About Tessa

Tessa’s first love is eventing having competed up to intermediate level in the past. These days she is happy competing at BE90 level with her beloved Irish Sports horse, Pepper. She has also competed at affiliated dressage and show jumping as well as county level showing so has a broad range of knowledge in all of these disciplines. She also can be regularly seen volunteering at BE events around the South East either in cross country control or fence judging.

Tessa and Martyn James (former owner of Penfolds Saddlery) first met when training as saddlers at Cordwainer’s Technical College back when it was based in Hackney in the East End of London. She briefly had her own saddlery shop before joining Martyn in 1986 as a saddler to Penfolds six months after he purchased the business. With Martyn now choosing to take early retirement, this has given Tessa the opportunity to set up on her own as a mobile saddle fitter, visiting yards to assess and adjust the fit of existing saddles as well as supplying a range of good quality second hand saddles.

Having worked at Penfolds for well over thirty years Tessa has an enviable knowledge of the saddle makes and models on the market now as well as all the different options of extras that are available to order.

Tessa is also able to offer a full saddle repair service.