A NORTH-EAST firm is selling saddles in the not-so Wild West.

The Free 'n' Easy Saddle Company in Teesdale has designed an innovative new saddle using materials which are more comfortable for the horse and rider.

One of the company's partners Les Spark developed the saddle after struggling to find one for a horse which suffered back pain.

He then set up the Free n Easy Saddle Company to market his product.

The company went to Northern California, Colorado Springs, Nevada and Virgina to demonstrate the saddle, and was amazed at the response.

Riders in endurance, dressage and Icelandic events in America are now using them.

The trip to America was financed by Trade Partners UK, which is a Government organisation helping British firms trade abroad.

Mr Spark said: "Without the financial help from Trade Partners UK, we would never have made it to America.

"We are ploughing most of our profits back into the business and could not afford to make such an extensive trip.

"Everything has worked out incredibly well and we now have well-known riders buying the product there."