap tack is cheap because it's made of second-rate materials. It won't last as long as better quality tack.

Hand-stitched tack is always going to be stronger than machine-stitched because the thread, in hand stitching, goes through the leather completely. The more stitches to the inch, the better. A beautiful, hand-stitched bridle might have up to 15 sts/inch. Strong driving harness might have 7 or 8 sts/inch. Tack that's hand-made and fitted for your horse or pony will last a long time, fit well and is an investment in safety and comfort - and may cost less than you imagine.