At Trilogy Saddles, President Debbie Witty hand-selects each Ambassador. These riders represent the very best in equestrian sport, with an emphasis on the welfare of the horse and the epitome of horse/rider partnership that our equipment stands for. We hope you enjoy reading about our Trilogy Ambassadors!

Trilogy Saddles Ambassador
Saddle: Talisman (eventing), Verago (dressage)

Eventer and South African transplant Kate Gillespie says she’s been inspired by several strong women in her life. “My mom is my number one supporter, both emotionally and financially. She’s behind me in this riding thing 100%, and she’s bankrolled more than a few of my stupid ideas,” laughs Gillespie; she says her mom bought her very first pony, one that ‘tried to kill her’ on more than a few occasions as they went flying around the local fields.

Another of Gillespie’s inspirations is top rider Shannon Peters. “She’s the person I would like to be. Phenomenal rider, and she loves her horses. It doesn’t matter what people think, it’s not about the competition nor the money, she always puts the horses first.”

Putting the horses first also happens in Gillespie’s barn, and she’s got strong opinions about how to stay safe out on the course, for herself and the horse. “Your flatwork is huge. You’ve got to have the basics and the control, or what’s the point?” she asks. “People are getting hurt and killed by the day; it’s not worth my safety nor that of my horse. A lot of people like to push it, but something I learned from Shannon is that if the control isn’t there, you have to take a step back.”

Still, she agrees it’s hard to pull up when you’re going cross country. “You always think it will get better, that the stride will come. But, if you don’t have your stride in by jump number six, you should go home,” she advises.

Safety is one of the reasons Gillespie likes her Trilogy Talisman saddle for jumping. “I’ve ridden saddles where it felt like you were flying around on a pancake,” she says. “The Talisman is very easy to get in and out of. It’s got a big, flat seat, and I can stand up and gallop and then go down a bank or staircase. I can easily go from one position to another, if need be.”

Gillespie says she also likes the Trilogy quality, in terms of both workmanship and customer service. “It’s all nice, good soft leather,” she says. “For jumping and cross country, we don’t want our saddles super-clean; you want it a little grimy and sticky. Still, I try to keep the leather healthy; I use a glycerine soap every three or four days, and oil it once every two months. And Debbie stands behind her work, and her workers; they will bend over backwards to make things right.”

One of her saddles developed a squeak, and Gillespie says Trilogy President Debbie Witty offered to take the whole thing apart to find the offending noise. “It sounded like I was squashing a small beast,” she laughs. “I ended up oiling it and it was fine, but if there’s a problem, they’ll come right away. I have a bunch of friends at the barn, people who are also using the saddles, and it’s the same for them. Trilogy’s customer service and quality are beyond compare.”

While she says cross country is ‘worth getting up for in the morning’ and admits she can get ‘kind of’ driven, Gillespie says she often battles with discipline just like anyone else. “When everyone’s out having a good time, it’s hard to go home, or to go to the gym after 12 hours at the barn. But, it shouldn’t be your horse’s responsibility to pack your chunky butt around. You have to have the fitness and the cardio, especially for three-day.”

Despite sometimes uphill struggles in her career, Gillespie says her support network, and her saddles, have made a big difference. “If you get a bad saddle, you don’t ride as well as you can. But when you ride on your Trilogy, you think ‘hey, I’m not as bad as I thought.’ It makes you feel like a superstar.”

While she’s not yet where she wants to be, Gillespie’s feeling like anything’s possible these days. “You have to put in the work, nothing comes easy and it’s been a long, hard road,” she says. “But, I say if you can dream it, then do it!”