PBLC Products.
“I’ll be blunt… everything broke and nothing works long term, so we had to build better gear. We did just that.” - Pete Breidahl, BPLC saddle maker.
After 780 days on the road we found the limits of all our gear, and we knew that if we were to continue long riding we couldn’t rely on other peoples stuff any longer. We had to build better, lighter, and in such a way that if it were to break, it could easily be repaired on the road. We did that, and after another 120 days on the road testing our new gear on multiple horses, we found it had virtually no wear, and was absolutely perfect for a life on the road. We have since refined it further, and continue to with each and every subsequent adventure. The gear we sell, is exactly the same as the gear we use, and its made with great care from the best raw materials money can buy. Now, with constant requests for new designs, we make pretty much anything folks ask for!
Gear inspired by adventure, and built to last forever!
Why choose our saddles?
Why choose our saddles?
Pete became a saddle maker for one simple reason… saddles follow FASHION NOT FIT. Worse still, innovation is ignored in preference for tradition. As a result, Pete decided to throw out all the rules and just make saddles that follow the 9 principals of saddle fit to the letter, and encourage the horse to carry itself and its rider as efficiently as possible. By using carbon fibre skins over a foam body, BPLC saddles are made to fit both rider and horse as close to perfectly as possible. BUT… we can never forget that we are trying to fit two asymmetrical creatures to one another, both who constantly change shape throughout the course of the year and a long ride. As a result, they have an open shoulder to encourage dynamic movement without restrictions, a wide channel flared at the rear to protect the spine, and are clear of the withers not just on top, but on the sides too. Most importantly they are comfortable on LONG rides, and are easily shimmed and adjusted by a competent rider making them without a doubt the best choice for a rider wanting to ride “self contained” off a single horse.
If more suitable gear was out there… we would be using it ourselves.
How do make it fit my horse?
First things first. You need to understand that horses are all a little uneven, often with a larger left shoulder, or with unevenness in the rear end that will cause a saddle to slip. People are also uneven, and both constantly change with the seasons, fitness, diet and of course injury. It’s one thing to measure a horses back and build a saddle that fits beautifully, but it can STILL be incorrectly fitted by the rider, or the rider and or horse can change shape. As a result, our saddles are each made to fit the horse as accurately as possible, but also designed to be shimmed on the road and at home as the horse and you change shape.
When ordering a BPLC saddle, we first have a good chat as too if one of our saddles will be a good fit for you. If so, we post out a saddle fitting tool, or get you to purchase one locally, and fit it to your horse. We request a heap of photos and some measurements to accompany the tool thats then sent back to us here in Bavaria. From here we build a saddle designed to fit you and your horse as closely as possible, with the option for it to be adjusted easily on the road.
Frequently asked questions?
Isn’t the sheepskin too hot in summer? - Absolutely not! Its cool!
What happens if the sheep skin gets wet? - Dry it! Or cover it!
How much do they weigh? - The weight varies, but a completed saddle inc girths, stirrups, pads and sheepskin cover is between 3-5kg “6-10lb”
Can I just buy a bare saddle? - No, they are built to work as a complete package including the girth. The more you mess with it, the more likely it is not to fit the horse correctly, but you can easily swap stirrups.
Isn’t carbon fibre too slippery? - Not with the sheepskin cover.
How strong are they? - They are STRONGER than a normal saddle weighing 3 x as much! They float, have zero twist, and need no cleaning.
Can I swim my horse in one? - YES! ride in the ocean, clean with a hose!
How long do they take to make? - Only 8 weeks, unless we’re riding.
BPLC “Long Rider” saddles.
Gen II - Pack saddle conversion. 650€ + tax
Gen VII - “Long Rider” saddle with conversion. 3000€ + tax
Gen VII - “Long Rider” saddle. 2350€ + tax
Gen VII - “Long Rider” saddle with bags. 2700€ + tax
BPLC Classic Saddles.
Gen I - “Hybrid Dressage” saddle. From 2000€ + tax
Gen III - “Ultra Light” saddle. From 2000€ + tax
Gen I - “Barrel Racer” saddle. From 2100€ + tax
Gen IV - “Trail” saddle. From 1900€ + tax
Gen II - “Archery” saddle. From 1900€ +tax
Gen II - long rider “mule” saddle. From 2350€ + tax
Bare saddles, girths, outdoor gear, etc… we make it all!
Bare saddles, girths, outdoor gear, etc… we make it all!
Our gear is designed as a modern take on the set up used by cavalry and mounted infantry such as the famous Australian “Light Horse”. Inspiration has also been drawn heavily from the Wehrmacht “German Army of WWII” which was primarily horse drawn or mounted. The saddle opposite is an example from which many of our designs come from, though ours are some 20kg lighter!
You can gallop with it, climb hills and mountains, and live wild and free causing the least amount of harm possible to your equine. Make no mistakes about it, we have 100% done what we say we have, and its these adventures that have refined our gear. We have failed constantly, always striving to improve the way we ride and live while sleeping “rough” beside our horses. If theres a better way to do anything… we will adopt it immediately and we have been doing that since we first set off in 2019. We have refined and improved the way we ride, and the gear we carry to such a point we can now live effortlessly off a single horse each. Whatever you need, we can supply the lot on request; everything from a custom made carbon fibre saddle and bags, to Biothane tethers and hobbles. Just ask, and we can built it.
Equipment.
Saddle bags. Shelters and Bivis. Tethers, hobbles and any type of custom job.
Mohair girths. Wild skins. Custom blankets for long rides.
