CHILDERIC SADDLES - Key Persons


ANDREW REED

Job Titles:
  • OFFICE MANAGER
Andrew joins Team Childeric as Office Manager, a key supporting role to Tricia and the rest of the team. Based in the North East of England Andrew's work roll encompasses various aspects of the business, the most important being that of supporting role to ensure that we have an efficient, professional operation. Andrew is a point of contact for any matters of concern and believes that customers satisfaction a very important part of our work, if there is ever an area of concern then he endeavours to resolve it to the customer's satisfaction. Andrew has had an interest in riding from a very early age and likes to spend most of his spare time eventing. This year having qualified for the Badminton Grassroots Championships being his most successful achievement to date. More recently Andrew has taken up running and has competed two Great North Run half marathons and is currently training for a full marathon.

Chloe Astill

Chloe has been extremely lucky to work with multiple industry professionals and has also run a small, successful event yard at her home base where she has evented both her own and owner's horses up to CCI4*S. Eventing has been Chloe's passion and she feels very lucky to have been able to mould a career within the sport. Chloe has retrained multiple racehorses from the Alan and Anne Potts Syndicate (owners of the "Sizing" horses). She has chosen to keep "Sizing Gold" which she is am aiming to still compete at grassroots BE level. Her former Advanced event horse is now enjoying his later years competing at Elementary level British Dressage with Regional qualifications in their sights. Whilst managing her own and others horses to the highest level of the sport, Chloe has found it to be paramount that you know that your saddlery equipment is to a high standard across the board - which is when she came across Childeric. Most recently, Chloe has worked for a reputable feed company (Blue Chip Feeds) as part of their sales team. This has allowed her to offer a high level of guidance and support to a variety of customers which she aims to bring with her to Childeric.

Elliott Reeves

Elliott joined Team Childeric initially as the Showjumping specialist but has since taken over the Ireland business. With his wealth of knowledge and experience in the sport, he will be able to deliver a bespoke and trustworthy service to both horse and rider. Elliott started Showjumping competitively in his early teens, going on to jump in the UK on the National and International circuit. He has results up to 1.50m including Young Rider classes and was clear and placed in the infamous Hickstead Speed Derby in 2014. In 2017 Elliott made the decision to sell his string of horses in the UK and make the move to Australia to travel and ride. His success most certainly continued down under, winning numerous Grand Prix's, and jumping clear in his first World Cup Qualifier. A highlight for Elliott was placing 6th in the Australian Senior Title and gaining his full MER qualification for Tokyo 2020. ​Elliott has always loved the education of young horses and training riders through the levels, finding great satisfaction in their progress. He is very excited to be able share his knowledge of saddle fitting with riders of all disciplines throughout Ireland.

Helen Dunning

Based in the North of England, Helen covers the Northern counties, Scotland and North Wales. Helen has a long and glittering equestrian career that goes all the way back to starting out as a show rider with Team Hollings, where highlights included HOYS and The Royal International. From there Helen made the switch to eventing, where she went on to represent Great Britain on numerous occasions. First up was at Necarne Castle in 2006 with Bletchendon Fanfare, then onto the National Pony Championships with Glenayre Bay Surf in 2007 and 2008. The same year saw Helen finish 10th at the European Championships held in Avenches, Switzerland.

Jess Bracegirdle

Jess rode when she was younger and went on to work for Charlie Hills for several years. Jess joined the Childéric UK team as Personal Assistant/Driver to Tricia, following moving in with her partner. Jess now ensures that the team is organised and enables Tricia to respond to clients whilst on the move.

Katie Eaton


Michelle Blake

Michelle met Tricia in 2014 when she was working as a Dressage rider for Prestige Liveries based at Kilbees Farm in Windsor, and she's ridden in Childeric ever since! Soon after, Michelle joined Team Childeric on a more permanent basis and covered the South and South East area from 2015 to 2019 before taking some time out to start a family. Fast forward a year and she's back as part of the team and will resume looking after part of the Home Counties, South and South East. Michelle started riding at age 3 and has worked in the equine industry for over 15-years. Her passion for dressage started at a young age with ponies, whilst training with Ian Woodhead. Michelle moved up through the levels, competing at Prix St George level as a Young Rider. Michelle started her professional riding career as a working pupil for Ferdi Eilberg and has been lucky enough to work for, and train with, several Olympic riders and top trainers within the sport. Perry, the rather handsome orange pony, has been with Michelle since a 5-year-old and is currently competing a Small Tour level and is working towards Grand Prix. Together they have had many successes at Regional and National Championship level.

Tricia Bracegirdle

Tricia became the UK distributor for Childéric Saddles in 2010 and is now director of Childéric Saddles UK and her newly formed business CHILDÉRIC Saddles Ireland. She is by Tomé ans age the Senior Saddles Specialist! Tricia covers the South West, West Midlands solely ans Supports her team throughout the UK. Tricia has a marketing background outside the sector. She has competed to Intermediate level eventing, kept horses, and ran her own yard, for many years. Having worked in the equine business sector for the past 20-years, Tricia understands the pressures of being a being a rider looking to succeed and being a working mother. Qualifying for the Gatcombe Novice Championships (The Festival of British Eventing) was a personal milestone and to finish without disaster was the icing on the cake. Dissatisfied with the security offered by the saddle she was using at the time, Tricia set about finding a new saddle which led to a career change and then later meeting Luc...the rest is history, so they say. Tricia lives in Oxfordshire and has a team of experienced Childéric Saddle Specialists, distribution, marketing, and PR people working with her. Tricia is a hands-on horsewoman who takes a holistic and synergistic approach to saddle fitting, sales, and customer service, but there is no hard sell - that's one thing she is insistent upon with all her team.