Frank Baines - Eclipse GP Saddle

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Crafted from fine leather to the very highest standard, the Frank Baines Eclipse GP is an excellent general purpose saddle. It has a high level of comfort, balance and stability, providing a solid base for riding in any discipline.

This beautiful leather saddle is ideal for those who enjoy a range of horse riding disciplines, having been designed with the specific features that benefit both dressage, jumping and leisure riding.

Made by traditional English saddle manufacturer Frank Baines, this "Fit for the Future" Eclipse GP is crafted from the finest leather. The flaps and skirts are made from oiled full-grain leather, whilst the seat and pads are constructed from a soft aniline-dyed hide.

This fine quality leather, together with the laminated birch, advanced design saddle tree and pure wool flocking, give the Eclipse GP an exceptional comfort and balance which will help you to perform your best.

Originally based on the design of a winner of the Saddle of the Year competition, the Frank Baines Eclipse GP is a saddle that offers a truly superb ride.

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Stubben - the background to a family business

The name Stubben is synonymous around the world with unrivalled quality, luxurious elegance and meticulous attention to detail.

The Stubben saddles, bridles, reins and various other equestrian equipment that are available today are the result of more than 100 years of a family business that has dedicated itself unequivocally to its craft.

Stubben has survived two world wars to rise from humble beginnings to become a firm recognised and renowned among horse enthusiasts the world over. Nowadays their products are manufactured in three European countries and distributed to almost fifty countries worldwide.

But it hasn't always been that way.

The founding of Stubben

The firm's long and illustrious history began back in 1894 when Johannes Wilhem Stubben, a 27-year-old from a small village on the Lower Rhine, founded his leather and harness goods company.

Although from a farming family, Johannes had decided to steer a different path and took an apprenticeship in saddlery. He completed his training in three years and, after building his experience and knowledge for several more years, established the Stubben company that is so revered today.

The business was set up in the town of Krefeld and more than 110 years later it still remains in the same place. At the time the town happened to be the base of a Prussian cavalry regiment and the needs of so many men and horses provided the newly founded Stubben with a solid economical grounding.

Johannes and his wife Maria had four children, the eldest being Carl who was born in 1896. At a very young age Carl learnt the basics of saddle-making and there was no doubt he would follow his father into the trade.

With school completed he began an apprenticeship at his family's Krefeld workshop and it wasn't long before he was revealing an auspicious gift for his craft. After several years he was awarded the prestigious title of Master Saddler and, along with his father, worked tirelessly to improve the Stubben reputation.

The threat of war

The outbreak of World War Two in 1939 saw the horse population dramatically reduced as thousands were shipped off to the front to be used in the war effort. As a result, Stubben were required to decrease their saddle production and instead began manufacturing a range of other leather products. The quality of these products was such that the firm's excellent reputation spread even further and more people became aware of their excellent work ethic and high quality goods.

The war also had other consequences for Stubben and Carl's son Werner was conscripted to join the fighting. He had never taken a great deal interest in his family's saddle business and his excellent results at school made it likely that he would pursue an academic career.

The war changed all that, however, as Werner returned from his military service to find his family's Krefeld home had been destroyed by the terrible fighting. With the help of his father he set about rebuilding the house and workshops and the saddlery was finally able to begin trading again in 1949.

Stubben forges a worldwide reputation

The hard work that Werner put in to re-establishing the business seemed to change his views on the saddle industry and he immersed himself fully in the day-to-day running of the company, eventually taking over from his aging father.

Fluent in five languages, Werner had travelled widely and so used his skills and experiences to build contacts in countries all around the world. He established a reputation for his loyalty to retailers and suppliers and his distinguished tastes and hardworking attitude helped propel Stubben into the international marketplace.

Werner died suddenly in 1998 at the age of 75 but the hard work, excellent knowledge and unbounded attention to detail he and his forefathers had contributed to the Stubben family business was obvious for all to see.

Today the company is one of the very best manufacturers of horse tack in the entire world and the Stubben stamp is a guarantee of excellence, quality and superior workmanship.

Dogwood - proud suppliers of Stubben products

Dogwood are proud to stock the Stubben range of products and owning your own piece of the very best handcrafted leather equestrian equipment is only a phone call away.

We also sell a range of horse tack, equestrian clothing and footwear from a variety of other top manufacturers, ensuring that the quality of the products we supply is among the very best available.

To purchase any of our products simply call us today on 0845 30 10 365 or just select your desired item from our product pages and pay online with a debit or credit card.