The making of a Stubben saddle

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Stubben is one of the best-known manufacturers of leather saddles in the world. It is renowned for producing beautifully-crafted, premium saddles that are remarkably comfortable for both horse and rider. They are also exceptionally durable and are designed to provide the ultimate in performance.

The fine reputation of Stubben saddles has led huge numbers of equestrians to desire horse tack made by this manufacturer. For people who ride as a leisure activity to those who compete professionally, Stubben is often a first choice when it comes to choosing a new saddle.

Stubben produce a large selection of horse saddles which are designed to provide optimum performance in specific disciplines, such as the Stubben Roxane S, which is ideal for jumping, and the Maestoso, a prestigious dressage saddle. However, riders who enjoy a range of disciplines may wish to consider an all purpose model which is skewed towards either jumping or dressage.

These prestigious saddles come to life in Stubbens workshops in Stans, Switzerland, after undergoing a lengthy crafting process. Every saddle is unique, having been hand-worked by master tradesmen who make their individual mark on them.

Steps in the creation of a Stubben saddle

There are two sides to creating a Stubben saddle: the leather and the tree. The first step in the creation of a Stubben saddle is the selection of suitable leather. Only the very best leather is chosen for use. All of Stubbens standard range is made from full-grain cowhide, which is very hard wearing and naturally long lasting. However, it is also extremely supple, thanks to the special vegetable tanning employed in the leather-making process.

This leather is then cut in order to create the seat and the skirts. This is done by hand so that the perfect dimensions can be achieved. Stubbens traditional London-coloured piping is then carefully sewn between the seat leather and the skirts by hand. This is then ready to be attached to the tree.

The leatherworkers then turn their attention to hand-stitching the back piece to the panel, which allows the saddle to be flocked. Once this leather pocket is complete, wool flocking is stuffed into the panels. Stubben places real importance in the fact that the flocking is wool, since this is a material which has excellent moisture-wicking and moulding properties.

Whilst this leatherworking process is going on, there will be craftsmen working on the tree of the Stubben saddle. Firstly, webbing is attached in order to create tension and provide the vital component of elasticity and "spring". The webbing around the pommel will later have the billets attached to it. Once the webbing has been attached, the seat depth will be set and the cantle plate attached.

A special composite seating material will then be attached to the tree of the Stubben saddle. The material is selected for its comfort, durability and ability to transmit sound from the rider to the horse, offering an excellent level of communication. The saddle is now ready to have the leather seat and skirts attached. This is done by hand to ensure it is firmly attached, after which point all excess leather is removed to give a perfect trim.

Once this stage is complete, it is time to attach the first two billets to each side of the saddle. These will be hand-stitched to the webbing for excellent security. The saddle flaps are then attached, followed by the leather panels, which are stitched by hand to the tree. The reason that manual stitching is used at this point is to offer a durable fastening yet easy access should the saddle need to be reflocked. The Stubben saddle is now complete and ready to be used.

Stubben saddles at Dogwood

The talented craftsmen at Stubben create truly exceptional saddles for equestrians all over the world to enjoy. These are some of the most luxurious saddles on the market and are of unparalleled quality thanks to the hand-crafting process and premium materials used.

Whether your ideal saddle is the Stubben Roxane S, the Stubben Camelot or perhaps the Stubben Siegfried VSD, you can find it in the Dogwood collection. We pride ourselves on only featuring the very finest horse tack in our range and believe that Stubben saddles more than surpass our extremely high standards.

As well as Stubben saddles, you can find a wide variety of Stubben bridles and other leatherwork at Dogwood, allowing you to purchase a full, matching set of horse tack from this prestigious manufacturer.

If you would like further information about Stubben saddles or any other item in the Dogwood collection, please telephone 0845 30 10 365.

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