Buttons Saddlery has provided harnesses for Wimbledon Theatre and the Olympic open ceremony.
By Anthony Lewis-Binns, Tom Macleod and Oli Rahman
A horse saddlery which enables performers to fly through the air at South West London Theatres and Hollywood Studios galloped into their 40th anniversary this year.
Adrian and Sheila Benge started Woking-based Buttons Saddlery in 1973 and as well as providing saddles for horses, they make harnesses for ‘Wicked’ at the Apollo Victoria Theatre.
And it is not just musicals benefitting from Buttons craftsmanship as their harnesses have also been used in the Superman films and at London 2012.
“People are very shocked when they discover we do all the film work too. It’s satisfying knowing you are helping someone not to kill themselves,” Adrian said.
“We did flying harnesses for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mary Poppins and We Will Rock You – most of the major shows.
“We use the same people to make the harnesses for horses as we do for films. But if it’s anything to do with film, I oversee and approve it which makes it a bit more complicated but everyone mucks in.”
If you remember the stunning sequence with chimney sweeps during Danny Boyle’s Olympic spectacular, Buttons were at work behind the scenes.
“We did the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympics where they went up on the chimneys,” Adrian added.
Adrian enjoys the variety of his work but the glitz and glamour of Hollywood offers a different fulfilment to the horse work.
“I still love the horse side of it but it’s more comfortable doing the film and TV work. The horsing is more satisfying though, getting it right for horses and riders.
“We do boots for dogs as well. It is fulfilling because it helps them to walk properly while their paws heal.”
Buttons have also made more unusual items including reindeer saddles, and props for over 200 films and TV shows.
And they certainly impressed Wimbledon theatre-goers last Christmas when they provided harnesses for the Snow White pantomime, which starred Priscilla Presley.
“It was a brilliant show and the flying scenes were fantastic. It was great to watch,” said audience member Stacey Pedder.
However there is a more traditional side to their business away from their foray into Hollywood.
As well as providing equipment for pantomimes, Buttons has a royal warrant as a supplier of saddlery and horse rider clothing.
Their saddles and riding gear will be on display at the Royal Windsor Horse Show which starts on May 8 at Windsor Castle.
“If someone said 40 years ago that I’d be going up to Windsor Castle, I’d have laughed. But now I’ve been doing this 20 years. It’s quite surreal,” said Adrian.
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