The Story and inspiration behind the brand
meet the maker
Hi! I'm Ainsley
Every piece is made by hand, here in Ottawa - and this whole thing started with a love of horses, equestrian life, and working with my hands.
Equestrian life truly is a world of its own. I fell for it as a kid, and never grew out of it.
For me, that world is made up of the little things - the smell of fresh hay and a clean tack room, the freedom of a long hack, the feeling of a big open canter. But mostly it's the quiet moments: standing beside your horse while it grazes, listening to it chew. Or your grooming routine that's become meditative in its own way. I love the sound of hooves on gravel, and the feeling a soft nuzzle against your hand in search of a carrot.
It's the fashion, too. Tall boots polished to a shine, paired with an old chore coat worn soft at the elbows. A wild rag knotted loose and faded from the sun, broken-in leather gloves tucked into a coat pocket. Equestrian style has always been effortless and classic, all at once.
And underneath all of it, there's the work - the early mornings, the mud, the bugs. It's the first sip of cold water after a hard ride, and the glass of champagne after a good round at a show. But under even that, it's the dedication of caring for another living soul.
Because that's what this world really is, beneath the beauty: care, and the ancient connection between horses and people. Horses are magic - sensitive and bold and strong, all at once. And they've stood beside us for thousands of years. I wanted to build something that's part of that world.
The philosophy
Made for the long ride
Leather is the material of the horse world, and always has been. It's walked alongside us just as long as the horses have. I love it because it's honest - it doesn't hide a scratch or a crease, it wears them like proof of a life actually lived. It takes wear and tear and grows more beautiful for it.
Inspired by classic equestrian style, and traditional tack - saddles that mold to riders, bridles that soften with use -Saddle & Roam goods are made to be lived with. They're crafted to take on the marks of daily use, and become unmistakably yours.
materials and making
the best materials
It only works, though, if the materials hold up their end. Leather should age well. Solid brass should patina, not peel. Materials matter here.
The leather I use is vegetable-tanned: a responsibly sourced by-product of the meat industry, made with natural, plant-based tannins drawn from tree bark and other vegetation. It's better for the environment and the people who produce it, and it's this tanning process that gives the leather that well-worn, old friend kind of feeling. Every buckle and rivet is solid brass, so it patinas with age instead of peeling like plated hardware.
Each piece is designed and made in small batches, right here in Ottawa. After that, it's out of my hands. The scratches, the softness, the story, the long ride, that part's yours now.