FOLLOWING on from a recent feature in these pages on sustainability in racing and equestrianism, it seems pertinent to point out that Lucy Cushley, ‘The Irish Saddler’, last month won the President’s Choice Class at the Society of Master Saddlers’ prestigious national saddlery competition in Saddlers’ Hall, London.

Last August, members of the Society were tasked by then president Helen Reader to make any leather item – decorative, ornamental or practical – using 60% recycled/repurposed leather. Lucy’s exhibit, a turtle, was made from two old saddles and a cart saddle top with pieces of old wire fencing, three new screws, new upholstery pins – and one plastic straw (in the turtle’s mouth).

“Leather is reusable, recyclable, repairable and biodegradable but plastic is decidedly not,” says Lucy. “Using plastic has become a massive problem, especially the impact it’s having on our oceans. This plastic straw will still exist in a hundred years’ time, let’s make sure turtles will too.”

While Lucy regularly visits Britain for training and to undertake further qualifications, it was good for her to have a little social break in London as she had an extremely busy end to 2022 with Christmas fairs and Christmas commissions as well as having to deal with the officialdom of CPDs and SEOs. Now back in harness, so to speak, at her Killinchy workshop, Lucy is currently working on a commisson for driving bridles.