Quick quiz...who knows where Stubben saddles are made??

Can't tell you any more, but I can tell you what they are made out of!........ ;)
 
Last one I worked on was a cheap blue plastic tree, panel top made from the sweepings up off the floor that ought to have gone to the local Gym to top up the punch bag! They had paid someone to sew them all together to make panel tops out of! The actual flap was the cheapest, nastiest shoulder covered in a more expensive hide. The panel might as well been stuffed with liquid concrete and left to go off the same with the seat. Panel blown up like a balloon too so the bearing area was down to about an inch strip down the middle of the panel each side. and a channel so narrow as to be useless. I am not a fan of them at all.
 
Wally said:
Last one I worked on was a cheap blue plastic tree, panel top made from the sweepings up off the floor that ought to have gone to the local Gym to top up the punch bag! They had paid someone to sew them all together to make panel tops out of! The actual flap was the cheapest, nastiest shoulder covered in a more expensive hide. The panel might as well been stuffed with liquid concrete and left to go off the same with the seat. Panel blown up like a balloon too so the bearing area was down to about an inch strip down the middle of the panel each side. and a channel so narrow as to be useless. I am not a fan of them at all.
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The plastic tree surprises me.

The one we saw had the worst panels I'd seen in years. Like you said, over-stuffed, tiny narrow bearing area, and as wonky as hell!!

We know someone who had a Stubben made into a piano stool! Seemed to be a reasonable use for one! ;)

(Paul said Stubbens are not designed to be worked on...maybe bought by someone who doesn't care about price, then binned and replaced as soon as they need any work on them!)
 
Bright blue plastic, sickly blue, everything about the tree was nasty. Piano stool or one of those stools vets and hair dressers use on wheels to scoot about the place........and pretend!
 
Without cheating becuase it's already been mentioned above I thought they were made in Germany. I was wrong. :yellowcarded:

That is worrying about the crappy workmanship. I have one but it's 15-20 years old. Did they make them better back then?
 
Waikato Valuta said:
Without cheating becuase it's already been mentioned above I thought they were made in Germany. I was wrong. :yellowcarded:

That is worrying about the crappy workmanship. I have one but it's 15-20 years old. Did they make them better back then?
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It's like everything else, as the costs of sourcing the materials rise, companies are always seeking cheaper ways to produce the same goods, but as cheaper the materials and workmanship, also means the quality drops sometimes in this case with dire consequences.. it's only a matter of time, before some one gets a bad saddle and sues them...
They were originally made in Germany, not sure now :unsure:
 
I had thought they were claimed to be made in Switzerland now - but wouldn't be at all surprised to hear that like a lot of supposedly 'good' tack, they are now made in China?
 
Well...no one even near, even the wrong continent LOL..
I held a clinic yesterday and people have to bring their own saddles for us to look at and critique if needed.
A guy turned up with two saddles one english and one western type...He just gave them to me without saying who made them or where he got them.
I had a look and they were so badly made and the leather was crap, that i guessed they were indian..so he then says yes he had bought them from a factory in Karnphor (sp) on one of his regular trips to india on business..
The english one cost 45 pounds and the western 70!!!!
i had already mentioned that most english saddles now made were made in third world or eastern block countries.
He then goes on to say while he was touring the factory he saw that they were making wintec saddles there, AND...also Stubbens!!!!!!!
Which might explain your findings Wally and KV...
i will try and get a pic uploaded of the flocking in the english saddle as he let me rip it open!! Purely cut up carpets with tobacco wrappings in amongst it LOL..
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This is actually a very worrying thread. I mean Mrs Joe Public, like myself, would assume a Stubben saddle to be something of substance and well-made... and we don't have the same critical eye as you specialists :frown:
 
That's very interesting!! All it says on their website is "Stübben products are manufactured in three European countries and distributed in nearly fifty countries worldwide." ... which doesn't exactly rule out that they may be made somewhere else as well ...:smile:

So what saddle should one buy to be safe? Is it about price?
 
domane said:
This is actually a very worrying thread. I mean Mrs Joe Public, like myself, would assume a Stubben saddle to be something of substance and well-made... and we don't have the same critical eye as you specialists :frown:
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Domane if you had ever ridden in one you wouldn't want one anyway. A friend had one for her ShirexTB as it was the only saddle the saddlery had that they said fitted him. I can honestly say that I have never ever ridden on such an uncomfortable saddle,it was just appalling felt as if I'd been kicked every time I dismounted.Was also extremely heavy so as horse was 18hh & I'm 5ft 2ins made saddling up rough :biggrin:
 
tubby said:
Domane if you had ever ridden in one you wouldn't want one anyway. A friend had one for her ShirexTB as it was the only saddle the saddlery had that they said fitted him. I can honestly say that I have never ever ridden on such an uncomfortable saddle,it was just appalling felt as if I'd been kicked every time I dismounted.Was also extremely heavy so as horse was 18hh & I'm 5ft 2ins made saddling up rough :biggrin:
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LOL...yes hard for the rider as well as the horse!!!!!
 
Actually I have to defend SOME Stubbens here - I have a Stubben Siegfreid VSD and I absolutely love it - feels deep, comfey and keeps my wayward legs just where they should be. I have had them before and I love them - but I think saddle comfort for the rider is a very personal thing?

Until Dolly gained quite a bit of weight she liked it too. I have to say I dont think their fitting is suited to more cobby types, she had been kept down to more of a fit hunter type build when I first had her - and the fit was perfect then. Also had one on my Polish WB - she and I were also very happy with that one.

Having said all that - mine is an older model so wouldn't know how it compares to the newer ones?:unsure:
 
domane said:
This is actually a very worrying thread. I mean Mrs Joe Public, like myself, would assume a Stubben saddle to be something of substance and well-made... and we don't have the same critical eye as you specialists :frown:
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I totally agree! I'm actually pretty glad I don't have my own horse to make these decisions for. I would probably make the wrong one!

I wound be very interested (and appreciative) to hear what you professionals and specialists consider the 'best' saddles out there in terms of workmanship, quality and value for money. it would equally as valuable to know which ones you would steer clear of. I know it's horses for courses, but as Mrs Joe Public along with Domane I fear I wouldnt know where to start when it comes to judging saddles :unsure:
 
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