Household Cavalry Officer Sam wins top award for leather craft

Queen’s Household Cavalry Officer and former Brockenhurst College (@brockcollege) student, Sam Belasco, has won an award for upholding the highest standards in leather craft.

The Society of Master Saddlers and Equestrian Trade News jointly recognised the one-time Level 3 Public Services student’s work with the honour recently.

Sam, a keen horseman from the New Forest, is now Master Sadler at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment in London, having joined the Army aged 18.

The farrier’s son completed an apprenticeship in the regimental saddlers’ shop, where he began his rise to the top of his trade.

He was nominated for the award by his colleague Frances Roche who praised his eye for design excellence.

Sam told Equestrian Trade News:

“I’m fortunate that my hobby is my job… The best thing about my trade is making beautiful products for beautiful animals.

“As a relatively small industry, we’re a group of focussed people who are consistently embracing new methods and techniques to improve quality and comfort for horse and rider, while maintaining the best workmanship, values and traditions of the past.”

Head of Curriculum for Service Industries, Mark Thomsett, said he remembered Sam as an impressive young man with a love of horses, who rose to become Senior Cadet in the College’s Army Cadet Force Detachment.

Mark added: “We are extremely proud of Sam and his achievements. He is one of many examples of how our students progress and succeed in their chosen Public Service careers.”