VIP Ambassadors
Weerapat 'Bomb' Pitakanonda
Weerapat ‘Bomb’ Pitakononda is the first Thai rider to qualify for an Olympic Games
“The amazing thing about this wonderful VIP Saddle Pad , It stays so firm under a saddle, even when my horse is galloping in the XC, it never moves or slips away.
The bobbles on the bottom side of the pad distributes the impact from a rider’s seat throughout a horse's back. So a horse’s muscles feel much more freedom and relax especially on the intensive training day.”
Anne Marie Dunphy
Anne Marie Dunphy is one of Ireland’s leading dressage riders and coaches.
Having worked in many aspects of the sport horse and thoroughbred industries before specialising in dressage, Anne Marie firmly believes in the importance of good flatwork training in producing top horses and riders across all the equestrian disciplines. Her early experience working in various areas of equestrian sport, coupled now with her knowledge of top level dressage, brings a unique dimension to both her riding and coaching.
Alongside competing her horses up to Grand Prix level, Anne Marie coaches riders from grass roots level to International High Performance. Her clients include amateur riders wishing to improve their skills alongside many of Ireland's most successful dressage, show jumping and eventing riders, from pony, junior and young riders through to the senior professional ranks. Her work as HSI High Performance Youth Dressage Manager and coach to the South East Region Dressage Ireland Youth Development Programme outlines her commitment to the development of the sport amongst youth athletes.
Abdilkadir ÖZTÜRK
Abdilkadir ÖZTÜRK is a Dressage rider with a dual nationality.
He is eligible to compete for Turkey and France. Abdilkadir was born and raised in France. He has always represented Turkey in international competition. His life is dedicated to her horses and the dressage sport. After validating studies in Finance, Abdilkadir continued his childhood dream in equestrian sport, more precisely in dressage.
“ I met the VIP thanks to Amanda and her team. With a simple try in order to get feedback, I immediately adopted the VIP with my horses. The all important close contact I have between my saddle ans the horse is not compromised in any way. Thanks to the choice of colors, there is always a VIP to match my pad of the day. The VIP is ultra light with very good absorption. Trying it is really adopting it. We can't do without it!
Sam Griffiths
Sam Griffiths was a member of the Australian Team who won Bronze Medal and was 4th individually at the Rio Olympics 2016.
Sam is the 2014 Badminton winner and has represented Australia in both the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA 2010 and the London 2012 Olympics. He and the fantastic Paulank Brockagh have just been named for the squad for the 2018 World Equestrian Games. This spring he won the international CIC3* at Arville in Belgium with Gurtera Cher.
About the VIP...
With its excellent ‘second skin’ like feel and use of proven materials, the VIP Original has become a super additional piece of kit to use on a wide range of my horses for all the disciplines of three day eventing. I hardly notice when the horse is wearing it. The all important close contact connection I have between my saddle and the horse is not compromised in any way. The VIP is an exciting and innovative product with its success being a reflection of the extensive research and attention to detail that has gone into creating it.
LARA EDWARDS (NEE DYSON)
Lara is an International Dressage rider and breeder from Lincolnshire. She is a winner of numerous regional and national titles on her own KWPN approved stallions and home-bred horses which she takes great pride in breaking and producing. Lara is a mother of two young children and she also works part time for a housing company.
About the V.I.P...
Prior to this pad being available I always used a sheepskin underneath my saddle on Felix ( jazzed up - winner of 4 regional titles 2017) as his skin is so sensitive and any pads rubbed him raw over his back under the back of the saddle. Since using this pad not only has the rubbing completely stopped, the saddle doesn’t slip forward and he’s so much looser through his shoulders! As well as being so much better for him as the sweat can be wiped off the pad so everyday it’s clean as opposed to the sheepskin one which was washed twice a week but still you feel isn’t 100% clean everytime.
Heike Holstein
Heike Holstein is Irish International Dressage Rider. member of the first Irish team to qualify for an Olympic Games in the discipline of Dressage.
“The VIP pad is very well designed, well made and fits my saddle perfectly”
Bill Levett
Bill Levett is an International Australian Event Rider.
“We’ve used the VIP pads for the last two seasons and I’ve found them to be highly effective in helping to manage the niggles that come with horses competing at the top level and also a useful aid particularly with sensitive horses when breaking them in.”