Greetings from Laurie!
As a Stübben Certified Saddle fitter in Northern California, I am pleased to welcome you to my site!
The information on this site is designed to provide information on the fitting process for Stübben Custom saddles. For specific information about Stübben saddles and equipment simply click here: Stübben North America
Why Stübben Custom?
"No foam, no pads, no gimmicks"
Given the minimum combination of 8 seat sizes and 8 tree widths all designed on Stübben's exclusive flexible spring loaded tree--Stübben Custom offers 64 tree width/seat size combinations to start with. Added to those are several seat depths, twist, widths, innumerable options for knee rolls, thigh blocks, flap lengths, and leather types . . . Ultimately, the possibilities are in . . .
the hundreds of thousands!
Who else has that capability? Check out, as well, the Stübben North America website for information on specialty saddles such as the Gaited and Icelandic models.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a fitting appointment, you can call
me on
(925) 890-5527, or e-mail me at
dreamstubben@pacbell.net
Your Saddle Fitting Appointment:
Feel free to peruse my "check list" for considerations prior to your saddle fitting appointment.
After Your Saddle Purchase:
After you have purchased your Stübben Custom and you anticipate delivery (normally 8-10 weeks), click here for some breaking in and care guidelines.
Stübben Custom Saddle -- The Fitting Process
Before your saddle fitting, please have on hand the following items:
- Helmet
- Leathers and irons
- Girth appropriate to the saddle you anticipate purchasing (dressage, all purpose, etc.) If you are unsure, ask me. Billet lengths can vary between saddle makers, so it never hurts to have a variety of lengths on hand if possible.
- Any other items of apparel you would normally ride/show in, e.g. gloves, boots, etc.
- If weather is inclement, have some alternative locations for riding if your arena or other area may not be available. An area suitable for basic walk, trot and canter is usually sufficient.
There is a fully refundable $125 fitting fee due at the time of the fitting. The fee will be refunded to you when you purchase a Stübben Custom saddle within 10 days of the fitting.
When possible, we will be fitting the saddles to your horse with out using a pad, so it will be to your horse's benefit to have the saddle area reasonably clean; i.e. no dirt, bedding, etc.
Due to the many possible combinations of tree styles, sizes and options, you may not necessarily test ride a model with the exact specifications that will ultimately be ordered--if you did, it wouldn't be Custom!
For test ride purposes, it is possible that saddle padding will be necessary to establish the right balance for the rider during the test ride. It is the ultimate goal however, that your custom saddle will require no padding; unless you choose to use one for cosmetic purposes, make saddle cleaning easier, or temporarily use the saddle on another horse.
You will be doing some riding, so take precautions (turn out, lunging) ahead of time to ensure your horse will be calm and relaxed during the fitting process.
I look forward to working with you to obtain the best possible saddle fit for your horse and you. Let me know if you have any questions.
Should you need to reschedule or cancel for any reason, please contact me by phone at 925 890-5527. Thank you.
Your New Saddle
Congratulations on your Stübben Custom Saddle!!
From personal experience, I believe you have chosen a saddle that can last a lifetime and will provide great enjoyment to both you and your horse.
Here are some pointers to enhance the care and enjoyment of your saddle:
- Ride in your saddle for at least 20 hours with no pad, if at all possible. Remember, Stübben leather and wool have been especially developed and chosen due to the excellent qualities of wicking away moisture and providing breathability. The first 20 hours or so of riding are important to mold the saddle to your horse's shape and movement. If you simply feel the need for a pad, use the thinnest one available (cotton or another type of fiber is preferable because it will allow the sweat to go through).
- Never use any type of oil on the underside panels of your saddle. It will get inside the wool and not dissipate the way sweat will. Stübben Hamanol can be used for the underside panels without harm
- Fill out the blue tag with your saddle's serial number and register your saddle on Stübben's website at www.stubbennorthamerica.com. You will be sent a Hamanol conditioner specific for Stübben's unique vegetable tanned leather as well as a mane and tail detangler.
- Due to their softer nature, the DeLuxe leather saddles should be more carefully guarded. Any soft leather is more prone to damage.
- Keep your saddle cleaned and conditioned according to your climate. For example, a saddle used in hot, dry areas may require conditioning slightly more often than one in a more humid climate. Treat the leather like you would your own skin.
- Once fitted to your horse, it is rare for a Stübben saddle to require re-flocking. Stübben North America usually advocates saddle reflocking when the saddle is being fitted to a new horse or when a horse has experienced important changes in weight. Remember that re-flocking is only to be done when necessary! If a saddle fits, leave it alone!