On March 4, 1998, The Fiji Times featured the village of Navilawa for its newfound expertise in saddle making. Navilawa, located at the end of a rough road surrounded by the Sleeping Giant Range of Sabeto near Nadi, had traditionally relied on farming and a modest eco-tourism venture for their livelihood.
Recently, however, the village had started a saddlery, gaining a strong reputation across the Western Division. The initiative began with John Dualase, who attended a saddle-making workshop organized by the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH), a UK-based charitable organization. Starting by repairing saddles for locals, Dualase trained his sons and other village youths in the craft as demand grew. His daughters, eager to learn, also became skilled in saddle making.
The villagers worked on saddles during their free time, and their work quickly expanded from repairs to creating new saddles, producing over 50 entirely by hand. Impressed by their progress, ILPH’s International Training and Development director, Andre Buber, secured funds for electrical equipment to enhance their productivity.
The electric saw drill helped Dualase create the “trees,” the two wooden pieces that form the saddle’s base. Properly shaped, these trees are crucial for making a comfortable saddle for horses, preventing sores and illnesses. With the new equipment, the production process became faster and more precise.
Buber emphasized that the ILPH aims to improve skills that enhance income, lifestyle, and local horse health. The saddle-making initiative in Navilawa benefited the entire village and introduced significant competition to commercial saddle makers, reducing saddle prices from $250 to more affordable rates due to the local craftsmanship.
John Dualase sold his saddles for up to $200, using locally available materials, though blacksmithing the frame was still outsourced. He noted that the village horses were healthier and more willing to work with good saddles.